Author:
Megan Archer, B.Ed.
By the age of five, many children will have picked up more than 10,000 words, often just through everyday conversations and play. Creating a rich, engaging, and meaningful language environment during these early years lays the foundation for everything that follows. Of course, every child develops at their own pace, and that is completely normal.
Language is how children connect with the people they love. It is how they share stories, jokes, dreams, and emotions. Strengthening these skills helps children feel heard and understood and builds strong relationships with family, friends, teachers, and the wider world.
How Everyday Moments Support Learning
Some of the biggest language growth happens during the most ordinary moments. Talking out loud as you walk to the car, responding to their gestures or questions, or narrating what you are doing as you make dinner, all support early language skills. Research shows that when children are surrounded by rich and responsive conversations in their early years, they are more likely to develop strong communication and literacy abilities later on.
According to the National Literacy Trust, a positive home learning environment where parents regularly talk, play and read with their child can make a big difference in supporting these life longskills.
Exploring everyday topics your child is naturally curious about helps bring language learning to life. These shared moments, whether sparked by a question about animals, a toy car, or a visit to the doctor, create opportunities for rich conversation and connection.
Following Their Curiosity: Fueling Creativity
One of the most natural ways to support your child’s language is by exploring topics they are already interested in. Whether it is animals, things that go (like cars and trains), or people who help us - everyday heroes, these kinds of everyday themes give children a chance to ask questions, use new words, and express ideas. Many activity boxes and resources, like Rehla Box, are built around a theme-based approach and offer playful, open-ended ways to spark conversations and storytelling.
Themes offer just enough structure to give direction but are flexible enough to follow your child’s lead. When children are engaged and curious, language develops
naturally. They want to talk, explain, and ask more. You do not need to plan anything formal. Just follow their interests and join in when you can.
Using Theme-Based Play to Build Language Skills
Children who hear and use a wide range of words in everyday settings often find it easier to express their thoughts, understand what others say, and eventually read and write with more confidence. Much of this happens through play.
Even when life feels busy or routines feel repetitive, those little conversations at bath time, in the car, or while getting ready in the morning all make a difference. If your child is pretending to be a doctor or firefighter, that is a perfect time to model language, ask questions, and gently expand on what they are saying.
When that play is centred around a theme such as helping in the community, animals, or space, it gives children a meaningful context for language to grow. They begin to connect ideas, build on vocabulary, and explain their thinking in ways that matter to them.
Instead of asking, “Is that a doctor?” you might try, “How do doctors help people?” or “What do you think a firefighter does first when there is an emergency?” These kinds of questions support turn taking, listening and the confidence to use new words in real conversations.
Child: “I give you medicine.”
Adult: “Thank you. You gave me some medicine because I have a sore throat.”
Or: “Let’s pretend this is a thermometer. It checks if someone has a fever.”
It is not about preparing your child for school. It is about helping them express themselves, feel understood, and make sense of the world around them.
Key Takeaways for Supporting Your Child’s Language
The best part? You are probably already doing more than you realise. These everyday activities can help build your child’s language in natural, engaging ways:
● Talk about what you are doing together
Whether you are cooking, folding laundry, or getting ready for the day, use descriptive language and ask questions.
“We are chopping carrots for dinner. Do you remember what vegetable we used yesterday?”
● Follow your child’s interests
If your child is into space, dinosaurs, or animals, read books, draw pictures, or act out stories together.
Ask open-ended questions like, “Where do you think this rocket is going?” or “What would happen if a dinosaur lived in our garden?”
● Use pretend play as a chance to talk
Join in their play as a fellow character whether it is a vet, teacher or shopkeeper and add new words or ideas to the conversation.
● Sing songs and tell stories
Rhymes, songs, and made-up stories help children play with sounds, rhythm, and meaning.
These skills lay the groundwork for strong reading and writing later on.
● Get out and explore together
A walk in the park or a trip to the supermarket can become a chance to notice and talk about what you see.
“That is a huge tree. Do you think it is older than our house?”
Sources:
National Literacy Trust – Literacy and Early Years
