Learning Action Words: Verbs for Young Children
Children learn best when they can connect words with actions they see and do every day. Verbs, or action words, are an important part of early language development and help children describe what people, animals, and objects are doing.
In this activity, children are introduced to simple everyday verbs such as play, eat, sleep, run, sit, study, read, cook, write, draw, jump, and kick.
The second activity expands their vocabulary with more action words, including talk, wash, open, close, drink, lick, buy, throw, fly, erase, cut, and sweep.
Why Are Action Words Important?
Learning verbs gives children useful vocabulary that they can apply in their daily conversations, oral communication, and written activities. These are not just words to memorise — they are words children encounter and use regularly in everyday situations.
For children aged 4–6 years in M.E.T Prep, this provides valuable early exposure to vocabulary that can be reinforced through daily routines, conversations, oral practice, and simple written exercises.
Children can gradually move from recognising an action to using it in a sentence:
“I eat.”
“I read.”
“I wash.”
“I jump.”
“I write.”
Preparing for Primary 1
This type of vocabulary exposure also helps build a strong foundation for the transition to Primary 1, where children will encounter and use action words more frequently across classroom instructions, conversations, reading, and writing.
The goal is not simply for children to know what a verb means, but to become familiar and comfortable with using these words in different contexts.
With consistent exposure, repetition, and practice, children can develop stronger vocabulary, better sentence formation, and greater confidence in communicating.
Start with simple action words today — because the words children use every day become the foundation for what they will learn tomorrow.
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