As with most parents, home schooling has been somewhat of challenge, with good days and bad days. For Early Years it is still pivotal that learning through play is happening rather than focused at the table activities. Meeting the 7 areas of learning and the characteristics of learning through play is something your child's nursery carers or teachers are experts at. So don't beat yourself up if you are finding it challenging.
Early years is about fun! We have listed 10 of our favourite activities to do during lockdown!
Normality Jars
What a great way of looking forward to getting back to some kind of normality! Create jars with your children and each day put something in the jar you will be looking forward to, this could be a place you want to visit, an activity you want to do or your favourite resturants you will be visiting. This can be a daily activity and helps form part of a routine.
Spring Museum Trail
Children and families can join in with this fantastic museum trail exploring some of the most fantastic children's museums. The trail is full of interactive and physical activities which is sure to keep everyone busy!
SCISHOWKIDS YouTube
This children's YouTube channel incorporates all the exciting why's what's and how's that children ask through fun exciting experiments that they can get involved in.
If you can get the items needed you can also join in or repeat the activity. Science is a fantastic way to develop critical thinking and language skills.
Shape Hunt
Our shape hunt activity is fast becoming a popular for families, especially being at home. The children can use the templates to look for shapes and similarities in the home environment and the garden. This activity can be repeated, you can incorporate time and countdowns and develop new language skills alongside developing shape knowledge. We would say its an all rounder if we do say so ourselves.
Edinburgh Zoo - Live Webcams
Perfect for those interested in animals, and a great opportunity to learn about new animals.
Get access to live feeds from the zoo including tigers, pandas, penguins and more.
Making a bug hotel
This is a great time to create a bug hotel, if you have access to a garden and natural resources, a bug hotel is a great way to keep children busy building and talking about different types of bugs what they look like. Each day children can check for new bugs and use magnifying glasses, drawing materials. If you do not have access to a garden there are a range of ways of creating these without a garden.
RHS - Gardening and Outdoor Activities
RHS have developed a range of garden and outdoor activities for families.
Save The Children - Cooking Activities
Save the children have created a page to support activities to do from home including cooking activities that have a matching YouTube channel so children can join in.
The imagination Tree
The imagination tree website has a range of activities from early years and upwards.
With a lot of activities using everyday resources you can use from home.
UNICEF and Paddington Postcards
Charity UNICEF and Paddington bear have teamed up to create monthly postcard packs for children. By signing up you would be supporting the charity, but children get a pack each month to keep them busy!