Speech is a basic means of communication, people use it to express their feelings, desires, needs, thoughts and knowledge. It is realized through language, and language development begins even before birth. Just as it is important to influence mental, physical and motor development, so it is important to influence speech and language. The child adopts and learns through the environment in which he is, so it is extremely important to surround the child with quality stimuli that will significantly affect the stages of language development. People involved in early and preschool education must be familiar with the stages of language development that a child goes through in order to notice deviations in a timely manner, and to be ready to react to them and prevent possible consequences. Language development is encouraged through play, conversation, asking questions and introducing children to literary genres, especially poetry, which abounds in poetic means and in a pictorial way stages children's familiar but also lesser-known concepts. Children's poetry encourages the development of speech in children in a fun and different way. Competent educators, parents and all people who make a great contribution to the upbringing of children and their overall development create a stimulating environment in which children subtly acquire knowledge that is important throughout life.