Pretty much everyone who works in early childhood education, and also many parents, are aware of the main difference between fine and gross motor skills; but did you realize there are many more differences between the two than meet the eye? Understanding these differences will help you appreciate many things, including the ways boys and …
Children go through a long transition from making marks to later writing in sentences. How to help them through this period will go a long way in helping them enjoy writing, and find success. But there are so many questions, such as – should pre-schoolers write on lined paper? Most experts agree that pre-schoolers should …
If you are looking for a bit of extra inspiration for what to put in your treasure basket then you have come to the right place. Having used treasure baskets over many years, I have tried out a huge number of ideas, and the very best of those have made the shortlist and got onto …
Blending and segmenting are very closely linked skills, and yet they are also kind of opposites. Both are really important to early phonics, and are needed for children to start reading and writing simple words. But what’s the difference between blending and segmenting? Blending is a skill needed for reading. Segmenting is used for writing. …
Puppets act like magic on young children! They can be the difference between children rolling around on the floor during a carpet time, or sitting in captivated awe! Children are usually far more excited by puppets than they are by humans, and the research suggests this also. But how can you use puppets in teaching? …
Balloon games are fantastic for getting children to cooperate, get active and have fun. I have taught children between the ages of 3-5 for the last ten years, and I have used balloon games regularly to get children working as a team and communicating in an exciting context. The whole curriculum can be linked to …
You have probably noticed that some pre-schoolers are not averse to telling the odd lie now and then. Some seem to come out with outrageous fantasies, whilst others are just a bit reserved with the facts, or bend the truth slightly. But why does all this happen? Why do some pre-schoolers lie? Preschoolers lie for …
There are so many random things you can use for loose parts play! There will be items all around your house, in your shed, in the back of cupboards, in your kitchen – wherever there are odds and ends there are loose parts ready to be played with! But what sorts of things are good …
I have been using parachute games with children aged 3-5 over the last ten years. I have tried literally hundreds of games – some have not been so great. But amongst the hundreds have been some hidden gems! I am listing the forty best ones here! I have done the hard yards for you, and …
In the ten years that I have taught children aged 3-5, I have always found playdough to be probably the number one versatile resource. You can teach skills across the whole curriculum by using it, but it also has many emotional benefits as well. But what exactly are these? The emotional benefits of playdough include …