Throw a tea party for the Chatterbox Challenge.

Teachers, parents, and communities are being asked to throw a special kind of tea party for all the little chatterboxes in Newham.

I Can, the children’s charity that specialises in giving advice to parents and practitioners about speech and language, holds an annual event to raise money and awareness of little ones with communication problems.

This year, nurseries, pre-schools, childminding and community groups for children aged zero to five are invited to take part in the Chatterbox Challenge: Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with popular furry Nick Jr TV character Humf.

Groups are asked to organise a tea party during the I Can’s Challenge week from March 1 to 8 2013 during which parents, friends, and neighbours are encouraged to sponsor children to give performances of songs and rhymes that develop their communication skills.

Lesson plans for the event are available via I Can’s website and they include colourful illustations of Humf and his friends.

Developed by speech and language therapists, the activities and drawings link to key aspects in the Early Foundations Stage including Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal Social and Emotional Development.

As well as raising funds for I Can, the tea party performances are meant to enhance awareness and compassion for children who have difficulty talking and understanding others, skills that are crucial for reading, learning in school, socialising and making friends, and expressing emotions.

According to the charity, 1.2 million children in the UK have long-term difficulties with their speech, language, and communication that will need extra support to overcome.

To register and get involved in this year’s Chatterbox Challenge Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with Humf, go to www.chatterboxchallenge.org.uk.