Family Corner - Early Years Alliance

Today is World Elephant Day and a chance to celebrate these amazing animals. Perhaps you can sing elephant songs, dance to the music of the elephants in The Carnival of the Animals by the composer Camille Saint-Saens or read a story all about an elephant.

Perhaps you have heard of something called joint attention? This means paying attention at the same time to the things that your child is interested in. Watch and notice what they are concentrating on and talk to them about these things - they are much more likely to pick up on the language you are using and making connections between the words and the objects.

Are you taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge? It's not too late to start. Click on the link below to find out more and share some fantastic books together. Almost two and half million books have been read so far!
https://readingagency.org.uk/get-reading/our-programmes-and-campaigns/summer-reading-challenge/

Want practical tips on understanding what happens to us when we and our children are dysregulated?

Join our FREE Family Connect: can we all just stop yelling please?
Thursday 20 August, 10am - 11am

We'll have advice on emotional literacy, regulation, self-care and how we can all remember to just breathe and calm down again.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with others and learn how to create a more peaceful family dynamic.

This Family Connect will be delivered by Sam Walker, parenting therapist.

Secure your free spot: https://bit.ly/4yAUXL2

We've spotted more butterflies today and talked about the stages of their life cycle, from eggs to caterpillars to cocoons and finally, beautiful butterflies.

We have a song that we sing that helps us to remember and thought we'd share it with you. (It's sung to the tune of She'll be coming round the mountain). We add in actions too!

There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf, wiggle, wiggle
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf, wiggle, wiggle
There’s a tiny caterpillar, tiny caterpillar
There’s a tiny caterpillar on a leaf, wiggle, wiggle

He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full, munch, munch
He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full, munch, munch
He will eat the leaves around, eat the leaves around
He will eat the leaves around him ‘til he’s full, munch, munch

A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home, spin, spin
A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home, spin, spin
A cocoon is what he’s spinning, cocoon is what he’s spinning,
A cocoon is what he’s spinning for his home, spin, spin

Then he’ll be a butterfly and flap away, flap, flap
Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away, flap, flap
Then he’ll be a butterfly, be a butterfly,
Then he’ll be a butterfly and fly away, flap, flap

Its so important to protect our little ones from the sun - CBeebies Parenting has some simple to follow advice to keep everyone safe.

Tips for staying safe in the sun Whether you're heading to the beach, playing in the park or out in your own garden, it's really important to think about sun protection for little ones. Follow our tips on sun safety for kids and make sure everyone enjoys the sunshine safely when you're out and about.

Keen to support your child’s mathematical development? Join our free Family Connect: fun with maths!

Wednesday 5 August, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Children start learning about mathematics as young babies when they begin to explore the world using their senses.

During this session we will consider why the home learning environment is so important in supporting children’s mathematical development and share simple ideas about how you can support your child’s learning in the home using everyday objects.

Secure your free spot to join us online: https://bit.ly/3TuN6yp

Many of us enjoy a back garden barbeque at the end of a sunny day and the Better Health, Healthier Families websites has a few recipe suggestions that you might like to try - everything from koftas to pineapple!

BBQ and picnic recipes - Healthier Families Simple, fun and delicious – these healthier step-by-step barbecue and picnic recipes are perfect at any time of year.

We all have moments when we can get a little bit overwhelmed by our emotions. It can help to focus on our breathing as a way to return to a state of calm.

Thank you to thecontentedchild for this reminder that simply blowing bubbles can help.