Fun things to do with your child ‹ Back to Programmes

General aims of these sessions:

Sample a number of craft activities that can be used in the home Use everyday items to create games, crafts and other activities Experience the fun of creating something for children Gain confidence and unlock their own potential

Topic Content
1. Sock puppet animalsParents choose an animal their child would like. Make the puppet using coloured felt on sock. Group creates an animal zoo/farm. Sounds, songs, rhymes and stories can be created.
2. Tell me the gameParents remember games from their childhood, seen on television. Share. Act out/ play games.
3. Choose a book, make a puppetParents choose a book for their child. Discuss. Read books and decide who is main character. Make character as puppet. Retell story with prop.
4. Make a bookParents choose topic their child likes. Use a spidergram to create story. Write story and decorate. Share with group.
5. Make a map of your areaParents focus on child friendly/useful places locally and create a colourful map of the area. Share with the group.
6. Matching pairs gameParents create an age appropriate game using numbers, items or images. Share games.
7. Time tellingParents create an age appropriate game using analogue and digital methods of telling the time.
8. Make a blackboardUsing plywood and blackboard paint, parents make a blackboard for their child. Tutor gives chalk to parents. Discuss learning possibilities.
9. Make a jigsawUse old calendar images to make age appropriate jigsaws. Discuss the learning skills needed to put a jigsaw together.

Websites

http://www.jigzone.com/
http://justjigsawpuzzles.com/
http://www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/activity_105.shtml


Topic 6: Make a map of your local area

Materials:

Selection of paper, coloured tissue
Coloured markers
Flipchart pages
Black markers
Roll of old wallpaper
Sticky wall adhesive
Scrap paper for rough work

Task Suggested Activities
List what is available for children locally Work in pairs and create list of places to visit that are, e.g., free, child friendly, buggy accessible, etc. Share with the group. Discuss why these are good places to visit. Ask parents to rank their favourite/least favourite locations.
Create a map of local area Parents roughly sketch map of their local area. Encourage parents to identify reference points for estimating distance, proportion, orientation, etc. Share and adjust as necessary.
Develop a key to the map Parents add symbols for various places, e.g., playgrounds, friend’s house.
Draw map on large flipboard page Each parent draws a map, adds symbols and a key and decorates.
Display maps on wall Display maps on wall with adhesive. Each parent brings the group on a tour of his/her local area.
Parent and child connections Ask parents to suggest ideas for using their maps with their children, e.g., learning about their community, find places marked on the map, ‘tell a story’ about places they have visited, raise awareness of environmental print. Parents try out activities at home and report back to the group in the following sessions.

Literacy Links:

Using background knowledge to create a visual representation
Designing symbols and a key for the map
Writing familiar words (street names, locations)
Reading the map/explaining the map to their child
Listening to and expressing opinions
Participating in a group discussion
Gathering information
Interpreting signs and symbols

Numeracy Links:

Using maths vocabulary
Using numbers
Using measuring tools Ordering/sequencing information Estimating distance/proportion
Making comparisons
Drawing shapes/lines
Representing proportion
Interpreting simple scaled drawings

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