Birth to 3 years: how you can help me with my learning

Communication and Language

Use a sing-song voice, this helps me tune in to language
Respond to my babble
Talk about what you are doing “I’m pouring out your milk into the cup”
Have back and forth ‘conversations’ – play ‘peekaboo’ and copy-cat games
Talk to me in our home language
Sing songs and rhymes during everyday activities like nappy changes
Tell me the names of things as I pick them up to explore. I need to hear a variety of words
Listen and wait for me to speak or communicate with a sound or a look first. Repeat and build on what I say by adding one or two words
When you talk to me, give me time – 10 seconds helps me understand and think of a reply.

I need loving, responsive, playful interactions with you
Find out what makes me feel calm - rocking, cuddling or singing
Offer me manageable choices between two things
Let me help get snack or lunch ready and learn to pour my own drink
Help me understand my feelings by using words to label my feelings like ‘sad’, ‘upset,’ ‘angry’
Model turn taking – “Can I have a turn?” “My turn next”

Put me on my tummy or back, on a soft mat or blanket so I can kick my legs and roll
Let me sit on you, climb over you, and rock, bounce or sway with you
Give me lots of opportunities to be active outdoors in all weathers!
Give me lots of different things to grasp, hold, squeeze and explore, like finger paint, playdough, spoons, brushes, shells
Let me try to put my shoes on
Play ball games with me

Give me stacking cups and blocks (or cardboard boxes!) Use words like ‘in’, ‘on’, ‘more’, ‘lots’
Count with me as you put my clothes on, e.g. “One sock, two socks”
Sing finger rhymes with numbers e.g. Two Little Dicky Birds
Let me explore ‘full’ and ‘empty’ with containers in the bath

Snuggle up and share board & cloth books with me. Point to and name things to help build my vocabulary
Share books that let me see people of different races, cultures and gender
Give me chunky pencils/crayons/chalks to explore

Introduce me to new grown-ups so I can start to make relationships
Make me a treasure basket with objects like vegetables, wooden pegs, spoons, pans, corks, cones, balls
Let me explore the natural world. Stand in the rain with wellies and an umbrella, splash in puddles, look for worms and minibeasts

Expressive Arts and Design

Give me a big piece of paper on the floor to see what marks I can make with my hands, feet, a paintbrush. Let me make a mess!
Sing to me. Let me hear different types of singing, sounds and music from other cultures and languages.