English for FunToys and musical instruments in English
Tap a picture to hear the word. Toys are the words children most want to say, so they are a happy place to start.
Tap to hear
Good to know
- With instruments English says "play the": play the piano, play the guitar, play the drum.
- With toys it is "play with": play with a ball, play with a robot.
- Teddy bear is two words. Yo-yo has a hyphen.
Play at home
- At tidy-up time, name each toy as it goes in the box.
- Hide a toy and give clues in English: "It is round. You can kick it." (a ball)
- Pretend to play instruments and let your child guess: drum, guitar or violin?
Practise with Word Island
Word Island practises toy and music words, together with school words, on Toy Box and School, which opens with full access. Each pack is a set of short games where the child hears, picks and builds the word, says it out loud, and then meets all the pictures again.
Free printable
A one-page A4 chart for "Toys and musical instruments in English". Print it for the fridge, the classroom wall or pointing practice. Free to share.
Questions
Why "play the piano" but "play football"?
English uses "the" with musical instruments but not with sports or games. Young children just need to copy the phrase.
Are trophy and ticket toys?
They are in the toy and music packs of the game, as fun objects children recognise.
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