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Growing and Learning in the Family
What parents can do
Children learn best in an environment which is interesting and where they feel loved and safe.
Provide an environment where children can explore, learn and try new things and talk about what they are doing. Teach them to watch, listen, think and question and let them practise what they can do.
Be positive and encourage them to try new things in safe ways.
Don't feel guilty about asking for information or support for your child or for yourself. Every child is different and every stage of development brings new challenges, so there may be times when you need advice or support. Sometimes that support will be available within your family, sometimes it will have to come from others.
Give your children lots of time to play. Play is important because it allows children to solve problems and practise skills over and over again in their own time and to develop ideas at their own pace.
Play materials can come from many places
Outdoors, there are trees to climb, sand and water, shadows, and bushes to hide in.
'Junk' items can help imaginative play. Big cardboard boxes make great cubbies or trains; food packages and advertising brochures are good for home or shop play, old clothes for dressing up, old pots, pans and spoons for digging in the sand.
Parks have swings, slides and spaces for running and ball play.
Beaches have sand for digging, waves for chasing, stones, seaweed or shells for collecting.
Libraries have books, music, games and puzzles for thinking, sharing, learning about rules and having fun.
Try to find things to do which are fun and will help your child's learning in the areas of physical and social development, thinking and communicating.
Remember
The first and most important learning happens in the family.
Children thrive in an environment which is interesting and where they feel loved and safe. Children need to feel safe.
Adapted from Parenting Easy Guide “Growing and learning in the family” with permission © Parenting SA, Government of South Australia.
For the complete document visit www.cyh.com
