The best learning happens through play, everyday moments, and having fun together! Children learn language, communication, and early reading and writing skills when they are engaged, curious, and enjoying themselves.
🗣️ Talk & Play With Words
Children learn language through playful conversations and listening to others.
- Talk about what you are doing during the day
- Describe things you can see on walks or at home
- Ask questions and encourage your child to share ideas
- Play simple games like “I Spy” or silly rhyming games
👉 Talking through play helps build vocabulary, listening skills, confidence, and communication.
🎶 Sing, Dance & Rhyme
Songs and nursery rhymes are a fun and playful way to develop language skills.
- Sing favourite songs together again and again
- Add actions, movement, and dancing
- Clap rhythms or make up silly rhymes together
👉 Singing helps children hear sounds within words, develop memory skills, and build early phonics awareness.
📚 Read Together
Sharing stories helps children develop a love of books and imagination.
- Read together every day, even for a few minutes
- Let your child choose favourite books
- Talk about pictures, characters, and what might happen next
- Encourage your child to join in with repeated phrases
👉 Storytime through play and imagination helps children build vocabulary, understanding, and storytelling skills.
✏️ Explore Mark-Making
Early writing begins with playful mark-making.
- Encourage drawing, painting, scribbling, and doodling
- Write in sand, foam, mud, or with chalk outdoors
- Celebrate “invented spelling” and early attempts at writing
👉 These playful experiences help children understand that marks, symbols, and words all have meaning.
🎭 Learn Through Play
Play is one of the most powerful ways children learn literacy skills.
- Use role play, puppets, or small world toys
- Act out stories or make up new adventures together
- Encourage your child to pretend, imagine, and tell stories
👉 Play helps children develop creativity, communication, storytelling, and thinking skills.
💡 Top Tip
Keep it playful, follow your child’s interests, and celebrate every effort. Children learn best when they feel happy, confident, and free to explore through play! ✨