Supporting Early Literacy

Supporting children with early literacy skills can be quite daunting, yet a few wooden letters added to the mark making table is a way to familiarise young children with the shape and visual features of letters. I add my collection of letters to water play, play dough and in messy play experiences.

Playdough with a birthday theme

We have so much fun with playdough, one of the children particularly enjoys playdough so I like to give her plenty of different activities using playdough. In this photo, I have included silicone cupcake cases and straws cut in half to act as candles. After making birthdays cakes with the dough, we spent the next 20 minutes singing happy birthday and blowing the candles out.

Learning Colours

Supporting children to learn colours: I have given the children a plastic cake tray and a hand full of pom poms. With a bit of support, I’ve encouraged the children to sort the pom poms into their colours. As they do this I am saying the colour to the children and asking them to repeat back to me.

Playing with Letters & Numbers

Magnetic Letters and Numbers are such a great way to encourage early literacy and number skills. I use a magnetic wipe board for each child, but before I had these the fridge

Magnetic Letters and Numbers are such a great way to encourage early literacy and number skills. I use a magnetic wipe board for each child, but before I had these the fridge or play room radiator. I place the letters and / or numbers in a small wicker basket so they are easily accessible to the children. I find this is a great activity for a mixed age group of children. Older children can use the letters to spell out their names whilst younger toddlers are fascinated by the magnetism.

The Work of Elizabeth Jarman

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Jarman and her Communication Friendly Spaces Approach, I have purchased a number of her products to use in my setting and her ethos of supporting young children is truly inspiring. You can read about her work at http://www.elizabethjarmantraining.co.uk/

She also has a thoroughly interesting facebook page aimed at families. Find it here at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Jarman-for-Families/563198060360604?fref=ts

I have cared for a number of children who have speech and language delays and by creating little spaces for and with children, gives them endless opportunities to be creative.

Petition to Drop Plans to Increase Child to Adult Ratios

 Please check out this petition and sign like I have. A fellow childminder is doing a fabulous job at highlighting the issues if child to adult ratio’s are increased by the government. http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/department-for-education-drop-plans-to-increase-child-to-adult-ratios 

Easter and its snowing

So glad I chose weather as a theme to focus on this month, the unexpected snowfall has been wonderful for the children to explore but it has caused a few problems with school closures and access to the setting. I don’t suppose the children will ever see snow in March again for many years!

As a treat before we break up for the holidays, im planning an Easter Egg Hunt, I never thought it would be done in the snow though!