As a parent, you understand your child better than anyone else,' explains Mary. 'You are their first and best teacher and can help them to see learning as something that is fun and happens all the time, not just at school. By talking to them, playing with them and sharing their interests you can build the foundations of their future learning.'
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Spending Time Together In 2004 the National Family and Parenting Institute talked to parents about how they spend time with their children. They told us that the growth of the 24/7 life means that more parents now work shifts, evenings and weekends, leading to even more pressure on family time together. We also asked some young people what family meant to them. They told us that spending time together as a family and having shared interests were the things they really liked.
It may seem nearly impossible to fit in quality time together as a family alongside work and school, but making a few simple changes might help to find time for sharing an interest or learning a new skill. This is what parents have told us helps:
Eating a meal together even once or twice a week gives everyone a chance talk about their day, ask questions, and hear about what each other has been up to. Your child may want to tell the whole family about something new they've learnt or something they achieved Switching off the TV or computer and reading together in the evening can be a really important way to spend time together, catch up with school reading or just enjoy a story Helping out in the kitchen gives children a chance to practise skills and learn from you: weighing out ingredients, following simple recipes and tasks like spreading butter, cutting soft fruit and mixing helps children get better at doing things with their hands Having Fun
Babies and young children learn through play and we parents can help their learning by giving them lots of different things to do and places to go. This doesn't need new toys or equipment; using what's around at home, in the garden or local park is just as good if not better:
Children love it most if parents join in and play with them. It is important that they have time to play by themselves as well with you around if they need you. Even ten minutes of playtime is valuable Playdough is great for playing. It can be squeezed, rolled, shaped and cut into shapes. Older children can make animals and people to use in make-believe games. Real dough, like biscuit dough, is good too. Children can enjoy making it with you and bake the results Sand and water are messier and parents often prefer that for outside or for toddler group. But bathtime is really good for play – empty shampoo bottles, plastic cups and bath toys give children a lot of fun with pouring, splashing and finding out what sinks and floats Playing outside – gardens and parks are great for all ages. Younger children are happy exploring puddles, sticks and insects with you, while older children enjoy the freedom of playing an energetic game of tag or football with you. And it can make bedtime much easier if children are tired Older children like to have fun with their parents, too. Although they may not want to play in the same way as younger children, they enjoy having special time with their Mum and Dad:
Some children like to play a sport with parents – many councils now run football clubs for fathers to attend with their sons and daughters. Keeping fit together is a great way to spend time together and share an interest with your child – some parents say choosing a regular time to go swimming works really well Reading together can still be fun. Some children enjoy reading to their parents but they often still like being read to from time to time. Children often enjoy hearing about and having a go at the books that you enjoyed when you were young Need more advice? Read Mary McLeod's expert tips
