Close observation of children involved with small-world play can provide a wealth of opportunities to develop their oracy and language skills, writes Anne O'Connor
Watch a child playing with small-world toys and it is likely you will hear talk of one kind or another. A very young or inexperienced child may appear to be 'babbling' - making noises as they move the farm animals around. Perhaps you will hear words and phrases as dinosaurs are made to march along in a line. You may hear complex dialogue between a parent and baby as the child is put to sleep in its cot in the doll's house. Or you may chance upon an elaborate retelling of 'The Three Bears', while plastic 'sorting' bears are moved around in a shoebox. Where two or more children are playing with the same toys, the possibilities for communication increase - although talk is not inevitable, and not all children will be vocal.
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