Nursery parents enjoy coffee and learning at home tips

Supporting communication and language through reading stories and play was the theme of a brilliant coffee morning enjoyed by nursery parents today. Parents were helped with ideas through a series of displays as well as lots of advice.

Tips from the nursery team included:

Get your child’s attention

•Face your child or sit down with them. Say their name before you start speaking. Talk about something you can both see in front of you. This helps them to learn what words mean.

Have fun together

•Use actions, sing, make noises and funny faces. Don’t be shy, being a bit silly helps get their attention and makes them laugh and can encourage language development. Play games with them and talk out loud about what you are doing or act out stories with the toys.

Include them in day to day activities.

•While cooking give them empty pots and pans and model language like “stir” “mix” etc. Talk out loud about what you are doing. Use your native language if English is not your mother tongue.

Comments not questions

•Asking lots of questions can feel like it’s a test. Make it a conversation. When you talk to your child comment on what they are doing and what is happening instead.

•Small world play toys are a great way to encourage imaginative play and enhance language skills-great idea for a gift.

You can read more here.