Language and communication skills are at the heart of early childhood development. The ability to express thoughts, share ideas, and understand others is essential for building confidence, friendships, and a love for learning. With World Book Day this week it is so important to look at storytelling.
But did you know that storytelling and open-ended play are some of the most effective ways to help children develop these skills? Whether your child is naturally chatty or needs a little extra support, play-based learning provides endless opportunities to expand vocabulary, practice communication, and boost confidence.
At Edx Education, we believe that play is the key to unlocking a child’s full potential. That’s why we create open-ended toys that spark curiosity and conversation. Today, we’re sharing five fun storytelling and play activities you can try at home to help improve your child’s language skills.
1. Build a Story with Maths Cubes
Maths isn’t just about numbers! Linking Cubes and Maths Cubes are fantastic for hands-on storytelling. Children can use different coloured cubes to represent characters, objects, or events in a story.
Activity:
- Encourage your child to build a character using cubes—perhaps a red cube for a superhero or a blue cube for a robot.
- Ask questions like, “Where does your character live? What do they love to do?”
- Work together to create an adventure by stacking cubes to represent different scenes.
This activity supports sequencing skills, helping children understand that stories have a beginning, middle, and end—an essential part of communication development.
2. Sensory Storytelling with Sand and Water Play
Sensory play is a powerful tool for communication, especially for children with language delays. Sand and water create a multi-sensory experience that encourages conversation, role-playing, and descriptive language.
Activity:
- Set up a sand or water tray and introduce toy animals, boats, or small figures.
- Narrate as you play: “The boat is floating! Oh no, the wave is coming!”
- Encourage your child to describe what they see and feel: “Is the water cold? How does the sand feel between your fingers?”
This type of interactive storytelling helps children expand their vocabulary, develop sentence structure, and gain confidence in expressing ideas.
3. Create Rainbow Pebble Story Art
Children love visuals! Rainbow Pebbles are ideal for combining storytelling with creativity. These colourful pebbles can be used to create story scenes, characters, and magical landscapes.
Activity:
- Ask your child to design a picture using Rainbow Pebbles—a jungle, an underwater world, or a magical castle.
- Once their scene is ready, encourage them to tell a story about it. Who lives there? What adventure will they go on?
- Add more pebbles as the story unfolds!
Using visual aids helps stimulate imagination and narrative skills, especially for children who struggle to express themselves with words alone.
4. Role-Playing Everyday Scenarios
Role-play is a wonderful way to develop communication skills and social confidence. Simple props and everyday toys can turn into imaginative storytelling tools.
Activity:
- Set up a pretend café, shop, or doctor’s office.
- Take turns playing different roles—customer and shopkeeper, doctor and patient.
- Use open-ended questions to prompt conversation: “What would you like to buy today?” “How can I help you?”
For children with language delays, role-playing provides a safe space to practice conversations, ask questions, and learn new vocabulary.
5. Turn a Favourite Book into a Play Experience
Books are full of rich language, and bringing a story to life through play enhances comprehension and speech development.
Activity:
- Choose a well-loved book and gather toys that match the characters or setting.
- Act out scenes using dolls, blocks, or soft toys.
- Encourage your child to retell the story in their own words. If they struggle, ask open-ended questions to guide them: “What do you think happens next?”
Repetition is key—hearing and repeating words in different contexts strengthens language retention and confidence.
Supporting Children with Language Delays
If your child is struggling with speech or language development, play can be an effective and stress-free way to encourage progress. Here are some simple strategies to help:
- Use short, simple sentences – Make it easier for your child to follow along.
- Expand on what they say – If they say, “Car fast,” you can respond, “Yes! The red car is going really fast!”
- Pause and give them time – Let your child think and respond without rushing them.
- Model correct speech – Repeat words and sentences clearly so they hear the correct pronunciation.
- Make it fun! – Language learning should never feel like a chore. Keep activities playful and engaging.
The Power of Play and Conversation
At Edx Education, we know that play is learning, and learning is play. By incorporating storytelling, role-play, and open-ended toys into daily activities, we can help children develop strong language and communication skills—all while having fun!
Want more ideas? Download our free educational resources and tune into our podcast Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education for expert tips on child development and play-based learning.
Let’s empower children to become confident, creative communicators—one playful conversation at a time!