Enchanted Play

There are many reasons as to why a child may be a reluctant reader. Here are a few to consider:

•Difficulty sustaining attention
•Sight/hearing difficulties
•Fear of ‘getting it wrong’ when trying to read
•Frustration/too much pressure
•Reading for too long
•Lack of illustrations
•Books that are developmentally inappropriate (too young/too advanced)
•Learning difficulties
•Books being read to them in a monotone way/lack of enthusiasm

Strategies/tips to encourage reading:

•Assess if there are any visual, hearing or learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Speak to your child’s key worker, teacher, GP, Senco if there are any concerns.

•Choose books your child is interested in, take your child to your local library so they can choose. It may be a book you think is too young or easier than your child’s level but this is a good way to encourage reading and develop comprehension.

•For boys especially, funny/silly books are usually a winner! There are many books based on their favourite game, film or tv series.

•When reading to your child use expression and change your pitch to make the story more interesting to listen to and prompt their imagination.

•Create a story basket using props such as puppets, teddies, figures to act out the story, bringing the story to life!

• Create a musical story eg. We’re going on a bear hunt - use instruments to make sounds for water, mud, wind etc. Engaging way to encourage interest, listening and attention.

•Take turns reading sentences or a page/chapter each.

•Reading doesn’t have to be a book! It could be comics, magazines, words on signs, even on their iPad if needs must.

•Only read for a few minutes at a time, gradually increasing the time as the child sustains attention for longer.

• Don’t put too much pressure on your child sounding out every word correctly. Help your child by saying the word they’re struggling with. Sound it out and say it again then move on.

Praise, patience and perseverance. They will get there in their own time with a little help and encouragement 💜

Autumn leaves 🍁

After looking at and discussing the changing trees and leaves outside we set up a simple painting activity of finger painting leaves using autumnal colours.

We paired this activity with a lovely story ~
The Oak Tree by Julia Donaldson 🌳

Small World Garden 🌱🦕🪴🧚🏻‍♀️

⏭️ Swipe to see how to create your own small world garden with your children🪴

My two really enjoyed this activity, choosing their themes and designing their layouts. Makes learning about plants a little more fun and they can keep coming back to it to play and take care of their plants.

What would your little ones create? ✨

Painting Flower Pots 🪴

It’s so we’ve been doing a few gardening themed activities over half term learning about plants, how to take care of them and developing lots of skills 🌺

My children decorated their flower pots using acrylic paint, pva glue and sequins. So simple! 🎨🖌️

They make cute gifts! They decorated one for their great nanny and potted a plant in it for her as a little gift 💝

I came across this sketch which is now nearly 30 years old! Yet is still relevant today….you can see that the children look as though they are ‘just playing’ on the surface, but when you deep dive into what they are actually doing you’d be surprised at how much learning is taking place. Food for thought 💁‍♀️

Sketch created by Sandra J. Stone who is a professor, researcher and author who has spent her entire career studying play and its effects on children.

How can I support my child’s learning through play?
 
Play with them! If only for a few minutes a day, following your child’s interest. This may be playing with a toy, a game or activity - singing rhymes or jumping in puddles! Not only are you bonding with your child but you will be supporting and encouraging language and social and emotional development.  

There will be opportunities to extend learning by introducing new vocabulary or adding resources to their play. For example adding a bowl of soapy water and sponges to wash their toy cars with 🚗

Hope this helps someone and their little one at home to enjoy playing together and feel a little more confident in doing so, knowing you are helping them to learn through play! 💜

Children engaged in play are doing so much more than ‘just playing!’

They are discovering and processing the world around them. Thinking creatively, using their imagination, making connections and developing socially and emotionally.

Learning through play is so beneficial for children at any age! This is why it’s so important that we make time for play, lots of it! 💜

What is ‘Learning through play’?
 
Play is one of the most important ways in which children learn to make sense of the world around them, using their natural curiosty!
 
Encouraging and facilitating play is one of the best things you can do for your child, whatever their age!

Providing a playful environment and resources allows children to initiate and follow their own ideas and interests in their own way.

Children also benefit from adult led play, following your child’s interest! This is a great way to introduce a new skill or concept in a playful and fun way to your child.

Playing with your child is a lovely way to bond and develop their emotional and social skills too!

Happy playing,
💜

Construction Site 🚧

Make gloop/oobleck ‘concrete’ by making up your usual mixture of cornflour and water but leave to set overnight. The longer you leave it the more dried out and hard it becomes. The perfect base for little construction fans to dig into!

Provide water and a pipette to be added to the concrete base, your child will then discover how the mixture changes!

Happy Playing 💜