Dear Parents & Guardians,
I hope and pray that all of your family members are well during this difficult time. Please take the advice given by the government seriously as we need to work together to stop the spread of Covid-19.
It may be a good for your household to maintain a structured routine for your children, as this might both help with their learning and encourage calm. The below timetabled structure is provided as an example and can of course be adjusted to suit your family’s work and home life and favourite activities. It is important to remember not to put too much pressure on yourself as keeping a calm and rational head when possible will help both yourself and your children at this time and remember to be kind to yourself.
9.00 – 9.30 Exercise together. Take your child for a walk or bike ride whilst maintaining a clear 2 metre (6ft) space between you and other people. If this is not possible encourage them to do PE with Joe Wicks on his You Tube channel at 9am
9.30 – 10.30 Parent and child shared activity (ideas below).
10.30 – 11.30 Free Play with construction toys (Lego/stickle bricks/magnets). Why not try this free downloadable 30-day lego challenge for parents and children to enjoy together.
11.30 – 12.30 Ask your child to safely help you to prepare lunch.
12.30 – 1.30 Mark-making activities using paper/blackboards/white boards/paints. Encourage your child to write letters of their name or words they are familiar with and create works of art. You might suggest a theme such as flowers, or robots.
1.30 – 2.00 Reading books together or looking at a book together (could be related to the activity above).
2.00 – 2.30 Music time. Have fun together with instruments you have at home or use utensils from the kitchen cupboards.
2.30 – 3.30 Free play. Set out different box of toys that you might have at home.
3.30 – 4.30 Relax together.
4.30 – 5.30 Get your child involved in safe activities helping you to make dinner.
Parent & Child shared activities
I plan to share some activities with all of you over the next few weeks to help come up with ideas of things you can do at home to teach, entertain and encouarage your child over the next few weeks.
- As it was Mother’s Day on Sunday look at baby animals together and match them with their mothers. Use pictures from books and the internet.
- Teach your child about growth and plant different seeds with them, (these are available from supermarkets). Have fun digging and searching for mini beasts. Use the internet to sort mini beasts into categories and look at different habitats. Read the very hungry caterpillar story to your child help them understand how the caterpillar became a butterfly. Take this learning further by allowing them to draw/paint their own version of a caterpillar and butterfly.
- Next week start to make Easter cards and create Easter eggs together. Take your child outside and do an Easter Egg Hunt if this is not possible do one indoors. If you have any resources readily available make an Easter Hat use anything you have at home. It would be great idea to use items that you would have put in the recycling bin.
- Remember to keep reminding your child to wash their hands properly and talk to them about any concerns they may have. Please use this valuable time with your child in a positive way and enjoy this time together.
Please see our previous posts with other activities and resources that you may wish to utilise at this time, specifically the free Twinkl learning resources offer and art activity to hep brighten our neighbourhoods with rainbows.
Take care and God bless, from Suki and your friends at Little Crickets Nursery.