Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Vocabulary Builder Kitchen Words: Free Printable Card Set for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Vocabulary Builder Kitchen Words is a free printable card set for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Children name everyday things in the kitchen, such as a cup, a spoon, a bowl and a fridge. They listen, point and say the words out loud with a grown up. It is screen free and needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out.
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. Page 1 is the activity for children. Page 2 is for the grown up and has notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
This is a set of picture cards to cut out and use. The cards show things children see in the kitchen at home, from a cup and a plate to a kettle, a pan and a tap. A grown up says each word clearly. The child looks, points and copies the word. There is no writing and no pressure to get things right.
- cup
- spoon
- plate
- bowl
- fork
- kettle
- fridge
- pan
- tap
Ways to build on the words
Match card to real thing
Lay a card on the table and let your child find the real object at home. Start with safe things such as a cup, a spoon or a bowl.
Add a short sentence
Once a word feels easy, add one more word. Say "big spoon" or "my cup" and let your child copy the whole phrase.
Let your child be the teacher
Swap roles. Your child holds up a card and you try to name it. Then make a funny mistake on purpose so they can correct you.
Use the words in real moments
At snack time, name the cup, the plate and the bowl as you set the table. Everyday talk helps new words stick.
Why name things in the kitchen?
Young children learn most of their first words from the people around them. They hear a word, see the object and try to say it. The kitchen is a good place for this because it is full of things your child sees every day. Familiar objects make new words easier to remember.
Naming games also build listening. When a child points to the card you have named, they show that they understand a word before they can say it. For many children that understanding comes first. Short, friendly sessions, with plenty of praise for trying, help children feel confident about speaking.
The kitchen has real dangers. A grown up handles anything hot, sharp or switched on, including the kettle, pans, the hob, the oven and knives. Use the cards for the kettle and pan rather than the real ones. If you show a real one, a grown up holds it and it must be cold and switched off. Keep children well away from anything hot.
Skills and curriculum link
- First words
- Listening
- Naming objects
- Pointing and matching
- Copying sounds
- Speaking with a grown up
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Communication and Language | Speaking | Ages 2 to 3 |
What children will be able to do
- I can name things I see in the kitchen.
- I can say new words out loud.
- I can point to a thing when I hear its name.
Helping young children learn new words
- Say it clearlySay the word slowly and clearly, then pause. This gives your child time to listen and to try the sound themselves.
- Real things firstChildren learn best when they can see the real object as well as the picture. Pair each card with something in your home when it is safe to do so.
- Repeat oftenYoung children need to hear a word many times before they use it. Come back to the same cards on different days.
- Praise every tryA part word or a sound that is close counts. Smile, say the full word back and keep it playful.
Key words
- CardA small piece of paper with a picture on it.
- PointHold out a finger to show which one you mean.
- NameThe word we use for a thing. A name tells us what it is.
- ListenUse your ears and stay quiet so you can hear.
- CopyDo or say the same thing that someone else did or said.
- KitchenThe room in a home where we get food ready.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself. A grown up cuts out the cards.
- Lay a few cards on the table. Say each word clearly and let your child look at the picture.
- Ask your child to point to a card when you say its name. Then swap, so they try to say the word.
- Where it is safe, point to the real thing in the kitchen. Use the cards for hot or sharp items.
- Stop while it is still fun. Come back another day, because repeating familiar cards builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with only two or three cards. Say the word clearly and let your child copy. Hold the card next to the real object so they can see the link. If they only point, that is fine. Add one new card at a time.
To stretch confident children
Ask "Can you find the spoon?" Then ask a follow up question about it. Encourage short sentences, such as "I see the bowl." Let confident children choose a card and name it for you, then ask you a question back.
Make it a game
Hide one card and ask, "Which is missing?" Lay out a few cards, ask your child to close their eyes, then take one away. They look and name the missing card. Add more cards as they get quicker.
Talk about it
- What is this called? Can you say it with me?
- Which card is your favourite? Why do you like it?
- Can you point to a card with something we eat with?
- Which of these can we see in our own kitchen at home?
- What would you like to make in the kitchen with a grown up?
- Can you tell me what sound this word starts with?
Take it off the page
Kitchen word hunt
Walk around the kitchen with a grown up and name safe things you see, such as the cup, the bowl and the spoon. Point and say each word. Leave anything hot or sharp to the grown up.
Tea party
Set out a toy cup, plate and spoon for teddies. Name each one as you give it out. Ask your child which teddy gets which.
Sink and bubbles play
With a grown up beside you, play with a bowl of cool soapy water and a plastic cup and spoon. Name each item as you play and talk about what you see.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child and let them lead. Keep it short and playful, and stop when they lose interest. Say words clearly, praise every try and use the same words in daily life, such as at snack time.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a table activity or a small group language session in Early Years. Match it to Communication and Language. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas, so you can adapt it for children at different stages.
Home educators
Pair these cards with books, role play and real kitchen routines. You can reuse them for brothers and sisters. Add new words from your own home so the vocabulary stays meaningful for your child.
Where this fits in early language
Before this, children listen to talk, point at things they want and say their first sounds and words. This card set builds on that by giving them a small, familiar group of words to learn together with a grown up.
After this, children begin to join words into short phrases, such as "big cup" or "my spoon". They then ask questions and talk about what they are doing. Later they learn to recognise letters and sounds, which helps with early reading.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What is this called, and what do we use it for?
- Can you find something that is hot, and one that is cold?
- What would you like to make in the kitchen?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Vocabulary Builder Kitchen Words for?
It is written for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Younger children can listen and point. Older children can say the words and use them in short sentences. Adjust the activity to suit your child.
- What will children practise?
They practise first words by naming everyday objects in the kitchen. They also practise listening, pointing to the right card and copying the sounds a grown up makes. It supports early speaking and understanding.
- Do children need to write anything?
No. This is a talking and pointing activity. Children look at the cards, listen to the words and say them aloud. A grown up cuts out the cards beforehand, so no writing or cutting is needed from the child.
- What if it feels too hard?
Use fewer cards and go slowly. Say the word clearly and let your child copy. Hold the card next to the real object where it is safe. Add one new word at a time and stop while it is still fun.
- Is it safe to use in the kitchen?
Yes, if a grown up stays in charge. Adults handle anything hot, sharp or switched on. Use the cards for items like the kettle and pan. Keep children well away from hot things and point only at safe objects.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a starter, a table activity or a small group language task in Early Years. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out. It links to Communication and Language, at the speaking strand.
- Is it free, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No, you do not need colour. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. You can reuse it for brothers, sisters or another day.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.