11 communication and language activities for early years settings 

Communication and language activities are planned and spontaneous experiences. They develop a child’s ability to listen, speak, and understand. In an early years nursery, these include story time with puppets and outdoor walks. You’ll also see role-play scenarios and rhythm games. 

“Communication and language” is one of three Prime Areas in the EYFS framework. It underpins every other area of learning. The EYFS statutory framework shares a clear message: “The development of children’s spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development.” Get this right, and progress across literacy, maths, and personal development follows.

Poor communication development in the early years can hold a child back. The DfE researched early language development and found clear evidence. Children with poor language at age five struggle later. They are six times less likely to reach expected English standards at age 11. They are also 11 times less likely to achieve the expected maths level. Early intervention through well-chosen activities is a powerful tool for practitioners.

This guide covers 11 of the most effective communication and language activities for early years settings and explains how they map to EYFS goals. You’ll learn which are best suited to children aged three to five. We also cover how to adapt them for children with speech and language needs.

What does communication and language mean in EYFS? 

Communication and language in the EYFS is a Prime Area of learning. It covers how children develop spoken language, listening skills, and understanding. It’s one of the three Prime Areas out of the seven areas of learning. You cannot leave this until later. The window for early language development is time-sensitive.

The EYFS framework organises communication and language around two Early Learning Goals: 

• Listening, Attention and Understanding: children listen attentively and respond with relevant comments, questions, or actions. They follow multi-step instructions and answer “how” and “why” questions.
• Speaking: children participate in small group discussions. They use new vocabulary in different contexts and articulate ideas in well-formed sentences.

Development Matters is the DfE’s non-statutory curriculum guidance. It sets out what children aged three to four should work towards. This includes: using a wider vocabulary, understanding two-part instructions, and answering “why” questions. They should also sustain conversations for many turns.

By Reception, children should use new vocabulary daily. They should articulate ideas clearly and engage actively in storytimes. These goals should shape how practitioners select and structure activities throughout the nursery.

11 effective communication and language activities for early years settings 

The activities below cover all three EYFS communication and language strands: speaking, listening and attention, and understanding. Each includes details on links to the EYFS framework. We provide age guidance for three to five-year-olds. You’ll also find notes on adapting activities for children needing extra support.

1. Storytime with puppets 

Use hand puppets or soft toys to bring storybooks to life. Puppets can act out key moments or speak as characters during shared reading.

What it supports: vocabulary, comprehension, expressive language, and speaking confidence.

EYFS link: Speaking; Listening, Attention and Understanding.

Age fit (three to five): This suits three to four-year-olds building their listening and recall skills. Extend this for Reception children by asking them to retell stories through the puppet.

Speech and language adaptation: Use puppets to model correct pronunciation naturally. If a child says “goed” instead of “went”, the puppet can reply: “Yes, we went to the shops!” This avoids drawing attention to the error. This recasting technique is in the DfE early years provider guidance.

2. Singing nursery rhymes 

Sing and act out nursery rhymes with movement. Encourage children to join in with repeated refrains and anticipate what comes next.

What it supports: phonological awareness, rhythm, vocabulary, and memory.

EYFS link: Listening, Attention and Understanding; Speaking.

Age fit (three to five): By age three to four, children can join in with refrains and anticipate key phrases. This is a documented milestone in Best Start in Speech, Language and Communication. Older children can learn less familiar rhymes to extend their vocabulary.

Speech and language adaptation: Slow the pace and use visual props. Pause before the last word of a line so children can fill it in. This builds active listening without requiring full sentences..  

3. Sensory play with descriptive words 

Set up sensory bins with different textures like sand, rice, or fabric. Encourage children to describe what they feel using new vocabulary.

What it supports: descriptive language, vocabulary development, and expressive communication.

EYFS link: Speaking; Understanding.

Age fit (three to five): This is highly effective for three to four-year-olds building descriptive vocabulary. Practitioners can model new words in context (e.g., “This feels rough, doesn’t it?”).

Speech and language adaptation: Use Makaton signs alongside new words to support children with limited speech. Pair the activity with picture cards so children can point and speak.

4. Role-play games 

Set up a themed role-play area like a supermarket or cafe. Let children take on roles and use related language.

What it supports: contextual vocabulary, conversational turn-taking, and narrative skills.

EYFS link: Speaking; Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Age fit (three to five): Three to four-year-olds use language to organise play. For Reception children, introduce scenarios requiring negotiation or persuasion.

Speech and language adaptation: Join the play and model the language yourself. Offer sentence starters like “Can I have…?” to help hesitant children initiate conversation. Read more about the value of this approach in our post on the importance of role play in the early years. 

5. Interactive story apps 

Use digital storytelling apps on a tablet. Children can listen to stories, explore characters, and create narrative responses.

What it supports: listening and attention, comprehension, and creative expression.

EYFS link: Listening, Attention and Understanding; Speaking.

Age fit (three to five): This works best alongside adult interaction. Asking “What do you think happens next?” is far more valuable than independent app use.

Speech and language adaptation: Choose apps with audio narration and on-screen text. Pause frequently to check comprehension with simple “who” and “what” questions.

6. Picture card conversations 

Show a picture card and ask an open question. Encourage children to describe, compare, or tell a story about the image.

What it supports: vocabulary, expressive language, and critical thinking.

EYFS link: Speaking; Listening, Attention and Understanding.

Age fit (three to five): Start with single-image cards for three-year-olds. Progress to sequential story cards for four to five-year-olds developing narrative skills.

Speech and language adaptation: Allow extra processing time. DfE guidance recommends counting to seven silently before responding to a pause. This gives the child’s brain time to form a response.

7. Rhythm and rhyme circle 

Gather children in a circle to create rhythmic patterns. Use hands, percussion instruments, or everyday objects to clap and tap.

What it supports: phonological awareness, listening, and turn-taking.

EYFS link: Listening, Attention and Understanding; Speaking.

Age fit (three to five): Phonological awareness grows rapidly between ages three and four. Rhythm activities support this and lay the groundwork for phonics.

Speech and language adaptation: Keep patterns short for children with short attention spans. Use visual cues like a raised hand to signal turns.

8. What’s in the bag? 

Place small objects inside an opaque bag. Children take turns feeling an object without looking and giving descriptive clues.

What it supports: descriptive language, prediction, and critical thinking.

EYFS link: Speaking; Understanding.

Age fit (three to five): The guessing element engages three to five-year-olds. Older children can use precise language instead of simple labels.

Speech and language adaptation: Accept pointing or gestures from children with limited expressive language. Model the descriptive words and invite the child to repeat them.

9. Outdoor exploration walks 

Take children outside to a garden or park. Use the walk to observe, name, describe, and discuss the environment.

What it supports: vocabulary, observational language, and questioning.

EYFS link: Speaking; Understanding the World.

Age fit (three to five): Outdoor contexts are excellent for learning words in context. The DfE’s Help for Early Years Providers guidance notes that hands-on experiences make new vocabulary easier to retain.  

Speech and language adaptation: Use a simple observation sheet with pictures. Children can record findings non-verbally to use as a conversation prompt later.

10. Listening games 

Play sound-matching activities, identify instruments, or follow instructions. Games like “Simon Says” build focused listening.

What it supports: listening and attention, auditory discrimination, and following instructions.

EYFS link: Listening, Attention and Understanding.

Age fit (three to five): These games are excellent for four to five-year-olds. They help build impulse control and verbal processing skills.

Speech and language adaptation: Reduce background noise. Children with speech needs often struggle to separate target sounds from ambient noise

11. Story stones 

Paint images like characters or weather onto smooth stones. Invite children to pick a few and build a story.

What it supports: narrative skills, vocabulary, expressive language, and sequencing.

EYFS link: Speaking; Listening, Attention and Understanding.

Age fit (three to five): This works well for three to four-year-olds beginning to pretend,  a milestone identified in Best Start in Speech, Language and Communication. Encourage Reception children to create complex narratives with a beginning, middle, and end.

Speech and language adaptation: Use stones as a low-pressure prompt. Reluctant speakers can arrange the stones first before narrating. Practitioners can model story language to help them initiate.

How to support speech and language development across all activities 

The activities above are most effective within a communication-friendly environment. The activity choice matters, but practitioner behaviour matters more.

What the evidence says 

DfE research identifies several practitioner behaviours that consistently improve children’s speech, language, and communication outcomes: 

• Recasting: repeating a child’s words with correct grammar, without directly correcting them.
• Commenting: narrating what children are doing rather than always asking questions.
• Waiting: giving children five to seven seconds to respond. This is vital for children with SEND or speech delays.
• Extending: adding one or two new words to what the child has said.

What to look out for with children at age 3 to 5 

Practitioners must stay alert to children needing additional support.According to Best Start in Speech, Language and Communication, flags for review at ages 3 to 5 include: 

• at most two-word utterances by age three to four (in their first language).
• not understanding simple commands by age three to four.
• close relatives unable to understand the child’s speech by age three to four.
• at most three-word utterances by age four to five.

If you observe these, refer the child to your local NHS Speech and Language Therapy service. Early identification improves outcomes. Tracking observations in an online learning journal helps spot patterns. It also makes sharing evidence with parents and carers easier.

Creating a communication-friendly environment 

The physical environment of your nursery plays a huge role. Consider these points:

• Which areas of your setting encourage children to talk to each other?
• Are there quiet spaces for children with sensory sensitivities to communicate without distraction?
• Do you have books and vocabulary-rich displays accessible all day?

The number and quality of conversations children have throughout the day drive language development, not just structured activities.

What skills do communication and language activities develop? 

 Well-chosen activities build interconnected skills. Understanding these helps practitioners plan a balanced curriculum. 

Skill area	How it develops	Example activities
Vocabulary	Exposure to new words in context	Sensory play, outdoor walks
Phonological awareness	Recognising sounds and rhyme patterns	Nursery rhymes, rhythm circle
Listening and attention	Sustaining focus and following instructions	Listening games, storytime
Expressive language	Using words to communicate ideas	Picture cards, role-play
Narrative skills	Sequencing events and telling stories	Puppet storytime, story stones
Social communication	Turn-taking and initiating conversation	All group activities

These skills connect to outcomes beyond the EYFS. DfE research shows early communication skills predict Key Stage 1 attainment. These activities are a proven investment for any nursery.

Frequently asked questions 

What are communication and language activities in EYFS? 

These are structured or play-based experiences that develop speaking, listening, and understanding. They include storytime, role-play, and sensory exploration. All activities align with the EYFS framework, which identifies communication and language as a Prime Area of learning.

What communication and language activities are best for 3– to 5– year– olds? 

The best activities build vocabulary, develop phonological awareness, and encourage back-and-forth conversation. Role-play, nursery rhymes, and outdoor walks are ideal. They align with Development Matters milestones.

How do speech and language activities differ from communication activities? 

Speech and language activities focus on producing sounds, words, and sentences, and understanding spoken language. Communication activities include non-verbal communication and social interaction, as well as spoken language. Most early years activities develop both simultaneously. If a child shows delays, practitioners should seek advice from a qualified Speech and Language Therapist.

How can I track communication and language development in my setting? 

Consistent observation is key. Recording what children say and how their vocabulary grows provides an evidence base to identify progress and spot concerns early. Sharing this with families strengthens the home learning environment. You can use eylog to support observation and assessment.

Find out how eylog supports observation and assessment across all EYFS areas of learning. 

How eyworks supports practitioners with communication and language development 

Delivering strong communication and language provision is one thing. Proving it, tracking it, and acting on it consistently across a whole setting is another challenge entirely. That’s where eyworks comes in. 

eyworks helps nurseries move beyond admin. We help you build thriving nurseries where quality practice is visible and evidenced.

Observations tied directly to EYFS areas of learning 

Practitioners can record observations in the moment using eylog. You can link them directly to the communication and language Prime Area. This builds an evidence-based picture of each child’s development, exactly the kind of documentation that supports Ofsted readiness and informs next steps.

Practitioners can log what a child said during a story stones session or how they responded during a pom pom avalanche activity, and have that evidence sitting against their EYFS profile the same day. No end-of-term scramble. No relying on memory. 

Spotting patterns and identifying concerns early 

Consistent observations make patterns visible. If a child is rarely contributing to group activities, rarely initiating conversation, or not progressing through the communication and language milestones expected for their age band, the data highlights this before it becomes a major concern.

Early identification of speech, language, and communication needs leads to significantly better outcomes. eyworks gives practitioners the tools to catch those flags in time. 

Parent communication that strengthens the home learning environment 

Language development continues when children leave your care. eyparent lets practitioners share observations and progress notes with families. This gives parents and carers the confidence to extend learning at home.

Conversations across all environments, not just in nursery, drive language development. eyworks connects the practitioner and family to support the whole child.

Assessment, progress, and reporting in one place 

For nursery managers and setting leaders, eyworks brings together child observations and parent communication into a single platform. No chasing paperwork, no disconnected systems, no gaps in the evidence trail. 

If your nursery is serious about communication and language, eyworks is the operational foundation that makes the evidence stick.

Book a free demo to see how eyworks supports communication and language development tracking across your setting.