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10 Outdoor Communication and Language Games for EYFS

Are you looking for new EYFS communication and language games to try? You’re not alone – it’s an area of learning you regularly search for new ideas on. It’s high on your list for good reason! A solid understanding of speaking to, listening and understanding others is the foundation for learning.

Moving beyond the usual indoor activities, we step into your EYFS outdoor space to share 10 exciting EYFS communication and language activities.

These games are designed to spark vocabulary growth, nurture essential social skills such as listening and taking turns, and encourage positive social interactions in the early years (without needing lots of resources).

What does the EYFS Framework say about Communication and Language?

“Children’s back-and-forth interactions from an early age form the foundations for language and cognitive development. The number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial.”

Department for Education

Practitioners are encouraged to read to children frequently, exposing them to a range of genres and vocabulary to be presented within context. Storytelling and role-play also offer valuable opportunities for children to share their thoughts with friends and teachers.

So, how can you help develop these crucial skills? Let’s dig into some communication and language activities!

10 Outdoor EYFS Communication and Language Activities for EYFS

Outdoor play offers a world of opportunities to develop EYFS communication and language skills in fun, natural, and engaging ways. From listening games to collaborative projects, the outdoor environment encourages rich conversation, expressive language, and meaningful interactions.

1. Sound Hunt

Invite children to walk around the outdoor area and listen carefully to the sounds they can hear—birds, the wind, rustling leaves, distant traffic, or footsteps. Afterwards, gather and talk about the sounds they noticed. You can even turn it into a guessing game: “Can you describe a sound without saying what made it?”

2. Mystery Bag

Place familiar and unusual objects in a cloth ‘mystery bag’. Children can then take turns feeling one item without looking and describe the shape, texture, and size before guessing what it is.

This supports descriptive language, such as “the shape has 4 corners” or “it feels soft and fluffy”, as well as boosting their vocabulary.

3. Story Circle

Start a story with a simple sentence (e.g., “One day, a bear woke up in a tree…”) and go around the circle, letting each child add a sentence. This encourages listening to others, imagination, and collaborative storytelling.

Easily create a captivating Story Circle with Fawns Rubber Mushrooms, perfectly sized for EYFS children. As well as Moveable Bench Set, another simple solution, allowing you to arrange seating in moments for engaging storytelling.

4. EYFS Construction Areas

We know role play and construction areas are top favourites for outdoor play spaces. EYFS construction area activities can help children to build the social skills necessary to build and maintain friendships as well as develop those all-important motor skills.

These engaging and imaginative areas, perfect for boosting vocabulary and collaborative play, can be easily created using  Activity Play Panels, Role Play Houses that spark creativity, and various Seating options.

5. Nature Puppet Theatre

Provide puppets and small backdrops for children to create short puppet shows. To start with give the children a range phrases to repeat (e.g., greetings or questions), helping to emphasise social interactions and storytelling language. Use sticks, leaves, and other natural materials to make simple puppets. Children can create characters and put on mini puppet shows in pairs or small groups.

A simple communication and language activity for EYFS children that will boost confidence and speaking skills at the same time. A win- win!

6. Outdoor Adventure Map Making

Children draw or create a map of the playground or garden (in small groups) using chalk or natural objects. This communication and language activity helps children to pattern spot, follow simple instructions and build the foundational early maths skills of map reading. Encourage children to use positional language like up, down, and around.

7. What’s Missing?

Display to children a tray with various outdoor objects. After they look at it for a minute, cover it and remove one item. Children will then need to figure out which item is missing and describe the items, practicing recall and precise language.

8. Follow the Leader

Similar to Simon Says, children take turns being the leader, giving simple actions for others to follow (e.g., “Clap twice, then touch your toes”). This helps develop attention and understanding of sequential commands.

A stage can help provide an effective visual focal point to clearly identify the leader. Performance Stages would be ideal for this purpose.

9. Simon Says – Nature Edition

Play a lively game of Simon Says using outdoor actions: “Simon says jump over the puddle,” “Touch a tree,” “Point to the sky.” Great for practicing listening, understanding, and following multi-step instructions in a playful way.

10. Quiet Conversations

Remember when you had cup and string telephones? And were convinced they worked? We have something a little more accurate to encourage those secret conversations.

Talking Flowers are an exciting way to share vocabulary, messages and incorporate into communication and language activities EYFS children will love.

All of these EYFS communication and language activities are designed to make speaking and listening an enjoyable part of everyday learning. Through storytelling, imaginative play, and active listening games, children will develop essential communication skills that support their overall development.

How can Fawns Help?

Ready to create an EYFS scheme for your playground? We understand the importance of creating engaging outdoor learning environments. To help you visualise and provide practical ideas, we’ve developed a range of specific EYFS playground case studies. Take a look today and discover how you can transform your space into an inspiring area for early years development.

If you would like to discuss any EYFS projects or have further questions regarding outdoor playground equipment that would be suitable for Early Years, feel free to Contact Us today.

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