|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
 I’m joining in the global A-Z blog party today with an alphabet dedicated to learning how to write. Here are twenty-six fun, creative, tried-and-tested ideas that you can use with your children to help them enjoy their first steps in learning how to write. There are ideas here for sensory alphabets, making spellings fun, encouraging creative storytelling and bringing writing into your everyday imaginary play. A-Z of learning how to write Read more »
At this busy time of the year it’s great to have a sensory play idea on hand when giddy children need some relaxing play to bring a little calm amongst all the exciting festive fun. My own little angels have been making play dough angels this week. It’s a lovely Christmas play idea to try, and you only need three ingredients. Play dough angels Read more »
 When I think back to the ways I learnt how to spell as a child, there was no fun or creative play involved. We got list of ten words every week, we copied them, we copied them, we copied them again, and then we had a test on a Friday to see how well we could remember them. We also had to put our hands up to show the whole class our scores, so if you hadn’t remembered that many it was pretty miserable. But learning how to spell doesn’t have to be like that. Here are ten ways we learn spellings in our house – with lots of creativity and fun and jumping around involved. There are lots of different ways that children learn and these spelling activities cover a range of preferred learning styles: visual/spacial, auditory, kinesthetic… If your child has a very strong learning preference trying out these ideas might help you discover a way that’s just right for them (it’s helped enormously in our house). In any case, all children can benefit from learning through a variety of ways, using all their senses, mixing things up a little so it doesn’t get boring, and maybe even enjoying learning how to spell. The activities may take a few minutes longer to set up then just grabbing a pencil and paper but we’ve found they are a whole lot more fun – and effective – than just copying out the words. How to spell: top 10 tricks Read more »
This play dough recipe is inspired by the Christmas-flavoured sugar I make each year to go on our Christmas-movie-popcorn. The sugar smells exactly like Christmas, with a blend of herbs and spices that fills the house with a festive feeling and, as I often have play dough on my brain, I thought why not try it for a Christmas play dough recipe? Do you think of play dough as a Christmas tradition? Maybe not, but I’m pretty sure there will be a moment on Christmas Day when this dough will be exactly what’s needed. Play dough is just fantastic – a super sensory play material that feels good, smells good, doesn’t make too much mess and my kids love it. So, it’s going to be my Christmas rescue remedy this year. If I need some peace to carve the turkey, or I’d like to linger a little longer over my coffee after dinner, or the children could do with a relaxing transition between all the excitement and bedtime – Christmas Day play dough to the rescue! I’ve made it, wrapped it and hidden it away, and I’ll bring it out – along with some Christmas cookie cutters, ribbons and bows for the perfect festive play activity just when it’s needed. Here’s the recipe with the special blend of herbs and spices that smells exactly Christmas in our house. Christmas Day play dough recipe Read more » |
11,202 families already receive our Play Planner!
     
 
 
             |
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
