Early language skills through play.......

1. Experiences Build Brain Architecture

2017-09-29T12:03:00.001+01:00

Small worlds for play

2017-09-11T18:57:00.004+01:00

I have been introduced by a friend to this amazing site....You Clever Monkey. Fantastic ideas galore. I particularly like this post about 50 + small worlds to inspire play. Pop on over and see more.
http://www.youclevermonkey.com/2015/10/imaginative-play-ideas.html

Afasic Family Day out at Loggerheads

2017-04-03T22:54:00.001+01:00

Afasic Cymru have a fantastic family day out coming up in Loggerheads Country Park. See the attached poster for more details and don't forget your picnic!

Michael Rosen - Tips for reading bedtime stories

2017-02-09T16:23:00.001+00:00

Words for Life - Bilingualism: Frequently asked questions

2017-02-09T16:21:00.001+00:00

Words for Life - Bilingualism: Frequently asked questions

Words for Life - Top tips for reading stories aloud

2017-02-09T16:20:00.003+00:00

Words for Life - Top tips for reading stories aloud

Words for Life - Talking with your grandchild

2017-02-09T16:20:00.001+00:00

Words for Life - Talking with your grandchild

Words for Life - Tips for technology with 3-5 year olds

2017-02-09T16:17:00.003+00:00

Words for Life - Tips for technology with 3-5 year olds

Words for Life - Tips for technology with 0-3 year olds

2017-02-09T16:17:00.001+00:00

Words for Life - Tips for technology with 0-3 year olds

Words for Life - For parents and carers of children who are deaf*

2017-02-09T16:16:00.003+00:00

Words for Life - For parents and carers of children who are deaf*

Words for Life - Talk To Your Baby for parents of children who are born prematurely

2017-02-09T16:16:00.001+00:00

Words for Life - Talk To Your Baby for parents of children who are born prematurely

Words for Life - Why reading is good for talking

2017-02-09T16:15:00.001+00:00

Words for Life - Why reading is good for talking

Words for Life - A parent’s guide to television

2017-02-09T16:14:00.003+00:00

Words for Life - A parent’s guide to television

Words for Life - Which way should a buggy face?

2017-02-09T16:14:00.001+00:00

Words for Life - Which way should a buggy face?

Space sensory tub

2017-02-09T15:55:00.001+00:00

At the moment in one of my groups I am working on 'Space' themed activities whilst developing children's early language skills through play.

One of the play items I have recently put together is this 'Space' themed sensory box. It was really easy to put together and the children have had so much fun with it, that I have to take it back to every session. You can use a variety of items to put your sensory bin together.

Here is a list of what I used:

A box with a lid
Ordinary white dried cooking rice
Pack of wild rice to mix in
A thunder birds space rocket with sound effects
A selection of small play spaceships
A metal space shuttle
A toy from a children's meal that lights up when pressed
A selection of space small world play items
A pack of planets in various sizes

I mixed the toys into the rice and asked the children if they could find the.......small spaceship, big spaceship etc.

I asked them questions about what they found such as 'what noise do you think it makes', 'what can we do with it', asking open ended questions.

You could also take pictures of the items and ask the children to find them and match to the pictures while telling you about the items.

They also just love playing make believe with the items and having fun with the sensory side.

The Hungry Caterpillar downloadable resource pack from Pacey

2017-02-08T19:56:00.003+00:00

PACEY (Professional association for childcare and early years).

PACEY is the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years. Formed in 1977, they are a charity dedicated to supporting everyone working in childcare and early years to provide high quality care and early learning for children and families.

They provide training, practical help and expert advice to practitioners working throughout England and Wales. They also provide peer support and encouragement through their nationwide network of PACEY Local volunteers.

Their mission is to support everyone working in childcare and early years to provide high quality childcare and early learning; and champion the vital role practitioners play in helping prepare children for a bright future.

Pop on over to find out more information about this amazing charity.

https://www.pacey.org.uk

They currently also have this amazing downloadable 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' resource pack.

https://www.pacey.org.uk/working-in-childcare/spotlight-on/the-very-hungry-caterpillar

Fantastic ideas...pop on over to find out more !

Harry the hedgehog

2016-10-10T10:39:00.000+01:00

Autumn is a brilliant time of year for craft ideas for children as its such a colourful season. Here is a really simple idea that can be used time and time again.

Go for a walk to collect leaves in different sizes, shapes and colours. Draw a hedgehog outline for your child to fill with leaves that can be glued to make the hedgehog spiky. Simple and effective.

Here is one I have made using the leaves I purchased from the works. You don't have to name yours but i thought he looked really cute and decided to call him Harry.

Cute pine cone crafts for children

2016-10-10T10:21:00.002+01:00

I have just come across these really cute pine cone crafts for children from 'Two kids and a coupon'.
http://twokidsandacoupon.com/2016/08/cute-pine-cone-crafts-for-kids.html

Pine cones are a great resource because you don't have to buy them. Just pick them up when you go for a walk in the woods. If your looking for some really cute ideas then pop on over to find out more.

'Autumn is here' song sheet

2016-10-10T10:13:00.001+01:00

This is a really good song sheet that you can print off and use with your Autumn tray. To make it last longer you can laminate it too. Pop on over to http://www.topmarks.co.uk/autumn/autumn-printables to print it off and fins other songs and activities too.

Autumn discovery tray

2016-10-10T10:07:00.004+01:00

I needed to put together an Autumn discovery tray really quickly for an activity. I always have a selection of trays I keep including cat litter trays that I purchase as they have a deeper edge for the children to explore further while keeping the contents together.

I printed the picture cards off a while ago from Sparklebox and use them time and time again for different activities. Ideally you would add real leaves that you can find with the children but I have to say that I love these that I found in the works for children to sort into colours or use to make pictures with.

I added some conkers from the nearby trees where I live that have them in abundance, a large pine cone that a friend gave me (you can find lots of these too at this time of the year when you go out for walks in the woods etc) and a squirrel and hedgehog finger puppet.

There are so many other items that you could add including some acorns, apples as its harvest time and maybe a pumpkin too.

Have fun putting yours together. There are so many opportunities with this to develop early language skills, early number skills and to have fun together including leaf rubbings.

Autumn activities

2016-10-10T09:41:00.001+01:00

I have just come across the most amazing site for lots of fantastic Autumn crafts and ideas for developing early language and number skills through play. It's called Tishylishy http://tishylishy.co.uk/autumn

I particularly love these ideas. Pop on over to find many more!

Twinkle, twinkle little star activities

2016-09-20T14:15:00.005+01:00

A popular well loved rhyme that i use time and time again. Here is a selection of activities that can be used:

olour of the starts to the paperA good old tried and tested popular activity....potato printing. Loving the contrast of the stars on the paper from http://besttoys4toddlers.com/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-potato-stamp-art-toddlers/

How about this special glittery playdough with star cutters from http://homegrownfriends.com/home/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-playdough/

For star related crafts pop on over to http://www.powerfulmothering.com/10-star-crafts-for-kids/. You will find a great selection.

Fancy making some salt dough stars? Then pop on over to http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2014/07/05/star-crafts-activities/ to find the recipe.

There's nothing better that watching a calming sensory bottle. This is a great 'Twinkle' one from http://totallytots.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/nursery-rhymes-twinkle-twinkle-little.html

Incy Wincy Spider activities

2016-09-20T13:51:00.003+01:00

Incy Wincy spider is one of my favourite action songs to use with the families I work with. There are son many activities that you can do with your child that link to this well known rhyme. Here are just a few:

Pop on over to http://www.spelloutloud.com where you can print out these pictures. You can cut them out, add to card and laminate them, tape them to some lolly sticks to use as props to sing with. You could also add some magnetic strip which you can buy in the poundshop to the back of them with some glue, add a flat kitchen baking tray that the magnet strip will stick to and you have a song board to use.

This is a fantastic idea. Pop some children's sand into a tray or washing up bowl. Add some pieces of pipe used by plumbers / builders (you can buy bits and pieces of these quite cheaply or ask family and friends if they have any left over pieces from jobs that you can clean and use).

Next you need to add some plastic spiders. You can buy these in packs for children's party bags etc.

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I am loving this Incy spider story box from One Perfect Day. Click on the link to find out more. http://oneperfectdayblog.net/2013/05/10/itsy-bitsy-spider-activites-incy-wincy/

Threading webs using punched paper plates and string is great for developing children's fine motor skills. This is a great idea from Kidz activities http://kidzactivities.net/the-very-busy-spider-craft/
Don't forget to check out the local library too for the story of the 'Very busy spider'.

Make some paper plate spiders ready for Holloween decorations. Great idea over at http://iheartcraftythings.com/paper-plate-spiders.html

But one of my all time favourites is this from http://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/spider-oobleck-science-fine-motor-skills-sensory-play/

Spiders in gloop. Make some gloop using cornflour and water, add googly eyes and spiders and some robust tweezers.......and off you go. Loving it!

Printing activities

2016-08-31T08:59:00.002+01:00

I have been looking for some simple printing ideas that I can use with paint and chocolate with some of the families. Here are some fab, cheap ideas that can be used time and time again.

1. How about this fab rolling pin? Funky foam shapes have been glued onto an old rolling pin ready to be rolled into some fab messy chocolate or paint. To find out more about this idea pop on over to Filth Wizardry http://www.filthwizardry.com/2008/08/rolling-pin-printing.html Lots of other fantastic ideas too!

2. How's this for a great invitation to have fun? Lots of recyclable materials instead of brushes etc. Pop on over to learnwithplayathome.com

3. Bubble wrap painting. How cheap and easy is this one? If you havent got a rolling pin you could use an empty drinks bottle and wrap the bubble wrap around it. For more ideas for this and more pop on over to http://www.artbarblog.com

4. Flower printing. This is a really cute idea instead of using paintbrushes. For more brilliant ideas pop on over to Learning 4 Kids

5. Bottle top printing. Recycle bottle tops and glue funky foam shapes to the tops of them. Cheap and cheerful and lots of fun. Find out more over on https://vanessasvalues.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/create-with-kids-make-your-own-bottle.html

6. And don't forget the good old potato printing. One i remember fondly from my childhood days.

http://hubpages.com/art/Arts-and-Crafts-with-Potatoes

Beach scavenger hunt

2016-08-23T21:45:00.002+01:00

If your going to the beach while we have some nice weather at last or going on holiday, how about popping on over to http://bloggingbabiesandthebayou.com/beach-travel-printable-for-kids-beach-scavenger-hunt-bayoutravel/ and then printing out this fab beach scavenger hunt sheet? You could even laminate to use over and over again.