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It's Child's Play

A little bit of play goes a long way!

As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want them to succeed in school and in life. But sometimes, it can be hard to know how to help them learn.

That’s why we’re here. ‘It’s Child’s Play’ provides simple activities that you can do with your child at home. From solving simple puzzles or counting buses to learning about colours or the sounds animals make, even the silliest little bit of fun can be a big help!

We want to help busy parents like you make space for everyday learning moments with your children. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or energy – just a few minutes each day can make a big difference, and we’ve got lots of fun ideas you can try out.

Parents and families really do make a massive difference to a child’s potential.

Before I started school, my Mum ran the local launderette (amongst other work she could do whilst looking after me and my brother), and I still remember how we would count and say the colours of the clothes in each load.

Tina Stowell, Commissioner

Just chatting to your child is one of the best things you can do for their development!

Why not try talking to them about the things you see every day, like the colour of buses or cars?

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When parents read to their children, they introduce them to a world of words, ideas, and stories.

It doesn’t have to be long, complicated books either. In fact, reading anything can help – the back of a cereal packet, an extract from a magazine or any words that happen to be around.

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By playing with their families, children develop essential skills like problem-solving, creativity, and social interaction.

Whether it’s building blocks, playing characters, or exploring nature, playtime is essential.

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Getting your child familiar with letter shapes can really help give them a head start when they start school, but writing doesn’t just have to be about words.

Even something as simple as a maze puzzle can help get them used to controlling a pencil and improve their motor skills!

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Counting everyday objects like the number of blocks in a tower or the number of characters in a game is an easy way to get your child school-ready.

Even if they can’t yet count themselves, getting them familiar with numbers by talking about ones you see around you is really helpful!

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Try our new interactive games for more ideas on how to make learning part of your child’s everyday life

It’s Child’s Play games It’s Child’s Play games