In the formative years between two and four, children experience rapid growth in their speech and language abilities. These early stages of communication play a pivotal role in overall child development and lay the foundation for future literacy, cognitive ability, and social skills. At Little Mowgli Nursery, we believe in fostering language growth through purposeful, playful, and engaging Early Years Education. In this article, we explore speech and language development activities suited for toddlers and preschoolers, integrating elements of nature-based learning, creative nursery activities, and a well-thought-out nursery curriculum.
Why Speech and Language Development Matters
Before diving into the activities, it’s important to understand why focusing on speech and language is essential during this age:
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Cognitive Development: Children begin to understand abstract ideas and express thoughts.
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Social Skills: Language is crucial for initiating friendships and interacting with adults and peers.
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Emotional Expression: Expressing feelings through words reduces frustration and encourages emotional intelligence.
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Academic Foundation: Early vocabulary growth is strongly linked to later reading and academic success.
Little Mowgli Nursery recognises that language is not only taught—it’s experienced. Our holistic approach to child development combines structured learning with natural curiosity and exploration.
Setting the Stage: Nursery Rooms & Setup
The physical environment plays a key role in encouraging verbal interaction. At Little Mowgli, our nursery rooms and setup are designed to be language-rich spaces, filled with visual prompts, interactive displays, reading corners, and sensory areas. Low-level shelves, cosy reading nooks, and thematic corners (like a pretend bakery or garden) invite children to talk, question, and role-play.
Our approach includes:
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Accessible bookshelves with diverse storybooks and picture dictionaries
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Interactive walls with flashcards, felt boards, and expression charts
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Quiet zones for storytelling and listening
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Open-ended materials for imaginative play
Activity 1: Storytime Adventures
Keywords: Nursery Activities, Early Years Education
Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in early language development. Through books, children are exposed to sentence structure, new vocabulary, and expressive storytelling.
What We Do at Little Mowgli:
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Daily group reading with picture books and interactive sound books.
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Encourage “prediction” by asking questions like “What do you think happens next?”
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Let children retell stories using puppets and props.
Pro Tip for Parents: Choose books with repetition and rhyme, like The Gruffalo or Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Repetitive language helps build confidence.
Activity 2: Nature Walk & Talk
Keywords: Nature-Based Learning, Child Development
Outdoor experiences are perfect for developing observational language. During our nature-based learning sessions, children learn new words through sensory exploration.
Activities Include:
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Naming and collecting natural items (leaves, pebbles, feathers)
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Describing textures and colours
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Using action words like “crunch,” “float,” “flutter”
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Singing nature-themed rhymes and songs
This activity links beautifully with child development milestones, such as expanding vocabulary and using adjectives.
Activity 3: Role-Play and Dramatic Play
Keywords: Nursery Activities, Nursery Rooms & Setup
Children love to mimic adults. Dramatic play not only builds imagination but also provides endless opportunities to practise conversation and storytelling.
Examples of Role-Play Corners:
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Doctor’s Clinic: “What seems to be the problem?”
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Market Stall: “How many apples would you like?”
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Post Office: “Here’s a letter for you!”
At Little Mowgli Nursery, these corners are updated seasonally to keep children curious and engaged. Educators model and extend language use without interrupting play.
Activity 4: Sing-Alongs and Rhyme Time
Keywords: Early Years Education, Nursery Curriculum
Singing is an excellent way to promote rhythm, memory, and phonemic awareness. We use music daily as part of our nursery curriculum.
Our Favourite Songs for Speech Development:
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“Wheels on the Bus” – teaches verbs and action words
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“Old MacDonald” – expands animal vocabulary and sounds
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“If You’re Happy and You Know It” – builds emotion and action word connections
We also include multicultural songs to reflect the diverse backgrounds of our learners, promoting inclusivity and expression.
Activity 5: Show and Tell
Keywords: Nursery Activities, Parent Resources
This classic activity is ideal for encouraging expressive language. Children bring an item from home and talk about it in front of their friends.
Developmental Benefits:
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Builds confidence and articulation
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Encourages complete sentence formation
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Boosts listening skills among peers
Parent Tip: Ask your child to describe the object using three words (e.g., colour, use, and origin). At Little Mowgli, we send out parent resources suggesting weekly themes (e.g., favourite animal, something red, something round) to guide participation.
Activity 6: Messy Play and Sensory Language
Keywords: Child Development, Nursery Rooms & Setup
Sensory activities not only support fine motor skills but also provide rich vocabulary opportunities.
Examples:
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Describing textures (slimy, bumpy, sticky)
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Exploring smells and tastes
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Naming colours, shapes, and tools
Little Mowgli’s Setup Includes:
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Sand and water tables with descriptive word cards
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Playdough stations with rolling pins and cutters
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Finger painting and cornflour play
These setups promote spontaneous language while children are deeply engaged in hands-on fun.
Activity 7: Puppet Play and Dialogue Practice
Keywords: Nursery Activities, Nursery Curriculum
Using puppets helps shy children express themselves and allows educators to model appropriate sentence structure, greetings, and social exchanges.
Ideas:
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Two-puppet conversations to demonstrate turn-taking
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Emotion puppets to identify and name feelings
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Storytelling using puppets with a beginning, middle, and end
Little Mowgli integrates puppet play as part of the nursery curriculum, especially during circle time and literacy-focused sessions.
Supporting Speech at Home: Parent Resources
At Little Mowgli, we believe learning doesn’t stop at the nursery gate. Our parent resources include:
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Monthly language development newsletters
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Home activity packs with storytelling prompts and rhymes
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Video guides from our staff on supporting articulation and comprehension
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Access to apps and reading lists appropriate for 2–4 year olds
We encourage regular communication between home and nursery, reinforcing our belief in partnership-led early years education.
Safeguarding & Wellbeing in Communication
Children must feel safe and understood to communicate freely. Emotional security is the bedrock of all learning. Our safeguarding and wellbeing approach ensures:
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Every child has a key person who understands their language level
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Emotional needs are prioritised, especially for children with speech delays
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Respect for multilingual learners and use of home language in transition
Our staff are trained in recognising communication difficulties and offering early intervention through speech enrichment strategies and referrals when needed.
Nursery Management & Staff Role
Quality speech and language development starts with quality staff. At Little Mowgli Nursery, our nursery management and staff are:
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Trained in speech development milestones
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Skilled in observation and child-led interaction
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Equipped with CPD on language enrichment and inclusion
We work in collaboration with speech and language therapists when needed and ensure every staff member is a confident facilitator of conversation and learning.
Final Thoughts
Speech and language development in 2–4-year-olds is not just about talking—it’s about connecting, understanding, and expressing the world around them. At Little Mowgli Nursery, we blend nature-based learning, creativity, and thoughtful structure into everything we do, ensuring that children not only find their voice but also feel empowered to use it.
With our dedicated nursery curriculum, purposeful nursery activities, and committed nursery management and staff, your child’s communication journey is nurtured every step of the way.