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Tummy Time
Tiny tummies on the move! Tummy time is when your baby spends time laying on their stomach while supervised. Your baby should never be left on their tummy unsupervised. Tummy time play has become an important part of development in recent years; this is because parents and professionals are now strongly advised to sleep babies…
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Heuristic Play
Delightful discoveries! Heuristic play is a way your child can explore the world that surrounds them, to find meaning in it, and to feel some control over it. It allows your child to experiment with objects and the environment. Heuristic play is typically suited to more mobile babies/toddlers approaching their second year (18-24 months). Why…
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Motivating Boys to Write
Positive pen power! There has been lots of research showing there is a clear difference between boys interest in writing and that of girls. Lots of boys tend to be more physically active and avoid table top activities, therefore we need to think creatively about how to encourage boys to write. Variety is key to…
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Peg, Thread, Write
Grip and grow! Almost every interaction you have with your child is preparing them to become a reader and writer. Your child has been learning to write since before they could hold a pencil or crayon! Remember when, as a baby, your child first discovered their toes, trailed their fingers through their food, or scratched…
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Tiny Tinkering
Babies exploring their curiosity! Your baby is curious about our world and can’t wait to explore. Babies apply their current favourite methods of physical exploration regardless of the object. Your baby’s actions are powered by curiosity and the delight of physical sensations. You can still ‘tinker’ when you are under 12 months old! These are…
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Homemade Soup
Soup-er mini chefs in the kitchen! Cooking 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! Why not try making this recipe for yummy and…
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Mark Making
Celebrate the scribble! It may look like scribble to us, but early scribbling and ‘playing at writing’ is an important step on your child’s journey to becoming a writer. Your child will know what these marks mean and will love to tell you about them! Before being able to hold a small pencil, your child…
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Building Dens
Cosy creations and den-tastic fun! Reasons to build a den: Top tips:
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Messy Play
Messy and magic moments! Children learn through exploring the world around them! A great way to help them do this freely is through messy play – it helps them with so many skills, from pre-writing skills to developing confidence with trying new activities. Messy play ideas: Top tips:
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Rainy Days
Cloudy with a chance of fun! Children learn best when they experience things first hand and get to actually ‘have a go’. Experiencing jumping in puddles, raindrops on their head, snow on their fingers, and sand in their toes builds a child’s imagination. Having a good imagination helps a child in later years when they…
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Schemas and Learning Through Play
Playful minds! Have you noticed that your child does the same thing over and over again, has fascinations and likes to repeat the same actions? This is called a ‘schema’ and its how children learn, make sense of the world and themselves. These are the more common types of schema: Top tips:
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Essex Country Parks
Spend quality time together at Essex Country Parks! Discover the Essex Country Parks with your family! The parks offer beautiful surroundings to go on an adventure with your child. Visit the website to find out dates and times for a number of free or low-cost events. Top tips for your visit:
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Bathtime Fun
Splish splash play! Daily routines are a great way to play and learn, can help your child become familiar with what is expected, and offer you both quality time together. There is lots of exploring and learning that takes place in the bath, and sharing this with your child can be lots of fun! Top…