Early Years
An A-Z of early years activities By Gabrielle Nash follow her on Instagram @thelondonishmum
The minutes and hours can pass slowly when you are entertaining a child under 5. So here is a theme for every day of the alphabet to help you out when you need new activity ideas!
ANIMAL HUNT
Go searching for the tiny creepy crawly kind, the chirpy in the tree tops kind and the more exciting kind found in zoos and farms!
BAKING
Save those overripe bananas and bake some muffins. Or let little hands enjoy rolling out some biscuit dough. Anything with different textures will entice and help introduce your little one to unfamiliar foods.
CARDBOARD BOX CREATION
Save the next one you get. What can it be? A pirate ship, a car, or a doll’s bed? Colour it in or cut it up – it doesn’t matter!
DEN BUILDING
Build one indoors with chairs and sheets or head to a local wood or park and gather large pieces of wood. It doesn’t have to be a work of art to spark the imagination. Is it just a den, or is it a cave for monsters?
ENVELOPE ENDEAVOURS
Pop in photos, stickers, a letter or card and send to a friend or family member. Kids always love sticking the stamps on and visiting the post box.
FILM FUN
Enjoy a film at home and make a game of it! Make popcorn, print off ‘cinema tickets’ (maybe even ‘charge’ entrance!) and settle down with a family favourite. Perfect for a rainy day!
GARDEN GROWING
It does not have to be big! You can create a garden suitable for
16 Maidenhead I Windsor I Marlow I Ascot I Slough I Egham
kids very simply; a patch of soil for digging or planting some flowers or veg, a few old bowls and spoons for mud pies and access to a bucket of water!
HIKING
Okay, maybe not up Ben Nevis, but get your kids excited about a little ‘hike.’ Pack a small bag, grab a snack, fill a water bottle. Staying active with your kids is key to healthy living.
IMAGINARY PLAY
It is so easy, with few props needed and little ones LOVE it when you make up a game. Get them to be a patient at the doctors, the receptionist at the dentist or taking their dog to the vet.
JUMBLE SALE JOLLIES
Get your little one involved with going though old things that need passing on to charity or selling at a jumble sale. Help them understand we need to pass things on to other people who need and want them to make way for new clothes and toys.
KICKABOUT
Never underestimate the benefits of getting out to your local park for a kickabout with a ball – plus some running, jumping, sliding and shouting!
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
… is the best way! Playing i-spy on a country walk helps to identify letters and sounds. Spotting different coloured cars, teaches younger ones their colours!
MUD MESS!
Yes, it is messy, but it’s amazing fun for little ones. Get them making mud pies in the garden or doing some mud mark making on a wet walk.
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