Play and Learning
Learning can be fun and takes place everywhere. Parents do make a difference to their children's learning! You are never too old or too young to learn.
Children learn through play and playful experiences. Often the simplest of everyday tasks at home, family events and outings can provide rich possibilities for your child's learning in a fun and meaningful way for them.
The best learning play happens when you support your child in helping them to predict, explore, talk, imagine and practise skills. Help your child to take time before playful activities to get ready to learn by discussing what it is that they are going to find out about or enjoy.
Support the play by making sure that space, time and appropriate resources/materials/toys are available for your child.
After play, at a time when it is right for you and your child this might be before bedtime or after/over a mealtime etc, take time to talk to your child about what they were doing, what they enjoyed and what they had found out. Your home can be a great resource for learning.
Children will use sight, hearing and movement to learn about themselves and their world. Think about what you have at home in each room that will help children use their senses to learn.
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Are there spaces where your child can put up a poster of something they like or a drawing they are proud to have done? Is there time and space for your child to help with baking and cooking, measuring in jugs, counting spoonfuls etc?
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At family meal times is there a chance to talk about what your child has been doing that day?
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Can you make bath time a chance for chat and for scientific exploration? Encourage your child to find out what floats and sinks and play pouring and squirting games safely in the bath!
In the garden, let your child have their own bit of garden for growing things.
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If you don't have a garden, you could help them to plant some seeds for window boxes or small windowsill herb gardens.
Make the most of TV by watching programmes with your child, then talk about what you have seen.
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Follow up an interest by referring to books or toys that link to the programme.
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Discuss rules about TV times and when the TV should be off or on! Use the TV guide to plan with your child what to watch.
Remember that mirroring the playfulness of your child can really help them to make sense of the world especially when you can share your knowledge and skills and offer your guidance and advice through play experiences.