Communication and language skills are foundational to a child’s development. It influences their ability to connect with others, express needs and emotions, and engage with the world around them.
In this blog post, we explore practical ways to support your child’s communication and language development, making learning fun and engaging for children from 3 months to 5 years.
So let's jump straight into supporting development at home for under 5s: communication and language.
But first, let’s explore what communication and language is and why it’s so important.
Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, Communication and Language is one of the three prime areas of development (click here to learn more).
In essence, it forms the foundation for all other learning – in preschool and beyond!
This area focuses on three key aspects:
Listening and Attention: Developing the ability to focus on and respond to sounds, stories, and conversations.
Understanding: Building comprehension of spoken language and following instructions.
Speaking: Encouraging vocabulary learning, sentence building, and confident expression of thoughts and ideas.
All three aspects come together to support your little one in social interactions, problem-solving, emotional regulation and so much more.
It truly is foundational to all learning from now till they finish school (and beyond!).
How Do Nurseries Support Communication and Language Development?
Nurseries play a crucial role in nurturing language skills by creating an environment rich in opportunities for interaction and exploration. Here’s how we support this important area of learning:
The Environment
We surround children with stories, songs, and conversations that encourage curiosity and expand vocabulary.
Child-Led Play
By following children’s interests, we naturally introduce language in context, making it meaningful and engaging.
Group Activities
Circle time, storytelling, and group games help children practice listening, turn-taking, and expressing our thoughts and feelings all contribute to developing these vital skills.
Dedicated Support
Their key person observes and supports individual language development, tailoring activities to your little one's development.
Practical Tips for Supporting Communication and Language at Home
And finally, here are some simple yet effective ways to foster communication and language development at home:
1. Talk, Talk, Talk
Engage your little one in conversation throughout the day. Describe what you’re doing, ask open-ended questions, and respond to them.
Any conversations you have will be vital in shaping their communication skills.
Examples:
Topics can be as simple as…
‘We’re peeling a banana. What colour is the peel?’
‘Can you tell me about your drawing?’
‘What did you do at nursery today?’
2. Read Together
Storytime is a wonderful way to build language skills and share some 1 on 1 bonding time. Choose age-appropriate books and make reading interactive by asking questions and encouraging story predictions.
Ideas:
Point out pictures and ask, ‘What’s happening here?’ or ‘How do you think _ is feeling right now?’.
Use character voices to make the story engaging.
Choose books with topics they’re interested in e.g. if they’ve recently learnt about dinosaurs in nursery, they may want to learn more at home!
3. Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes
Music is a fun and effective way to introduce new words and sounds. Songs and nursery rhymes also help with memory and rhythm!
You can click here to read our guide all about the benefits of nursery rhymes.
Suggestions:
Sing classics together like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star or The Wheels on the Bus.
Choose action songs like Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, combining language and movement – helping to develop physical skills!
Create your own simple rhymes using your child’s name or daily activities.
Sing songs from their favourite programmes e.g. from Peppa Pig
4. Label Objects and Actions
Expand your child’s vocabulary by naming objects, colours, and actions during everyday activities.
Narrating daily activities can be useful to help your little one pick up new words e.g. when you’re cooking, chatting about it can teach them to learn the names of ingredients and also spark a curiosity about where these ingredients come from!
Examples:
‘This is your red cup. Do you like the colour red?’
‘Look, the cat is jumping!’
‘We’re putting on your blue shoes. Next, we’re going to put on your coat’
5. Play Together
Playtime offers natural opportunities to introduce and practice language skills. Follow your child’s lead, narrate the play, and introduce new words.
Ideas:
Pretend play: Use toys to act out scenarios and build storytelling skills.
Building activities: Discuss shapes, sizes, and actions while playing with blocks.
Sensory play: Talk about textures, colours, and actions during messy play.
6. Model Active Listening
Show your child that their words matter by giving them your full attention when they speak. Repeat what they’ve said to confirm understanding and encourage elaboration.
For example:
Child: ‘Doggie running!
You: ‘Yes, the dog is running fast! Where do you think he’s going?’
Just by incorporating these simple ideas into your daily routine, you can make a big impact on your child’s communication and language development.
Remember, the conversations, stories, and shared moments you create today will build a strong foundation for their future!
If you’re concerned…
Every child develops at their own pace but it’s important to voice your concerns if you are worried about the rate at which their communication and language skills are developing.
Speak to your key person or nursery manager – they will be able to answer any questions you have and if needed work with you on a plan of how to support your child at home and in the nursery.
Partnering with nursery staff
Our team at The Butterfly Patch is here to support your child’s communication and language journey. Through group activities, storytelling, and one-on-one interactions, we create an environment where children feel confident to express themselves.
If your child shares new words or interests at home, or if you have specific questions, don’t hesitate to speak with your key person. By working together, we can provide consistent and enriching experiences that help your child thrive.
Thanks for reading! Next week we will discuss supporting physical development at home!
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