* Gather together a range of resources that represent the same word - for example, teddies.
* Place these in an attractive box that the children will want to explore.
* The children can play with a wooden teddy, a plastic teddy, a large teddy, a small teddy, a furry teddy, a metal teddy or a squeaky teddy. A few pictures of teddies can also be added.
* As the children play with the teddies repeat the word 'teddy' to the child to help develop the child's language acquisition.
* Alternatives for the box of nouns are apples, cars, balls and so on.
Take your pick!
* Allow babies and very young children an element of choice at storytime and songtime by displaying visual cues for them to choose from.
* Display four books in a row of display pockets at the children's height on the wall (available from Ikea). Lie on the floor or sit next to the display with the child and talk about each book. For example: 'Look at the picture of Pooh bear', or 'Can you see the book about animals?'
* Invite the children to select one of the stories to be told to them.
* Alternatively, display a soft toy that represents a familiar song or rhyme. For example, a horse for Horsey, Horsey; a spider for Incy Wincy; a mouse for Hickory Dickory.
* Again, talk to the children about the contents of the display, encourage the children to name the different objects.
* Invite the children to point to one of the soft toys and you should respond by singing the appropriate song.
Picture match
* Display a range of simple pictures in a row of display pockets at the children's height (available from Ikea). You can use coloured pictures and/or black and white .
* Make an identical set of pictures and offer them to the young child to place in a second set of pockets.
* Go down on the floor with the children and talk about the pictures in each pocket.
* Encourage the children to name the contents of each pocket, depending on the children's ages and stages of development.
* Challenge children by inviting them to find the matching picture and place it on the second row.
* Older children will be able to look for the corresponding images and say which pictures are partners. These pictures can be made by using a colouring-in book.
Setting the table
* Encourage children to set the table for mealtimes by making placemats that they can match the necessary crockery and cutlery with.
* Make placemats from pieces of card, plain cork placemats, or the reverse of foam-backed placemats.
* Draw round the crockery and cutlery that the children will use in the correct places.
* At mealtimes, encourage the children to lay out the settings, naming each item as they place it on the corresponding template.
Extra activities Encourage language development with under-threes by:
* Using facial gestures and finger play.
* Looking at books with simple pictures and photographs.
* Singing and talking with the child on your lap.
* Encouraging the children to participate in action rhymes.
* Using puppets when telling stories.
* Listening to the children and responding to their cues
* Minimising the use of television and videos.
