Learning Welsh: Welsh language activities for early years

Support for early years practitioners to learn Welsh language and support children to learn Welsh too. 

NDNA Cymru was funded by the Welsh Government to provide support to settings in Wales, in embedding Welsh language among staff and children.

Whilst working with settings across Wales that attended Camau Welsh language courses, nurseries requested more Welsh language support from NDNA Cymru through fun activities. See our fun activity factsheets below, with accompanying videos, which include Welsh words and the English translations throughout. Further information on Camau courses can be found on the CWLWM website. 

Free NDNA Cymru Welsh language resources

Bubble blowing

This simple and fun activity factsheet can help to calm children’s breathing if they are feeling stressed, anxious or over stimulated.

Download Bubble Blowing factsheet

Natural art

Arts and crafts provide children with a unique, fun opportunity to learn and improve their skills. See natural art ideas in this factsheet while learning Welsh words along the way.

Download Natural Art factsheet

Talking time

Use this picture cards activity to further extend children’s vocabulary by having fun and playing the game of “Eye Spy with My Little Eye” / “Be Wela i hefo llygaid bach fi”.

Download Talking Time factsheet

Create a Wintery Scene

Create a wintery scene / creu golygfa gaeafol by making snow cloud dough / Toes cwmwl eira with this factsheet.

Download Wintery Scene factsheet

Rainy day

Showers give us short bursts of rainfall, leaving beautiful rainbows / enfys to admire and exciting puddles / pyllau to jump in. There are lots of fun things you can do with rain / glaw, find out more in this factsheet.

Download Rainy Day factsheet

Dear zoo

This factsheet will introduce children to new words through story time / amser stori and by taking part in this mask making activity.

Download Dear Zoo factsheet

Sand and water

Provide children with the opportunity to play with wet / dry sand and cold / warm water with this factsheet, encouraging the children to use their sensory skills.

Downlaod Sand and Water factsheet

Camau Welsh language training

Summer 2017 saw the launch of Cymraeg 2050.  The Welsh Government stated: “Since increasing Welsh-medium early years childcare provision is essential to our aim of achieving a million Welsh speakers, we need to ensure a coordinated plan to develop this important workforce”.  

The Welsh Government funds NDNA Cymru and CWLWM partners to support the early years workforce with the Welsh language, as well as supporting those who embark on a course through the Camau scheme. Camau is a specific Learn Welsh scheme for the early years education and childcare workforce. 

NDNA Cymru has a host of free resources to help and assist practitioners to embed the Welsh Language above. In addition, NDNA Cymru offers ongoing support to all our members with the Welsh Language, see more information on this below, as well as providing after care support to those who have attended the Camau courses. 

See our case study all about Sunray Day Nursery's Camau experience here.

See Camau courses here

Bespoke Welsh language support for nurseries

This project funded by the Welsh Government also allowed us to put in place a Welsh Language Coordinator to support settings on an individual basis.

Contact our Welsh Language Coordinator, Deborah Davison, at the NDNA Cymru office here.

See all NDNA Cymru support