Praise and criticism
It is amazing how the language we use can encourage our children. Here is an interesting piece from the Growing Child newsletter distributed by Lifestart There are two ways to praise a child for something she has done. You can say, as you watch her finish her latest artwork, “Oh, what a lovely picture. It […]
Shy or quiet: what’s the difference?
Sometimes as parents we worry that our child is shy but maybe they are simply quiet. How can we tell the difference and encourage our child to engage well with others? Here are some thoughts on that from The Growing Child, the newsletter distributed by Lifestart. Shy or Quiet: What’s the difference There is a […]
How do babies learn?
How do babies learn? Here is a piece from the Growing Child newsletter distributed by Lifestart which gives us some insight into that. Exercises in Learning Around her first birthday, what kinds of things is Baby now doing on her own? If you watch her carefully, you will notice she is likely to try to […]
The importance of play
Here is another good piece from The Growing Child newsletter distributed by Lifestart The Importance of Play It is generally through play that a preschool child learns about the world around her and then assimilates what she has learned into her concept of reality. Preschool children enjoy three different forms of play: physical, manipulative, and […]
Teaching cooperation
Sometimes we wonder why our children can’t be more helpful, why they don’t cooperate better. The reality is it is a skill they need to learn. Here is a piece from The Growing Child newsletter distributed by Lifestart about how to help them learn these important life skills. Teaching Cooperation Why do some children seem […]
Now’s a good time to teach your kids how to play on their own
With parents trying to work from home, prepare meals and deal with other children it is important that our children are able to play independently. Here are some tips on how you can help your child develop the skills to do just that. If you wish you can download the original article here https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/parenting/kids-independent-play-coronavirus-quarantine.html Now’s […]
Resources for parents to support their child’s learning and development
Support Materials for Parents Parents are the most important people in their children’s early lives. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has produced a number of resources that contain lots of ideas, suggestions and practical examples of how parents can support their children’s learning and development in the early years. These resources are available […]
Meal time, nappy time, sleep time – babies are learning all the time
Even our ordinary everyday routines of meal times, nappy changing and sleep times can give babies and toddlers opportunities to develop their communication skills as well as feelings of security and confidence. These tips from the First 5 website are written with childcare workers in mind but are really useful for mums and dads at […]
Information for parents on supporting your baby’s learning and development
Here are some great ideas from the First 5 website to help you support your baby’s learning and development Click on the images for a better view or download the PDFs by just clicking the link below info-for-parents Tá an t-eolas ar fáil anseo i nGaeilge fosta leidleathanach_thuismitheoir_babaithe For more information from First 5 on […]
Creative ideas to support little ones learning at home
More creative ideas from First 5 on how you can support your pre-school child’s learning at home. Here is one about making puppets from bits and pieces lying round the house. An activity like this helps to develop imagination, language, problem solving and creative skills. https://first5.gov.ie/userfiles/video/puppets.mp4 And here is another lovely video on imaginative […]