Talk talk
Talking to and really listening to your child is an important part of teaching them to communicate. Make sure there are times when background noise is to a minimum and really get down to your child's level to chat to them. As your child grows up and begins to talk more and more help him put words together, ask lots of questions to help them develop their ideas and role play and acting out stories create rich opportunities for using and learning language.
Sing, sing a song
Songs and rhymes are one of the most important pre-cursors to reading. Sing songs and chant rhymes often with your child. There are loads of lovely counting and action rhymes that they will enjoy. Joining a baby music group or a rhyme time session in your local library is a great thing to do too.
1, 2, 3...
Whether you are doing up buttons, skipping along the street or lining up teddies you can start to teach your children how to count. Say the words 1,2,3...as you point to objects and also sing loads of counting songs and rhymes. By the time your child is three they will begin to recognize and be proud of their own number (3). Spot the number 3 on house numbers and in stories (3 bears, 10 little fingers etc). Make numbers fun and meaningful from the off.
Splish splash
Playing in the bath or in water can be great fun. Why not try some easy floating and sinking experiments? Take various items (stone, potato, plastic toy etc) and see which sink and which float. Use measuring jugs to teach your children about pouring and concepts such as 'full' and 'empty'. Bath times are a great time to enjoy songs and rhymes with your child too.
Roll that dice
Board games are brilliant for teaching young children counting skills and also other skills such as taking turns and learning that they won't always win! Rolling a dice and counting out moves is a great introduction to numbers and the idea of a number line. There are some fantastic games for pre-schoolers 
Curl up with a book
Share books and foster a love of reading with your child. Read to them often, making the stories exciting with funny voices, actions and even acting out well loved tales with puppets. Enjoy sharing and choosing books together at your local library and there is nothing better than snuggling up to read a bedtime story. Make books part of your every day.
Scribble and scribe
From chunky crayons to chalks on the pavement, let your child enjoy making marks and 'writing' often. When shopping make a list with words and pictures and enlist your child as a shopping helper. Later show your child how to write the first letter of their name too. Let your child 'write' their own words and sentences too. They might just be scribbles but ask them to 'read' their words back to you and praise them for their writing.
The natural world
Children love the great outdoors. When you are out and about point out and talk about the changes in nature such as the tress losing their leaves, flowers blossoming in sporing. Hunt for bugs and talk about the creepy crawlies you discover. Plant cress seeds or a a sunflower seed with your child and watch as they grow, talking about the plant' s life cycle. Most of all enjoy walking, running, jumping in puddles, climbing and skipping. Your child is practising all sorts of gross motor skills as well as soaking up knowledge of the world around them.
Big questions
Words all around us
Point out letters and words in the world around you. Read street signs, menus, shop signs and notices. Find letters your child might recognise. Have fun playing games with words, finding words that rhyme or words that just sounds lovely or funny as they roll off the tongue.
Pretend games
Pretend games are a special part of childhood that will conjure many a cherished memory for our little ones. From simple role-play games to dressing up and make believe, there are many ways to inspire little minds to explore their imagination.
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