Communicating

Communicating is about all the opportunities in the day where we talk and listen to children. Your aim is always to give them opportunities to talk and expand their vocabulary.

Story Starters

Start imagination stories by looking out the window with a line like 'A long time ago there was a tiny little fairy who lived under that tree'. Encourage your child to say the next line and the story is built together. The children can draw the story.

Use a routine

If you can bring a routine to your day. It might look something like this.

• Get up and get everyone dressed.
• Have breakfast.
• Go out to the garden/backyard and feed the birds or go for a walk.
• Come home and wash hands.
• Do some baking for lunch.
• Have some down time and read some books.
• Watch a movie together.
• Do some jobs together.
• Plan dinner.
• Make some dinner.
• Relax before bed.

Communicating games

Reading stories together helps build routine and closeness.

A great game is to try communicating in silence with no words just using gestures and expressions.

Card games and board games are great ways to encourage new words and turn taking.

Puppets

Small-World Play

A series of tipsheets under the banner Playing at Home have been designed to engage, inspire and support children and their families play and learn together.

Reading together

Word games