Learning really does begin at home

The early years of your child’s life are very important. As a parent/carer you can have a positive impact by creating a loving and safe environment for your family. We know from research that nearly three quarters of a child’s brain is ‘wired’ by the time they are five years old. That makes it the fastest period of growth and development in life. It is also the time when the foundations
are laid for all later development and learning.

How children learn best

Children learn best when they are happy, feel safe and have interesting things to do and interested people to help them.

Children are naturally curious, full of ideas and keen to learn about the world around them. They learn by playing, watching,
listening, asking, talking, having time to think, doing and trying new things, practising and repeating the things they do, and
getting feedback.

Learning should be spontaneous and feel like fun. Natural, unrehearsed everyday experiences you do with your child are
much better than special educational toys, CDs or flashcards.

This booklet has lots of easy and simple things you can do at home with your child before they start school.

Did you know?

A three year old child’s brain is twice as active as an adult’s brain. By the time a child is three their brain has formed about 1000 trillion connections – twice as many as adults.

Capturing learning moments

So much learning is done through everyday experiences such as cooking, hanging out the washing, going for a walk and exploring the garden. Capture these moments with your child.

For example, talking about the types of clothes in the washing helps your child develop their vocabulary. When your child guesses the number of pegs they are estimating; when they match the colour of pegs with the colour of clothing they’re matching and learning colour names; and when they count the pegs they are learning about numbers and how many.

Play is a child’s work

Play is a powerful and natural way for children to learn. Through play children develop physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively (intelligence).

Play involves climbing, making cubbies, dressing up, pretending, dancing, writing, counting, doing puzzles, drawing, reading, imagining, building things, making choices, exploring materials, testing ideas, developing confidence and so much more.

What you can do

• Allow children to play everyday.
• Help them make up their own activities and games.
• Give them cardboard boxes, balls, buckets, cushions, hula hoops and dress up clothes.
• Create spaces that are inviting and fun to play in; provide choice and activity; spark learning; and are safe.
• Join in the play – let your child lead
• Know when to step away from the play – it’s as important as stepping into the play.

Tips on helping your child

• Make learning fun.
• Follow your child’s interests and choices – and build on them.
• Allow time for your child to solve problems and repeat things.
• Listen to your child and give them a voice.
• Be positive, patient and supportive.
• Teach them to watch, listen, think and question.

 

Why is reading important?

Children who are familiar with books and stories are better prepared for school. People with good literacy skills are more likely to have higher self esteem, better health and a greater range of job opportunities. Children love being read to and sharing books is a great way to spend time with your child.

Tips on helping your child with reading

• Tell stories, say or sing nursery rhymes, poems and songs. Make up actions.
• Read a range of books. Read favourites over and over. Encourage your child to join in. Don’t object if your child wants to hear the same stories.
• Identify words in the book. See how many times familiar words come up.
• When reading aloud, follow the words with your finger, point to pictures and talk together about the story.
• Let your child pretend to read. Children pretend to read at this stage by making up the story. This is a great start.
• Show your child how to look after books such as turning the pages carefully.
• If your child isn’t showing interest in a book, don’t push it.
• Young children lose interest quickly. Little and often is best. A good 10 minutes is better than half an hour.
• Turn off the television to avoid distractions.
• Visit your local library. Ask about different programs in your library such as Better Beginnings and Baby Rhyme Time.
• If English is not your first language, buy dual language books.

More information

Our booklet called ‘Raising a reader’ will help you once your child starts school.

Developing science and thinking skills

The world is a fascinating place full of things to wonder about and explore. Through play and experimentation your child will develop science skills as they begin to observe, explore and handle objects.

Science and active inquiry is a great way to develop good thinking habits. When your child asks Why is the sky blue? they are learning to think critically.

Here are some ideas to help your child learn these skills.

Tips on helping your child

• Encourage your child to ask questions. Help them to talk, act and think through problems. For example when making a cake you could ask them: Why do you think the cake grew when it went in the oven? Now that it’s cooked, can we un-cook it? What would happen if we added salt instead of sugar?
• Help your child experiment with everyday things. Why do some things float and others sink in the bath? What happens when water is mixed with oil?
• Do simple experiments together like making play dough, blowing bubbles and looking at insects.
• Talk about the technology we use each day and how it helps us to live a more comfortable life, for example cups, pencils, shovels, televisions and computers.
• Explore the garden and talk about how things change during the day or over the year.
• Pull apart and put back toys and simple machines and discuss what the parts do.

Concentration

Games are a fun way to help your child develop their ability to focus and concentrate.

Here are some popular activities.

• Make up a scavenger or treasure hunt in the backyard. Hide different objects. Have fun finding them together.
• Sort things by size, colour or shape, for example blocks, food packaging, toys or pegs.
• Play ‘What’s on the tray?’ Put an item on a tray. Ask your child to close their eyes and then ask them What’s on the tray? Increase the number of items on the tray to two, three or four. See how many items they can remember. Take turns. Put three items on a tray – take off one. Guess which one is missing.
• Play ‘I spy’.
• Find words beginning with ‘b’ when you visit the supermarket.
• Write words on paper and stick them around the house at child height. Encourage children to read them. Remove a few words and ask them to put them back in the right place. Only do this if children enjoy it. If it’s too hard they’re not ready.
• Listen to talking books from the local library.

Easy ways to develop maths, reading and writing skills

Children don’t have to wait until school to learn maths, reading and writing. As they play they are picking up a range of these skills. Here are a number of ways you can help them learn.

• Play shops with things from the kitchen, shopping bags, purses and real or play money. Make lists, signs and prices together.
• Make a scrapbook together with drawings, photos, certificates, birthday cards, letters and tickets from places you have visited.
• Write events on the calendar like birthdays and special celebrations and talk about these with your child.
• Make birthday cards, thank you cards and invitations to send to friends.
• Provide a space on a small table to write and draw. Use scrap paper, textas, crayons, pencils, notebooks, old envelopes and cards.
• Display your child’s work on the fridge or wall.
• Have a message board and write a message together every day.

Shopping and cooking are sometimes challenging when you have a little one in tow. However, you can turn these activities into a chance for them to learn basic literacy and maths skills – try these ideas.

• Count fruit and vegetables as you put them in bags.
• Let your child use the shop scales to weigh fruit.
• Talk about coins and notes in your purse and the price of things.
• Let your child give the money and collect the change.
• Unpack and sort the shopping at home. Talk about the size and shape of items as you put them away.
• Cook simple things together. Read and talk about recipes. Give your child simple directions to follow.
• Encourage your child to find ingredients in the kitchen and measure them.
• Cut food and talk about size, shape, colour and taste.

More information:

We have a handy booklet packed with ideas called ‘Counting on you’ which will help once your child has started school.

Raising a happy child

Children who respect others, understand routines and limits, and have healthy self esteem are more likely to enjoy school.

The early years are a time when you can help prepare your child to thrive at school.

Building your child’s self esteem

Self esteem is learning about:

• who you are as a person
• feeling worthwhile, valued, wanted and respected
• feeling you have a place in the world. You can help build your child’s self esteem when you:
• tell them often that you love them for who they are
• support and praise their attempts when they try new things
• spend time with them
• encourage friendships and make their friends welcome
• display their work, for example craft
• ask for their opinion.

Feelings

Feelings are an important part of a child’s social and emotional development. Children feel a sense of empowerment when they start to understand what they are feeling. Learning to put words with emotions and knowing that it’s okay to feel a particular way can help reduce your child’s frustration.

How you can help

• Help your child learn about feelings by giving feelings names, for example You sound happy…sad….scared.
• Talk about how others may feel, for example How do you think Harry will feel if someone takes his toys without asking? How will daddy feel if you are angry with him? How would you feel if your friends didn’t ask you to join them when they are playing?
• Think aloud, for example I’m going to ask if Jenny would like to help us build a sandcastle because she is playing by herself.
• Encourage your child to talk about their thoughts and feelings.
• Listen to your child – be aware of what they say and do. What are their actions telling you?
• Read a book and act parts out, emphasising and naming the expressions and feelings of the characters.

Managing difficult behaviour

Children need discipline, limits and guidance to learn right from wrong and to make good choices in life. It’s important
that they understand the rules at home, school and the community and what happens if the rules are broken. They also need to feel safe and secure while learning the rules.

Discipline that builds on your child’s wish to please you is more likely to produce a well-behaved child than discipline which involves threats or physical punishment.

Children misbehave for a range of reasons. It is how we as parents respond to the behaviour that is important.

How you can help

• Set limits based on your child’s age and abilities. Make sure what you expect is reasonable.
• Be consistent.
• State the limits positively, clearly and explain the reasons, for example Hold my hand while we cross the road because it can be dangerous and I want you to be safe. If you let go of my hand I will carry you.
• Decide on a discipline plan ahead of problems.
• Talk with other parents about their rules.
• Give your child choices, for example You can hold on to my hand or the pram while we cross the road. What would you like to do?
• Praise your child when they follow the limits, for example I like the way you held mummy’s hand until we walked across to the other footpath.
• The best way to help your child do what you want them to do is by doing those things yourself – or modelling good behaviour.
• Be patient. Learning new things takes time. Respect their needs and feelings.

The Positive Parenting Program supports parents to give their children a positive start.
T: 9279 1200
W: www.triplep.net

Tip:

Reward good behaviour with a smile, nodding, hugs or praise, for example “I like the way you shared your toys”. Being positive gives your child attention. Children need it and love it. Catch them being good. Focusing on negative behaviour gives them
attention and may reinforce the wrong behaviour.

More information:

W: www.kidscount.com.au
W: www.health.wa.gov.au
W: www.cyh.com
T: HealthInfo 1300 135 030

Making the most of technology

What’s on? Making the most of television

As parents there are times when we are tired or busy and it’s easiest to let our child watch television. Used in the right way television can be beneficial, however too much may be harmful. It can affect your child’s ability to talk, listen and concentrate. This is because watching television is one way communication and it’s easy to ‘switch off’. Two way communication involves listening, talking and thinking.

Tips on TV

• Limit TV time to 30 minutes a day for children up to two years old and one hour a day for three to five year olds.
• Turn off the TV when no one is watching.
• Choose programs with your child that are designed for their age group.
• Allow them to watch the same DVD again and again. Repetition of phrases or words can make it easier for children to learn.
• Try to watch TV or DVDs together and talk about what happens.
• Don’t place a TV in your child’s bedroom.

Kids online – how to be cyber savvy

The internet opens a window to the world of fun and learning. Children aged from two to seven years are old enough to begin to learn about the computer and explore the internet. Around five years of age children may start visiting children’s websites and enjoy emailing friends and family.

What about the dangers?

Unfortunately children can be at risk and it’s important they learn how to use the net safely. Netty’s World is an excellent tool to introduce your child to the internet. It has been developed by NetAlert, Australia’s Internet Safety Advisory Body Advice Centre for young children. It is a safe site for children to play in while they learn important messages about internet safety. Parents are required to sign an online registration form so children can join Netty’s Club. You can find Netty’s World at www.nettysworld.com.au.

You can also help protect your child by:

• checking out, selecting and bookmarking good sites for young children; choose the age appropriate sites
• supervising your child’s internet use closely
• limiting emails to a list of friends and family members you have approved
• using filters to limit access to unsuitable material.

For more information or advice about internet safety:

W: www.netalert.gov.au
W: www.childrenandyouth.wa.gov.au
W: www.cybersmartkids.com.au
W: www1.k9webprotection.com
T: 1800 880 176

Starting kindergarten

Kindergarten is an exciting place. Teachers encourage children to explore, discover, improvise, create, question, discuss and build. Above all your teacher wants to encourage in your child a lifelong interest in learning.

To start kindergarten children must be four years old by 30 June in the year they attend the program. Kindergarten is 11 hours a week which may be two full days, four half days or one full day and two half days. Kindergarten is followed by a year of pre-primary (five full days a week) and children must be five years old by 30 June in the year they attend.

To enrol your child in a kindergarten or pre-primary program, contact your school of choice to apply.

Being involved

Public schools value a strong partnership with families. As the first and most significant teacher in your child’s life you have much to offer teachers. We invite you to be involved as much as possible.

Come five minutes early to do a puzzle or read a story together. Volunteer to help with classroom activities or excursions. Your child’s eyes will light up when you join them at kindergarten. Remember also that a solid parent–school relationship will help your child form a positive attitude to school.

For more information about kindergarten and pre-primary check out other sections of this website.

Getting ready for school

Some children can find starting kindergarten daunting. Here are simple and practical ways you can help them get ready for school.

• Read stories with your child about starting school. You’ll find a list of books at www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis.
• Go past the school and chat with your child about how they will soon be going there, the exciting things they will do and the friends they will make.
• Make time to visit school together – contact the school first to find out a suitable time.
• Spend time at school looking at all the fun activities going on.
• When you’re at school, show your child where their bag will go, where the toilets are and other things to get them used to school.
• Go shopping together to buy a special lunchbox and drink bottle.

If your child has a disability, contact your local school or district education office to find out what options and support are available.

Children’s Care Services

Several types of care services for families offer play based learning programs for children before they go to school. Services must be licensed under the Community Services (Child Care) Regulations 2006.

Long day care centres offer full-time, part-time and occasional care for children up to six years old. They are eligible to take children with additional needs or disability

Occasional child care centres offer sessions of programmed care for children up to six years old.

Family day care offers licensed small group, home based care offering flexible hours in the carer’s own home.

In home care offers child care in the home for parents with a child with special needs; with three or more children or where a parent has an illness or disability.

Outside school hours care provides supervised recreation activities and care for primary school aged children. The service may offer care before and/or after school; on school professional development days; and during school holidays.

Childcare Access Hotline
T: 1800 670 305

Family Assistance Office
(help with fees for eligible families)
T: 13 61 50
W: www.familyassist.gov.au

Pre-kindy programs offer licensed, informal programs.
Families are expected to meet the full costs of the programs
as they are not subsidised.

Department for Communities
T: 9264 6111

Download a pdf version of Learning begins at home.