Development Stage

Pre-schoolers 3 – 4 years

Between 3 and 4 years, your child may be starting to use up to 4-5 words in sentences. They are beginning to understand longer instructions. The more interactive conversation and play young children are involved in, the more they learn.

Reading to your child is a great way to boost their language skills. Books help a child add words to his vocabulary, make sense of grammar, and link meanings to pictures. Reading books, singing, playing word games, and simply talking to your child will all build their vocabulary and teach listening skills!

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  • Homemade Brownies

    Homemade Brownies

    Making sweet memories! Baking with your child is a great source of learning and development. It does not have to be a complicated recipe – in fact, the simple ones are the best because it is about the process, not necessarily the outcome! Baking can help to develop: Why not try making this recipe for…

  • Home-Start Colchester, Jaywick and Clacton

    Home-Start Colchester, Jaywick and Clacton

    Home-Start is a family support service. About Home-Start Colchester, Jaywick and Clacton Starting in the home, the Home-Start approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. Across the North East Essex quadrant there are two independent Home-Start charities both rooted into the local communities…

  • Home-Start Harwich

    Home-Start Harwich

    Home-Start is a family support service. About Home-Start Harwich Starting in the home, the Home-Start approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. Across the North-East Essex quadrant there are two independent Home-Start charities both rooted into the local communities they service. Home-Start Harwich…

  • Home-Start Essex

    Home-Start Essex

    Home-Start is a family support service. About Home-Start Essex Home-Start Essex aims to give children the best possible start in life by supporting parents and caregivers to feel less isolated, to build their confidence in themselves and their parenting and to find ways to manage the challenges they face. We build trusting, helpful relationships with…

  • Active Essex ‘Move With Us’ Campaign

    Active Essex ‘Move With Us’ Campaign

    Let’s get moving! The #MoveWithUs campaign is here to change things for our young people. By supporting them in their endeavours to find an activity that’s right for them, and one they enjoy, you’ll be more likely to continue this changed behaviour and lead an active and healthy life! Be a part of something, and…

  • Essex ActivAte Holiday Programme 

    Essex ActivAte Holiday Programme 

    Fun filled holidays! Funded by Department for Education and Essex County Council, Essex ActivAte is the name for the Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) run by Active Essex across Essex and Thurrock. The programme offers engaging holiday clubs and free activities run by local club providers, and free spaces are offered to children and…

  • Active Essex

    Active Essex

    Who are Active Essex? Active Essex is the Physical Activity and Sport Partnership for Essex. We work collaboratively with local partners to ensure the power of physical activity and sport can transform lives! Our vision is to create an active Essex to improve everyone’s health and wellbeing by working together across systems to make physical…

  • Read and Count With Me By the Sea

    Read and Count With Me By the Sea

    We planned something exciting during the Essex Year of Numbers! In Summer 2024, we worked in partnership with Essex Libraries, Active Essex, Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service and Home-Start Harwich to bring you ‘Read and Count With Me By the Sea’ borrow bags. The bags included sea themed story books and a beach themed…

  • Childcare Funding

    Childcare Funding

    Childcare funding and support available in Essex Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) FEEE is for eligible working families from the term after a child turns 9-months-old until statutory school age. The number of FEEE hours that working families are eligible for depends on the age of their child and their circumstances. Currently, eligible working parents/carers…

  • Dummies

    Dummies

    Everything you need to know! Whether you call them dummies, soothers or pacifiers, there is lots of information available about how they can negatively impact a child’s development. We want to share some of this information to help you make an informed decision about how your child uses a dummy, and how to avoid later…

  • Art in the Outside Environment

    Art in the Outside Environment

    Out and about art! Nature has the very best materials for creating art! There are so many benefits to getting out in the fresh air with your child and searching for things to make an outdoor picture with. Your masterpiece can be big or small, an individual creation or a group activity. You can find all…

  • Puzzle Play

    Puzzle Play

    Piece by piece! There’s lots of ways you can use this classic toy – in particular an inset puzzle – to build your child’ speech, language and communication skills! Puzzles also help to develop: Top tips:

  • Bubble Play

    Bubble Play

    The magic of bubbles! You don’t need to understand the science behind it to have fun marvelling at the sizes, colours and movement together! Top tips:

  • Play and Communication

    Play and Communication

    It’s not about the toys, it’s about the talk! We often wonder which toys help with speech and language, but it isn’t about the toys we choose… It’s about noticing what your child wants to talk about and engaging with them! Top tips:

  • Interaction and Communication

    Interaction and Communication

    Making the most of playtime! Children have fun, explore their world and learn all through play. Playing together provides so many opportunities for developing communication skills too! Top tips:

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