Research shows that the home learning environment is crucial in children’s early development. Talking with children early on is vital because it:
Builds strong foundations for development
Language is essential for cognitive, social and emotional growth.
Supports academic success
Strong speech, language and communication skills at a young age have one of the highest correlations with outcomes at the end of KS1 and beyond.
Enables access to the curriculum
Without good language skills, children may struggle to understand learning resources, follow instructions and express their ideas.
Enhances emotional development
Being able to communicate helps children express feelings, manage emotions and develop self-regulation skills.
Helps with forming friendships
Communication is key to building relationships, and language difficulties can make social interactions more challenging.
Improves long-term life chances
Persistent speech, language and communication difficulties can affect education, employment and overall wellbeing later in life.
How Can Parents Help with Language Development?
Early brain and language development lays the foundation for lifelong learning. Parents and carers play a crucial role in giving children the best possible start.
Engaging in communication and language activities at home is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to support a child’s future educational and social success.
Here are some easy ways to help at home:
Share stories daily
Even 10–15 minutes a day can significantly expand vocabulary and understanding.
Talk and ask questions
Describe what you can see, talk about everyday routines and ask open-ended questions.
Sing and play with words
Songs, rhymes and word games make learning language fun and memorable.
Encourage storytelling
Ask children to make up stories or talk about their day to develop narrative skills.
Limit screen time
Face-to-face interaction builds stronger language skills than passive screen use.
Top Tips to Help Your Child with Oracy
Read aloud to your child
Reading books together helps children learn new vocabulary and combines talking, listening and storytelling in one activity. It also creates opportunities for children to share their thoughts and opinions about what they have read.
Play word games
Games such as 20 Questions, Guess Who? and I Spy help children practise descriptive language and think carefully about how they communicate.
Talk about their day
Asking “What did you do today?” often leads to “I can’t remember”, so try more specific questions. Mealtimes and car journeys are great opportunities for relaxed conversation. Encourage full sentences rather than one-word answers, and model an example first if needed.
Phone a friend (or relative)
Encourage your child to take a break from texting and messaging and practise speaking by making a phone or video call. Talking to different people builds confidence and communication skills.
Go on a nature walk
Listening to sounds such as birdsong or traffic and describing what they see outdoors supports early phonics and vocabulary. Some children also find it easier to talk when outside with fewer distractions.
Sign them up for a club
Clubs provide opportunities to talk with new people, follow instructions, learn new vocabulary and build confidence through shared interests and activities.
Helpful Websites & Resources
Here are some trusted websites you can use to support language development at home:
Speech and Language UK – Ages & Stages
https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/
National Literacy Trust – Early Years Resources
https://literacytrust.org.uk/
Language Development Activities (Ages 4–5)
https://www.education.com/activity/kindergarten/
Talk Community Directory – Early Years Speech & Language
https://www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/
