The childminders were asked to think of ways in which talking tins could be used for, here are some of their wonderful ideas. Try them for yourself!

• Animal noises
• Circle Time
• Story time/chinese whispers
• Naming colours and learning to count, alphabet or learning my name is.....
• Shopping list
• To follow simple instructions
• Play guess who/what or Simon Says...
• Record parent's voice
• Noises from inside/outside environment
• Treasure hunt
• Singing songs and nursery rhymes
• Give children simple instructions
• Use in role play
• Record child's achievement for parents/carer
• Children singing rhymes after parent/carer sings
• Guess the animal sound
• Word recognition - their way then parent/carer way then expand
• Verbal pictionary
• For older children give them instructions to run or jump
• Record musicial notes that child can try and copy
• Child to say what their favourite....food, play activity, place etc
• Use if not confident in asking for things
• Learning a new word in a different language
• Mucial instruments to acompany a story or the alphabet
• ID/parent/carer phone number for on a trip
• For learning difficulties
• Message to parent/carer
• Health and hygiene - 'now wash your hands'
• Speech therapy - helping words to be put into practice
• Maths and problem solving for older children
• To encourage socialising for quieter children
• Teaching manners
• Fire alarm noise - for practice and in a real incident
• Noises and sounds to help a baby develop their skills
• Physical - fine motor skills - learning how to use the talking tin