COMMUNICATE
Communicating and Speaking
Encourage preschoolers to use language to communicate their ideas, wants, and needs
At A Glance
Preschoolers express themselves in increasingly complex ways. They use language to share ideas, ask questions, and connect with others. We can support children’s language development by modeling speech, expanding on their ideas, and encouraging back-and-forth exchanges.
What It Looks Like
A quick glance at ways you can support preschoolers' communicating and speaking skills
Encourage Conversations
Support children’s expressive language by encouraging and modeling talk throughout the day, like this educator does as they work in the garden.
Talk About Past Events
Conversations that go beyond the present moment, like this exchange about the child’s breakfast, allow children to use language in more complex ways like retelling a personal story.
Promote Turn Taking
Help children stick to a topic and extend ideas across many back-and-forth turns. Notice how this educator keeps the conversation going by asking questions and repeating back the child’s responses.
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES
Supporting Conversations
The Talking Stick strategy outlines ways that you can support children’s early conversation and communication skills.
This strategy is designed to help children grow in their ability to express themselves and listen attentively to others.
SUPPORTING COMMUNICATING AND SPEAKING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
The Kindest Red
Written by Ibtihaj Muhammed and S.K. Ali and illustrated by Hatem Ali, this story is about a young girl who finds ways to make the world a kinder place. The story is good for discussing the actions the characters take to help each other out.
SUPPORTING COMMUNICATING AND SPEAKING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Little Owl's Snow
Written and illustrated by Divya Srinivasan, this story is about an owl’s first experience with snow as they talk to the creatures of the forest. It provides opportunities to talk together about past and future events.
SUPPORTING COMMUNICATING AND SPEAKING SKILLS THROUGH BOOKS
Duck! Rabbit!
Written and illustrated by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, this book features a simple line drawing that can be seen as either a duck or a rabbit. Use the simple storyline to talk with children about what animal they see and why.
Activity Cards for Preschool Classrooms
Part of the STREAMin3 curriculum, these activity cards provide simple and fun ways to support children's communicating and speaking skills
Active Listening
Play music and ask children about what they hear with guiding and open-ended questions.
Story Add-On
Create a group story by prompting children to share ideas about what could happen next.
Topic Talk
Encourage children to engage in conversations about topics they are interested in.
Get Our Resource Guide
Includes questions and activities to guide your use of the videos, book suggestions, and activity cards featured for each of the Core Skills
