early help for children from 0 to 7
There are all kinds of things we love to do outside – walking, jumping, running around. But how often do we walk with our ears?
And sometimes we don’t have time for those things, because we have to get to the shops, or are running to get out of the rain!
There is so much going on to notice and learn from, and it takes no more time than what we were doing anyway.
We all get things wrong sometimes, so today we have a story about a dog who really tries his best
But it just does not go his way. Cakes are so tasty, and mud such fun to dig!
It’s a lovely story to read along with your child and enjoy
While you do this, they will be learning words, how stories work, how to make predictions (science!) and how to have fun by sharing experiences
And you can have some interesting chats about when we are naughty and it is OK to do our best even if we get things wrong sometimes. (Clue – yes, it is)
Or if you just want the story, it is here, with thanks to the Book Trust
Something active for what looks like another cold day.
This is not “just” bouncing and passing balls. Your child will learn a lot of science and maths – counting, how things move, forces.
Lots of words as well for describing movements, as they also develop their coordination skills. Great for sports, but also for school – hand/eye coordination is really important for writing, and a sense of space is vital for maths
But that’s for the future – click below for some ideas how to have fun, involve the whole family and learn at the same time. And if you still have a lot of snow about, then making and throwing snowballs is just as good
You can never have too much fun in the snow, and the learning never stops either while you play and talk together
Today, many of us have lots of snow around, so some sledging is great to learning about balance, speed, slipperiness – and the words to describe them
For those who like building, there are some ideas for snow castles – whole snow villages, why not?
Or for the artistic, some ideas for creating beautiful sculptures and patterns with things you can find around outside
Today we have a way to unleash the creativity of the whole family, and for young children it is a chance to try out mark-making, creating works of art and experimenting with shapes
Snow can be lovely at first, but it can quickly get a bit patchy and tired.
By using coloured water to draw on the snow, children are also playing with ideas about “how much”, “how far” and also practising making plans
It will probably also be quite a laugh – try not to mind if it gets rather silly too.
Or if you’ve still got lots of fresh snow, why not make a snowman, a snow dog, a nice snow-anything!
Children love playing with water, whether it’s splashing in puddles or in the bath. Not only is it great fun but they can learn so much through ‘skiddling’!
Todays ‘daily tip’ helps children learn about floating, sinking and so much more using everyday items.
Have fun!
There’s still quite a bit of ice around, and it is great stuff to explore and play with
Take care out and about – it can be slippery! But children can get so much from exploring the texture, the feel, the slidey surfaces
If you don’t want to venture out, or don’t have any ice nearby you can safely get to, then there is lots you can do indoors with a freezer or freezer compartment – try making some ice with your child, or taking some out and seeing how it slides across the table. What does it feel like to hold?
All the time, your child will be learning a lot of science, as well as about their senses and how to describe temperature and other experiences. They will be exploring water and how it can change – be warned, they may want to know how the freezer works!
It may be a bit grey and cold outside, but there is a whole world of learning and fun out there for young children (even if the weather is so bad you can only look at it through the window!)
Learning about seasons and the changes that happen is not just about science (important as that is). It also gives children a sense of stability in how the world works and makes life more predictable.
We could all do with a little of that right now, maybe.
So today’s idea is very simple. You may be going out anyway for a walk, to go to the shops, or just to get rid of cabin fever and away from the chores
It is a way to help your child learn to notice things, to see and feel what winter is like – and chat about it for as long as they are interested
Making a mess and getting all messy can be great fun. Clearing it up, less so! Sometimes parents worry about messy play – is it really worthwhile, what about the carpet or the dog?
But there is so much learning that happens through mess and exploring different textures and effects. Foam is also great for developing mark making and understanding shapes – all of which is part of getting ready to write
Today’s idea is very clean messy play as it involve soapy foam. Make sure you use a source for the foam that is OK for your child’s skin – if they have a favourite bubble bath, that is ideal
Guessing the sun might be out today – here is a song to celebrate, or to make us feel better if it turns out rainy!
A great one to dance around to this one, and to share with loved ones out and about (following physical distancing guidance of course)
Or you can stay home and have fun drawing or chatting about the weather
Today’s idea is to make a hot air balloon! Or a small one, at any rate
You can either use a black bin bag, or there is a version for ordinary small balloons. Instructions are on the downloadable sheet – please take care with safety and supervise children at all points.
This can be lots of fun – you can involve older children and family and even have balloon races
Meanwhile your child will learn lots of science, coordination skills and language – and we have some stories to look at too, or make your own
Something for outdoors today – or inside if you have a suitable space that can get a bit wet!
It is all-day fun, and great for developing concentration, movement skills, vocabulary, understanding of cause and effect, science …
Use empty bottles, cartons or anything else you have around the house to build a water wall. Attach them to something static like a fence using screws, cable ties or garden wire. A basin at the bottom means you can collect the water and refill the containers on the wall. If you keep the lids of the containers you can pop them on and collect rain water to use next time.
Something active for the end of the week and hoping for some good weather at the weekend too
This is not “just” bouncing and passing balls. Your child will learn a lot of science and maths – counting, how things move, forces.
Lots of words as well for describing movements, as they also develop their coordination skills. Great for sports, but also for school – hand/eye coordination is really important for writing, and a sense of space is vital for maths
But that’s for the future – click below for some ideas how to have fun, involve the whole family and learn at the same time
Making a pinwheel is easier than it looks and the fun is in watching them spin once they are finished.
It can also be really therapeutic for you and your children. Pinwheels can be used in mindfulness activities, to help you to concentrate on your breathing. Or just watching the spin and feeling how it changes as you blow helps with focus and calm
The patterns can be as simple or creative as you like. There are a couple of templates on the attachment below, but if you prefer you can start with a plain piece of paper and get arty!
Pinwheels make a super rainy day activity, but if you are lucky enough get a dry day why not take them outside and see if you can get them spinning in a breeze?
You don’t need special kit for this – you can make a bowling game out of old bottles and a ball
Be warned this is a game that could last all day – you can do it indoors or out, and involve the whole family in a tournament (but make sure your young child has a chance!)
A great way for your child to learn without even realising – about coordination, concentration, weights, movement, counting and turn taking
If you want, you can make the “pins” more special – your child might want to decorate them.
And there are chances to talk to your child about useful maths words like near and far, quick and slow, in front and behind, left and right, forwards and backwards
But it is mainly about having a happy time and forgetting any worries for a while
bumps to bairns 