Play continues to be crucial to support on-going language and communication development at this age.
Role play involves using imagination, where children are able to pretend to be somebody or something else. They copy and practice words they have heard others say helping to develop vocabulary and language skills. In taking a role they learn to see how it feels to have another point of view, it can help children to learn to empathise with others which helps their social and emotional development.
Children should continue to be encouraged to engage in exploratory play, to try different things helping develop curiosity and to try different strategies which helps encourage problem solving skills.
Opportunities for small world play continue to be important as children create scenarios and stories, forming narratives, they talk about characters and what they are doing or going to do. They practice different voices and actions, link ideas and develop more abstract language.
The increasingly co-operative nature of the play provides opportunities to practice using language for different purposed including arguing, questioning negotiation, explaining and directing what other do. Their play and communication helps develop their understanding of words and they learn new vocabulary from each other.
In addition, children are aware that in order to participate well in the game they need to listen to others in order to respond and follow the rules of the game in an appropriate manner. Acting out situations such as home life, going to school, shopping or going to the vets help develop imagination, and social skills such as turn-taking.
You can support your child by giving them lots of opportunities for varied play, encourage them to explore both inside and outside, promote role play. Support them in playing with others, discuss what they are doing and the support them in situations with others that may need negotiating, let the children lead the play.
Click here to see a help sheet about helping your child to interact with others
