Language and Phonics

As adults, we are constantly supporting children’s vocabulary development helping them to learn new words. In everyday conversations and interactions, adults use unfamiliar words and talk about what words mean, helping to expand a child’s vocabulary.

This week, we are going to focus on developing vocabulary around the home. Your child will already know some of these words, which is good to develop confidence, but there may also be some words that are new to your child.

Watch the clip below and pause after each room.

Go into that room in your home and see if your child can find the same things in your house.

Explain that every home is different and you may not have all the same things shown in the clip.

Early Writing/ Mark Making

It is important for children to make large movements on paper and have the opportunity to 'scribble' as they develop strength and dexterity in their fingers.

The picture below shows typical progression as children develop skills to hold a pencil correctly in preparation for writing.

With practice and lots of small finger activities (eg, threading, lego, putty, picking up small toys) children will naturally progress through these stages.

Give your child a large piece of paper and a pen/ crayon/ pencil. Encourage them to make large sweeping movements. If they want to do careful colouring, you could draw a simple picture of a house or a car for them to colour.

Often children will make a squiggle mark and say it is their name or some other writing. It is important to value and praise their early writing and not to correct them.