Update 27.4.21
In line with current COVID-19 Scottish Government guidance, it is recognised that although singing should not happen indoors as an organised, large group activity in early years settings, it is still a natural and engaging part of children's learning and play for children at home.
In the video, the children do 1,2,3 things when they're happy. Can you think of any other things you can do to show you're happy and you know it?
Read the books, if you have them, or you can watch them here on youtube.
Collect pictures of people who are happy from magazines, comics or newspapers. Talk about why they are happy.
Find 3 things that make you happy.
Find 3 things that make your Mum/ Dad/ Gran/ Grandpa happy.
When out & about, adapt the words to the song - “If you're happy and you know it, find 3 stones/leaves…” (or run to the fence and back, or hug the tree or stop at the next white car….)
Draw and display a flower or bunch of flowers in a vase to make others happy as they pass by.
On your body, what do you have one of?
What do you have two of?
What do you have 10 of?
Inside your body what do you have lots of?
Adapt the song… If you’re happy and you know it sit on the chair, behind the chair, under the chair, beside the chair, near the chair etc.
5 things that make you happy
5 things that make you sad
5 things that make you scared
5 things that you are proud of
Think of different actions you can do on other parts of the body: e.g. If you're happy and you know it, rub your back… Think of actions for knees, elbows, thighs, thumbs, etc.
Draw, or cut out pictures of different emotions, stick them on lolly sticks or similar and use at different times of the day to say or show how different people in your family are feeling.
Emotional resilience is the ability to respond to stressful or unexpected situations and crises. Being emotionally resilient will help children to overcome challenges they may encounter and resolve them positively. You can help your child to develop their resilience by helping them to be aware of their emotions and concerns, and help them to problem solve for themselves.
Always be positive and enthusiastic when talking about starting school
Encourage your child to name their feelings and talk about their emotions. At this age, they can begin to expand their understanding - are they excited, tired, worried, scared? Help them to understand their feelings
Help your child to understand how they are feeling physically. Are they hot, tired, or hungry?
When children are feeling unwell, they often do not have the language to say how they are feeling. Make suggestions and give them the language so that in the future, they will be able to explain to others their symptoms and ways to help make them feel better or more comfortable
Children love to explore new things so give them lots of opportunities to make this happen and show your excitement too
Children at times find it hard to regulate their emotions and need help to manage them. Help them to understand how they are feeling by giving them the words, for example, ‘I was thinking you look confused by all the changes and I wonder if you feel worried?'
Talk about how you and other members of the family are feeling so that children begin to appreciate the feeling of others. This also helps them to build up their emotional vocabulary
Talk to your child about who they can talk to if there are feeling anxious, worried or scared
Encourage your child to share, and take turns. Be consistent and give praise
Encourage your child to tidy up their toys and things they have been playing with and to respect other people’s belongings. Children should be encouraged to help tidy up things around them even if they have not been using them
Encourage your child to move, manage and control their body and share space with others
Talk to them about what is going to happen and encourage them to ask questions. Read books about school and share the information which your pre-school setting sends out. This will help your child look forward to going to school
Talk about what they will be expected to do at school, your school should share this information with you
Walk the route to their new school, so your child knows where they can cross roads safely and know the safe routes
When trying on new school clothes, use the time to reflect on change as a positive thing. Tell them how grown up they look and that this is a time for celebration
Children need to be able to relax, get some exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. Encourage this at regular times.