Nursery World - Essential Resources: C&L 2

Which resources can help young children explore language, and what are the basic principles that should be borne in mind when using them? By Nicole Weinstein

Resources that enable role play in turn encourage children to expand their vocabulary

Children develop words and phrases and build language through their interactions with others. Once babies begin to understand words, at around six months, their vocabulary increases at a rapid pace. During this window of opportunity, the quality of conversations children have with adults and other children throughout the day is crucial. Reading aloud, sharing books, singing, rhymes and pretend play are all playful ways to extend language, which in turn builds on the foundations for literacy. As Carole Mills, chief executive of Yellow Door, says, imaginative play is the ‘cornerstone’ of narrative language. ‘Children will not be able to write stories if they haven’t had the opportunity to tell stories as they play. If they are offered interesting play environments, they will naturally tell stories rich with descriptive language.’

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