It's Good to Talk

Published 2 June 2025

Early Years Scotland’s Policy & Engagement Manager, Lorna Kettles, reflects on the worrying post-Covid increase in problems related to the speech and language development of young children.

I am a yapper. I’ve always been a yapper. I spoke before I could walk and almost every positive thing every written on a report card throughout my school days was caveated with the fact that I was, indeed, very chatty. So much of what I do in my role with this wonderful organisation involves talking – whether that’s to families, our members, other organisations or policy and decision makers. I could talk about early years, and the importance of investing in young children until the proverbial cows come home – at which point, I’d tell them to come back in half an hour, because I’ve not quite finished what I’ve got to say.