LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

Simply use a large piece of paper and markers: Add numbers(we used 1 – 10), and encircle the numbers to give the child some guiding as to where to add the objects to:

The instruction is to find objects in the room(we played in the craft room, hence the craft objects), counting the objects to fit them into the right circle. One can call out a random number or work in order. When this activity is done with more than one child, assign a number to each child and do it in that manner, giving each child a turn.

Count the objects once again, making observations about which circle has the least, the most etc. (throwing in some mathematical vocabulary)

This can be turned into a memory game too: ask the child to close eyes, remove some objects from a circle, let the child see the circles and try and remember what objects were in that particular circle. Start with only one circle, gradually making it more.

YOU WILL NEED:

• White card / paper

• A felt tip pen

• Coloured stamps – bonus points if you can find some cute ones

Make big numbers (or letters) for your child to stamp along. This helps create the muscle memory of the shape of each number as well as reinforcing the visual memory of how the number looks.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Dice

• Small items to count

• Paper or foam sheets to mark the playing area

• Place a bowl for each child next to the playing space, as well as a die.

• Give each child 20 small items for counting. (We started off using small glass gems, but you can use just about anything- beans, buttons, coins, etc.

The object of the game is to be the first person to get all your items in your bowl.

The first player rolls the die and places that many of his/her items in the bowl. Then the second player does the same thing. Play continues back and forth until one person gets all of his/her items in the bowl!

YOU WILL NEED:

• Coloured paper/card

• Scissors

• Felt pens (for decorating)

• Ribbon (or strips of paper) for the bottom

• Pegs

Cut out and decorate 10 kites using the coloured paper. Write a number on each kite so that it is visible to the child. Add the ribbon or paper to the bottom. Practice counting and getting your child to add the right amount of pegs to the bottom ribbon of the kite.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Assorted loose parts (pom poms, gems, wood cut offs, beads, counters, dry pasta - the world is your oyster!)

• Large mixing bowl

• Paper for number cards

• Place to write recipes (whiteboard or easel or book)

Collect all the loose parts and seperate into containers. Write small number cards that can be put in front of the child.

Tie to be creative and write a recipe! Start simple with something like "4 salad" where the child has to put in 4 of each item. Or get slightly more complicated and say 3 gems, 4 beads, 6 pieces of pasta.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Plastic cups

• Post it notes or a permanent marker

• Materials for counting

The purpose of this activity is for children to gain the idea that teen numbers are made up of 10 and x amount more. Get your child to fill the cups with the corresponding amounts of objects, then put the 10 cup and 1 cup together. Ask the child how many objects you will have if you mix the two cups together. Let them figure out what to do to find out the answer (only encourage them to put them together and count if they become stuck thinking of how to work the problem out)

lego cards

This is a great activity for encouraging creativity, working on fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and also working on letter/word identification and formation!

YOU WILL NEED:

• Cardboard box

• Paper/card

• Envelopes and paper for writing

• Pens

Create your mailbox using the cardboard box and covering with coloured card/paper or anything else you and your child can find (newspaper, wrapping paper, things from the garden etc). Then, write some letters! Get your child to write you a letter, then you could write one back to them! Put a letter of the alphabet on each envelope and see if your child can identify each letter on the envelopes as the receive letters.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Large tray

• Shaving foam

• Letter or word cards (optional)

All you need to do for this one is put a layer of shaving foam in the tray and use your fingers to write away! Practice correct letter formation, writing basic CVC words and even drawing pictures!

This is also a great sensory activity for children to help with fine motor control, hand-eye coordination, and using our hands to feel different sensations.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Water balloons or a water gun

• Chalk

Write sight words (or letters) in chalk on the ground outside, then call out a letter and get your child to throw a water balloon or squirt with their water gun at that letter or word. This one is super fun!

YOU WILL NEED:

• Duplo bricks

• Permanent marker

Write a sight word or letter on each duplo block and hide around the house or outside. When your child finds a brick, they can start to make a tower. When they have all been found, see if they can make a sentence with them too

Here are some cool ideas for creating games, inspiring creativity and having heaps of fun with duplo (will also work with lego)

Building with lego blocks will help enhance skills in numeracy, literacy and communication, as well as fine motor skills, sharing, taking turns and imaginative play!

Imaginative and role play is so much fun and so beneficial for learning essential foundation skills such as (but not limited to!) communication, sharing, taking turns, problem solving, critical thinking and gross/fine motor skill development. Bakeries to vets, carwashes to supermarkets the only limit here is your imagination!