Any parent with a young child will know that time is precious. Between potty training, preparing meals and keeping on top of housework, we can end up with little time to plan fun activities to help our children learn.
So, what are the best ways to give your little one a fun and happy learning space at home? Any of the following activity types are a good place to start:
Chat
Speaking and singing rhymes with your child.
Play
Letting your little one’s imagination run wild with activities and games.
Read
Visiting the library and sharing books or stories.
Listen
Hearing sounds, songs and tuning in to your child’s chatter.
Watch
Looking at fun and colourful videos or apps together.
Write
Discovering letters and having a go at putting pen to paper.
Make
Getting creative and letting your little one put their mark on the world.
These kinds of activities, plus showing your love, affection and encouragement from us parents, are all a child needs to grow and meet their milestones.
The Department for Education’s Hungry Little Minds campaign, delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, advises keeping these activities as simple as possible to allow us to do everything else we need to do throughout the day.
Take a look at these great tips to try today:
Chat all day
Going shopping? Write a shopping list with your child first. Tidying up? Get your little one involved with mini challenges. Try: “Can you put away all the red lego first?”
Play outdoors
Take your favourite toys and games outside for a new kind of adventure! You could play hide-and-seek or explore the nature around you.
Read at bedtime
Just ten minutes of sharing stories as part of your evening routine will give your child the chance to learn new words and fall in love with reading.
Words for Life is filled with lots more activities to try at home.