Table Talk for Early Years

Table Talk for Early Years is a fun way to get younger children talking, exploring, having fun and spending quality time with others. It is designed to support good interactions between children and adults using words, imagination, body language, facial expressions, play, actions and songs. 

Research shows that good interactions between adults and children make a big difference to how well communication and language skills develop. Children benefit from being with responsive and enthusiastic adults who show interest in talking and playing with them.

Table Talk for Early Years contains 6 categories, with 7 questions/pictures in each: Questions; Can You; Let’s; Nature; Shapes; Emojis.

With the ‘Question’, ‘Can You’ and ‘Let’s’ cards you can take it in turns to pick a card. Everyone can have a go at either answering the question or completing the instruction or activity.

The idea with the cards is not to have the right answers but encourage imagination and vocabulary, as well as help children express what they think and feel. The questions and suggestions are a starting point so you can substitute ideas for other animals, characters etc. if you want to. The ‘Emoji’ cards can be used to talk about feelings whilst the ‘Shape’ and ‘Nature’ cards can be used on a scavenger hunt around the home, on a walk or whilst on a journey.