Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Rollo's Chatter Ping Pong: Free Printable Game for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Rollo's Chatter Ping Pong is a free printable talking game for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children pick a bubble, talk about it with a grown up, and colour a ball for each reply. It needs only paper and a pencil. Page 2 gives the adult notes, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children pick a bubble that names something from everyday life, such as a rainy day, bath time, a day at the beach or an animal they like. The adult reads it aloud. Then child and adult take turns to talk about it, like a ball going back and forth across a table. After every reply the child colours a ball. At five balls, they pick a new bubble. There are also boxes for drawing or notes.
- A rainy day
- My favourite tea
- A walk to the park
- A birthday party
- Bath time
- A day at the beach
- Bedtime
- An animal I like
- Draw five balls. Colour one for each reply.
- Rollo went twice? Draw a feather here.
Getting ready to play
Print and cut
Print page 1 and cut out the cards. Keep page 2 aside for the grown up. Plain A4 paper in black and white is fine.
Pick a bubble
Let your child choose which bubble to start with. Choosing is a small way of speaking up, and it makes the game feel like theirs.
Take turns
Read the bubble aloud. One of you speaks, then the other. Keep the pace relaxed, so there is time to think before answering.
Colour and move on
Colour one ball after every reply. When five balls are coloured, stop and choose a new bubble. If Rollo takes two turns, draw a feather in the space on the sheet.
Why back and forth talk matters
Communication and Language is one of the prime areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Young children build their speaking and listening by taking part in real conversations, not only by hearing words. A chat has a shape. One person speaks, the other listens, then they swap. Practising that shape helps children feel confident about joining in with friends and adults.
Familiar topics make talking easier. Children already know about bedtime, birthdays, the park and the food they like, so they have something to say. Starting from what they know lets them focus on the skill itself: waiting for a turn, listening to the reply and adding a little more each time. Short rounds with a clear end keep the game playful.
Skills and curriculum link
- Taking turns to talk
- Listening to a partner
- Adding more than one word
- Speaking in a back and forth chat
- Sharing ideas about familiar things
Ideas for helping young children talk
- Wait a little longerCount slowly to five in your head before you speak again. Many children need a moment to find their words.
- Add a word backIf your child says one word, repeat it and add one more. This shows how to make a longer reply without correcting them.
- Follow their interestIf your child heads off in a new direction, go with it for a turn or two. Talk that matters to them tends to last longer.
- Show you are listeningLook at your child, nod and smile. Children talk more when they can see someone is really listening.
Key words
- TurnYour go. One person talks while the other waits and listens.
- BubbleA shape on the sheet that holds a topic to talk about.
- ReplyWhat you say back after someone has spoken.
- ListenUse your ears and attention to hear what someone says.
- PartnerThe person you play with and take turns with.
- TopicThe thing you are talking about.
How to use it
- Print both pages and cut out the cards. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Read the rules together first. Adult reads each bubble aloud, so everyone plays the same game.
- Take turns to speak. Colour a ball after every reply. Stop at five balls, then pick a new bubble.
- Work through it together the first time and talk about each choice. Use the boxes to draw or jot down ideas.
- Check the notes and answers on page 2. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use a simple question like "What did you see?" Accept one word first. Then say the word back and add one more to show how a reply can grow. Keep rounds short and stop while your child is still enjoying it.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to ask you a question back, or to say what happened next. They can also choose a bubble and be the one who leads the chat, deciding when each turn ends.
Make it a game
Rollo takes two turns now and then. When that happens, your child shouts "My turn, Rollo!" and takes over. Draw a feather in the space on the sheet each time Rollo goes twice.
Talk about it
- What is your favourite part of this bubble?
- Can you tell me one more thing about it?
- What would you do next?
- How do you think someone else feels about this?
- Can you ask me a question about it?
- What can you see in your head when you think about it?
Take it off the page
Puppet chat
Use a soft toy or sock puppet as a chat partner. Your child talks to the puppet, then the puppet replies and the child listens.
Draw and tell
Draw a picture of a favourite place or animal. Take turns to say one thing about it each, back and forth.
Pass the ball
Sit on the floor and roll a ball to each other. Whoever has the ball says one thing about their day, then rolls it back.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Short rounds work best. Try to listen more than you talk, and celebrate every reply, however short.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, a table activity or a small group talk game. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Pair children up, or work with a group and rotate who speaks.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider communication and language plan. It pairs well with picture books, outdoor play and everyday chat. Brothers and sisters can join in, and the sheet can be printed again for another go.
Where this fits in
Before this game, children are learning to enjoy sharing attention with an adult, to listen to simple questions and to answer with single words or short phrases. Songs, rhymes and picture books all help build that base.
After this, children can move on to longer chats with more than one reply on the same topic, telling a short story in order, and asking questions of their own. These skills support later work in reading, writing and group discussion.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Rollo's Chatter Ping Pong for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It can also work with slightly younger or older children who enjoy talking games with a grown up.
- What will children practise?
Children practise taking turns in a back and forth chat. They listen to a partner and try adding more than one word to a reply. It sits in the Communication and Language area.
- How do I play?
The adult reads a bubble aloud. You take turns to speak, and the child colours a ball after every reply. Stop at five balls, then pick a new bubble.
- What if my child only says one word?
That is a good start. Accept the word, say it back and add one more. For example, repeat their word in a short phrase. Then give them time to try it themselves.
- Are there right and wrong replies?
No. Any reply that fits the bubble is a good one. Page 2 has the notes and answers for the grown up to check against, but the aim is a friendly chat.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out the cards.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. Black and white on plain A4 paper works well. Your child only needs a pencil or crayon to colour the balls.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.