2.5y–4.2y12 minStory timeFree playFamily time
Complex Sentence Booster
Help your child stretch from simple statements to longer, clearer sentences by modelling and practising ‘and/because/when’ during a short storytelling game.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 2–3 small toys or objects (e.g., car, teddy, spoon)
- a cushion or blanket to be the ‘story stage’
Nice to have
- a few familiar photos (phone or printed)
- paper and crayon for a quick ‘story picture’
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneComplex connected sentencesMind· 4y–5y· core· Steps 1, 2, 3
- MilestoneLonger sentencesMind· 3.3y–5y· core· Steps 1, 4
- MilestoneExplains causesMind· 3.8y–4.6y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneUses talk to organise, sequence and clarify thinking, ideas, feelings and events.Mind· 3.3y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneUses three- to five-word sentencesMind· 2y–4y· core
- MilestoneOrders a complete familiar sequenceMind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneUses a range of tenses (e.g. play, playing, will play, played).Mind· 2.5y–4.2y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneAdds a sequenced storylineMind· 4y–5y· stretch
- MilestoneTalks About Past and Future EventsMind· 2.5y–3y· core· Step 4
What it practices
- Beginning to use more complex sentences to link thoughts (e.g. using and, because).Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Can retell a simple past event in correct order (e.g. went down slide, hurt finger).Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Questions why things happen and gives explanations. Asks e.g. who, what, when, how.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses a range of tenses (e.g. play, playing, will play, played).Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Help children expand on what they say, introducing and reinforcing the use of more complex sentences.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)