Early Years Learning
How to ensure your child has the best start to life
The early years is an important time for children to learn. Our brains grow the most between birth and five. Not all journeys will look the same and each child will develop in their own way and at their pace. There are things that the grown ups around can do to help the child feel happy and confident to learn.
These headings have been taken straight from the National Curriculum for Early Years.
Communication and language: It is important to talk to your child. The more your practice conversations with them the more they will feel confident about expressing themselves. Try not to correct mispronounced words but use the word they find challenging so they can hear how it is meant to sound. Reading stories and role play will help develop your child's vocabulary. Be excited to show them new things. If you are excited so will they be.
Personal, social and emotional development: The wonderful relationship you have with you child will enable the child to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others. Be patient, it's hard for little ones to understand and mange their emotions. They will learn from you. Show them through being a good role model. Though sometimes that's easier said than done.
Physical development: Playing a variety of game will support your child to develop many different skills. Playing puzzles, dolls house or taking part in arts and crafts activities can help develop fine motor skills. Exploring nature, playing in the playground, kicking a football can support development gross motor skills. Physical development is linked very closely to doing well at school.
Literacy: Adults should talk to the child, enjoy rhymes, poems and songs together and read, read, read! Children who develop a love of reading tend to do really well in school.
Mathematics: Giving children lots of opportunities to count different object like steps, conkers or pieces of fruit will develop a deep understanding of numbers. Introducing them to shapes is also an easy way to encourage them to enjoy maths. Baking cakes and measuring their height will introduce them to different measurements. Exploring maths in a physical way can help children feel more confident when later learning the more abstract concept of the written numbers.
Understanding the world: The more places your child visits and the more people they meet in their community the deeper their understanding of the world around them. Take them everywhere and let them explore.
Expressive arts and design: It is important that children have lots of opportunities to make art. Use a wide range of different materials like paint, leaves, loo rolls. The list can go on. This will help develop their understanding, self-expression, vocabulary and ability to communicate through the arts.
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