As your child grows developmentally it is continuously important to help foster their growth using language in play and to start working on their literacy skills at a young age.  Children between the ages of 2 and 5 acquire a large amount of information about language.  They start by only being able to say two-word sentences to being able to use full sentences.  When you child reaches this age there is more that you can do for them besides simply reading to them to support the development of proper language and literacy skills.  The development of these skills is crucial in preparing them for Kindergarten. 

You can promote language play of your child by playing with them in activities that encourage them to use language to communicate.  Do not simplify for vocabulary for your child as if you were talking to a newborn.  Model an expanded language to encourage your child to use and understand a number of words.  Help them to use language when they are participating in dramatic play and make suggestions to how language could be used in various play activities besides dramatic play.  The use of language in dramatic play has shown to be a predictor of later achievements in reading.  To promote the use of language and literacy objects in dramatic play, provide your child with various props or materials that encourages them to include literacy behaviors in their play.  When your child does use the materials that support their literacy and language development, acknowledge their actions and give them praise for doing so.  If your child does not take to the literacy materials right away, enter into the playing and model how to use the props.  They may just not understand how to use it properly, and with watching you they will want to try it out for themselves.  If it is possible, set up themed centers that focus on literacy and language activities outside of their other regular activities that your child participates in on a regular basis.  For example you could set up a writing center/office that includes note pads and office supplies that are age appropriate. 

Outside of typical play settings there are things that you can do every day to aid in your child’s language development.  Talk to your child about the chores you do around the house.  Describe the objects or processes that they might not have heard of before.  Tell stories to your child about the family or things in history that have occurred.  Of course it is okay to tell make believe stories as well.  Children like to hear stories of another child facing obstacles that succeed in the end.  To encourage the development of positive literacy skills, make reading out loud a part of your everyday life.  This is part of exposing your child to new words.  When your child is creative in a drawing, painting, building, etc, ask them to tell you about it.  Also tell them how you feel about it by using interesting words.  Before you know it your child will be including more words in their vocabulary on a daily basis!

Source: Play and Child Development (2005) by Joe L. Frost, Sue C. Wortham & Stuart Reifel; How to Nurture Language Development – Preschool Children by Robert Needleman, M.D. F.A.A.P