Get your child off to a positive start in their Reception Year
As children up and down the country settle into the familiar pattern of the academic year, there is a group among them experiencing it for the first time. Fresh-faced and unknowing four and five year olds, who have only just begun in the Reception Year, have ventured over the threshold where they will be encouraged to learn through play, grow in independence and build confidence. Sarah West, Marketing and Communications Manager of PTA UK, explains how, with a parent’s support, young children can thrive and develop a positive approach to learning at school that will set them up for years to come.
The Reception Year at school opens up a whole world of opportunity for young minds. Children will be introduced to learning mostly through play, develop their social skills by interacting with others and be given the chance to express themselves and share their ideas through structured learning. The aim is for teachers to ensure a happy, active and secure experience for each child while giving every one of them the support required for their specific development, care and learning needs.
When children start in Reception, there are three development areas which will be encouraged and which will help them to flourish. These are:
Communication and language
Communicating basic needs to their teacher or interacting with peers is important in your child’s development. Many parents worry about this but the reality is that most children happily progress and go on to make friends quite quickly. However, if your child appears unsettled, speak to their teacher and work with them to find ways to help. By getting involved like this, you will be working in partnership and reinforcing what is being taught in school, at home.
Physical development
During the Reception year, children will be encouraged to develop their fine motor skills - the small movements needed for writing. They will also be encouraged to develop their gross motor skills which involve big movements of the arms and legs to help with coordination and to build muscle strength.
Personal, social and emotional development
Children will learn personal, social and emotional skills in a number of everyday activities. For example, learning to dress themselves, doing up buttons and putting on their shoes by themselves, will give them a real sense of achievement and confidence in their own ability. They may start to empathise more with other children, joining in on a joke that makes them laugh or trying to cheer up a companion if they are hurt.
All these skills are important as children start to learn to read, write, count, understand the world around them and express themselves. Knowing what to expect can help parents support their children. Getting to know the teachers, attending information sessions and engaging with them is the best way to find out how best to support your child’s development and at the same time proactively help them to reach their full potential.
Support your child’s Reception Class learning with these activities at home:
There’s a learning opportunity in everything you do at home! Encouraging your children to get involved will not only help them with their listening and language skills, it will also help them to make sense of the world around them. For example:
If you are baking, read out the ingredients and get your child to help weigh and measure quantities. Get them counting out the knives and forks when you’re setting the table; or encourage them to pair up socks or sort colouring pencils when you’re tidying up.
Encourage them by playing games such as ‘Granny went to the market and bought…’, where you take turns to list items, then listen, remember and repeat back as many as possible.
Give simple instructions for your child to follow, like asking them to set the table, or tidy their room; and talk to them about what you are doing, categorising and sorting the shopping as you are unpacking, or putting the clothes into piles.
Point out 2D and 3D shapes in everyday objects and see if they can identify any themselves. They are all around us so play a game and see who can spot and name the most when you’re out and about.
Playing games with children will help them develop their listening and communication skills as they try to follow simple instructions and do specific actions.
Dressing up and role play games are a great way for children to work through emotions and interactions with others.
Build up their physical strength and develop their motor skills with these ideas:
Making a mess is good for them! Playdough, kinetic sand, cornflour mixes and other materials such as these help children gain strength in their hands and arms which is important when learning to write. Threading wool through pasta or cereal, playing with small toys or cutting out and sticking are also good activities.
Get them out and active! Local playgrounds, fallen down trees and hilly walks will get your children climbing, balancing, running and jumping. It’s great for coordination, spatial awareness and building up muscle strength.