Keeping you up-to-date with engaging and inspiring activities that will develop young children and encourage them to learn both at home and in the classroom
Want your child to click with coding? Kids have an innate curiosity about their worlds, and learning complex concepts and skills comes naturally when done through play.
Learning to code isn’t only about programming computers. We published a blog on five reasons why it’s great for youngsters to learn coding, from encouraging them to develop if-then thinking, to boosting their self-confidence when they master this new skill.
National Coding Week takes place every September, and it isn’t only for computer geeks. Coding is simply another way of saying ‘programming or developing’ and at Learning Resources we know that children as young as four can grasp complex coding concepts. Experts recommend that as with learning a new language, the earlier children start, the better. In other words, there’s no better time to begin than today.
Not every child who learns to code will go on to become a software engineer, but don’t let that stop you from introducing your little learner to coding because the benefits go far beyond the obvious. Education experts note that a major benefit kids gain through learning to code is how to break a big task into smaller, more manageable steps – a vital skill for school life and beyond.
Entertaining kids doesn’t have to empty your wallet. There’s a lot families can do that doesn’t cost a thing. All it takes is some imagination to find free things to do with kids. (PS. They can be fun for grown-ups, too!)
Whether it’s the weekend, a long school holiday, or a quick half-term break, keeping kids occupied can prove expensive. The good news is there’s lots families can do that won’t break the bank. We’ve lined up some of our favourite free things to do with kids to keep them busy, whatever the weather.
Taking time out before the new school year starts, Susie Hayes is Headteacher at St German’s Primary School in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.
We know that there are plenty of parents, teachers and caregivers out in the Twitterverse, willing to share their valuable wisdom. Therefore we were really looking forward to seeing what tips would come out of the BritMums Twitter Party that we recently sponsored, especially because the topic focused on entertaining children while travelling; a tricky challenge faced by so many of us!
Read more to find out the Top Travel Tips for Entertaining your children!
Outdoor play is such an important part of childhood and one that is often overlooked. Children are naturally drawn to being outside but the amount of outdoor play that children get is declining year on year. My own children are 6 and 3 years old, they love spending time outdoors. When I’m not in a tent, at the beach or exploring the woods, you’ll find me sharing our adventures and ideas for outdoor play on my blog, The Ladybirds’ Adventures. First let me tell you some of the many benefits of outdoor play so that you understand why you should be getting your kids outside.
Playing outside gives children the space and freedom to run, climb, jump and much more. All of these are fantastic gross motor activities which are so important for kids’ development. Physical activity also helps reduce childhood obesity, although other factors such as diet can also contribute.
We’ve been writing a lot about the Moon for the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings, such as the Apollo Moon Landing guide and Space Facts for Kids, and if the little astronauts in your life are planning their own mission to space, but they’re not sure what to do when they get there, perhaps they’ll take some inspiration from the Apollo astronauts?
We’ve put together this guide to what the Apollo astronauts did on the Moon. Whether your kids are at home or in the classroom, they can learn about why we went to the Moon, what we did there, and take inspiration to plan their own super mission to space!
Want to discover all about Space?
Learn more through this blog post, covering loads of amazing and interesting space facts for kids!
Name: Danielle Beaumont
Job title: Class Teacher
Getting children outdoors is more important than ever. A study ran by the National Trust found that children spend half as much time playing outside as their parents did when they were younger.
Simple yet effective! Children love digging and playing with mud, especially the younger ones. Bring some buckets, spades and shovels and watch them dig away. You could even bring some toy trucks for them to load mud, leaves and stones into for a bit of imaginary play.