Clap hands

Developing children's confidence and ability to communicate is central to early years education. The Curriculum guidance for the Foundation Stage states clearly that 'the development and use of communication is at the heart of young children's learning'. Yet there is increasing evidence that ever more children are experiencing speech and language difficulties.

Simple games and activities involving sounds children can make with their own bodies offer ideal opportunities for developing children's listening and language skills (of course, they should not be equated with speech therapy!) and their control of pitch, rhythm, tone and volume. The benefits are not limited to language. Children's co-ordination, concentration and bodily awareness are also likely to improve, not to mention their ability to work together co-operatively.

Practitioners should always try to encourage open-ended approaches to any of the activities outlined below, so empowering children to investigate and explore their own ideas.

Oral sounds

* Hum some well-known songs and nursery rhymes or 'sing' them using only sounds such as la, ah, or ooh. See if the children recognise the song when the adult performs it in this way, and encourage them to join in. Children might like to perform songs this way themselves for others to identify.

* Explore sounds that you can make with your mouth, such as: * blowing raspberries (children will love this!) * clicking your tongue on the roof of the mouth or at the back of your front teeth; filling the cheeks with air and blowing it out, which can make a whole range of sounds * sucking in air through the teeth, which makes a series of high pitched squeaky sounds * using a finger to vibrate the bottom lip while making a humming sound at the front of the mouth * forcing air through closed lips * squeezing lips together, then parting them suddenly, which makes a variety of popping sounds.

Ask the children to show you some ways they explore making sounds.

* Record groups of sounds, for example, sounds made by: * transport, such as planes, buses, cars and motorbikes * animals, such as wild animals, farm animals or pets * weather, such as rain, wind and thunder * clocks, such as ticking, striking the hour and an alarm * telephones, such as dialling and ringing and engaged tones * fireworks, with crashes, banging, crackles and whizzing sounds * musical instruments * human sounds such as sneezing and snoring.

* Share the many excellent storybooks that encourage the listener to participate by making appropriate sounds - for example, Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen (Walker Books, 5.99), Peace at Last by Jill Murphy (Macmillan, 4.99), Noisy Farm by Rod Campbell (Puffin, 4.99), and Cock a Moo Moo by Juliet Dallas-Conte (Macmillan, 4.99).

* Organise circle time activities such as 'Chinese whispers', in which a sound, word or phrase is passed round the circle.

* Model sounds in activities and encourage children to use such sounds in their play. For example, in the home corner, model the sound of the telephone ringing, food cooking, the doorbell or the baby crying; in small-world play, model animal and transport sounds; in sand and water play, model noises made by the movement of water; in construction, model the sound of bricks falling down; and outdoors, model sounds to accompany activities such as going down a slide, climbing steps, catching balls or riding vehicles.

* If you have the software programme Doodle Plus (Windows, CD-Rom, 39 plus VAT) and multi-media computer, turn on the speakers. The sound effects are great and children will love joining in.

Other body sounds

Hands

* As well as simply clapping to songs and music, encourage the children to do it in different ways, such as very loudly or softly, quickly or slowly.

* Clap in different ways - with the backs of the hands together, or with the palm of one hand on the back of the other.

* Tap two fingers from each hand together or tap two fingers on the opposite palm.

* Some children might be able to click their fingers. Explore sounds made with different parts of the hand such as palm, knuckles, fingertips, nails or a fist.

* Ask the children to tap other parts of their body such as the cheeks, arms, stomach, legs and feet. Be aware that some children can become over-enthusiastic in these activities, so suggest they do the actions gently and listen to the sounds they make.

* Encourage the children to work in pairs mirroring each other's actions, such as clapping, stamping and clicking their fingers, and taking it in turns to lead. Also encourage the children to clap hands with their partners, varying the speed and volume, or to accompany a song or rhyme.

* Play clapping games. Older children still enjoy playground clapping songs such as 'My mother told me...'.

Feet

* Get the children to stamp their feet while sitting or standing. Again encourage them to vary the sounds they make - loud and quiet, fast and slow.

* Try making sounds with different parts of the feet, such as heels or toes.

Songs and games

* Share songs such as 'This is the way we clap our hands/stamp our feet/slap our knees, on a cold and frosty morning'), 'Peter taps with one hammer', 'If you're happy and you know it clap your hands' and 'Head shoulders knees and toes', and do the accompanying actions.

* Develop children's concentration by humming or singing a tune and clapping at the same time or accompanying the tune with other actions.

* Play the game 'Simon says' using action such as tap your knees, stamp your feet, and so on. Encourage the children to take turns in directing the game themselves. Let them take turns in choosing which body sound to make and sing the song 'Everybody do this... just like me', naming the child who is directing the action.

Denise Bailey is a nursery teacher at Annesley Primary School, Nottingham