An adult and child smiling while the child plays with a bead maze

Tip 5


Tip 5: 'I love it when we play, sing and look at books together'

  • We can play with anything it doesn’t have to be toys. We can make funny faces together or play with a cardboard box.
  • Follow my lead when I am playing. This lets me use my
  • Talk to me about what I am doing rather than asking questions. I will talk more when you do this.
  • Sharing stories together helps me to learn new words and ideas. I love it when we talk about the story as we turn the pages. Let me see the pictures too.
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I love it when we play, sing and look at books together.

We can play with anything it doesn’t have to be toys. We can make funny faces together or play with a cardboard box.

Follow my lead when I am playing. This lets me use my

Talk to me about what I am doing rather than asking questions. I will talk more when you do this.

Sharing stories together helps me to learn new words and ideas. I love it when we talk about the story as we turn the pages. Let me see the pictures too.

BBC Tiny Happy People Clips

Tiny Happy People is a venture designed to tackle the language and communication gap launched by the BBC. The campaign includes a suite of free digital resources aimed at families and professionals working with children in the early years and comprises tips and advice, activities and short films to help close the language and communication gap. Below are a number of 90 second clips developed by BBC Tiny Happy People which illustrate Tip 5 for different people and ages of children.

Tip 5 - Best clips overall

Let's pretend (external website)

Fun with bubbles (external website)

Made up songs (external website)

Tip 5 - Best clip for babies

Bookstart for babies (external website)

Tip 5 - Best clip for toddlers

Who knew socks could be so much fun? (external website)

Tip 5 - Best clip for young children

Throwing game for focus and new words (external website)

Tip 5 - Best clip for dads

Me and Dad looking at books (external website)

Tip 5 - Best clip for children with additional needs

Meet Milo and learn about his communication (external website)

Tip 5 - Best clip for ethnic minority families

Gran helps out (external website)