• Home
• About us
• FAQs
• News
  • Policy
  • Press releases
    • Press Releases 2008
    • Press Releases 2007
    • Press Releases 2006
    • Press Releases 2005
    • Press Releases 2004
    • Press Releases 2003
  • Events
  • Contacts
• Learning Zone
• Our childcare
• Early years nutrition
• EY Essential
• Safe Environments
• Shop
• Research
• Services
• Membership
• Vacancies
• Volunteers
• Baby and Toddler
• Resources
• Campaign
• Parents
• Links
• Login
• Donate
• Contact Us

Christmas Fun can be educational without being costly say Childcare Organisations

NEWS RELEASE

19 December 2006

Christmas Fun can be educational without being costly say Childcare Organisations

Christmas and the festival holiday season offer countless opportunities for children to learn through play – and it doesn’t have to cost their parents a fortune. That’s the seasonal message from childcare organisations, the Pre-school Learning Alliance, the WPPA, (Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association); SPPA, (Scottish Pre-school Play Association), NIPPA (Northern Ireland Pre-school Playgroup Association) and IPPA, the Early Childhood Organisation (Republic of Ireland).

The organisations with a collective membership of over 20,000 pre-schools, children’s centres, day nurseries and playgroups all share and champion the ethos of ‘learning through play’. Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, the largest voluntary sector childcare provider in the UK says,

“Play is a foundation for a child’s learning and social development and play during the early years, when a child’s brain is developing and making connections, is crucial. There is considerable pressure on parents to spend money at Christmas on presents, yet this time of the year offers children an array of exciting new objects from which they can derive endless pleasure and learn essential skills.

What may seem like pure and simple fun can actually be helping your child develop key skills. Play stimulates a child’s imagination, can help develop physical skills such as coordination and can help children develop concentration. Play with an adult and other children can help build valuable social skills such as eye contact, gestures, sharing and turn-taking.“

Tips for Christmas fun from Pre-schools

Treasure baskets

Very young children, aged from six months to one year, often love Christmas treasure baskets. This is a collection of objects (not bought toys) such as scrunched up wrapping paper, a fir cone, a fabric tree decoration, satsuma and some bells to provide as wide a range of materials and sensations as possible. Put a selection in a basket or on a piece of cloth and enjoy. Make sure that none of the objects are small enough to choke on, are non toxic and are totally safe to be put in mouths. If you are worried about using items that are not bought toys then stay close.

Baby and toddler obstacle courses

Ideal for children from six to 18 months, a baby obstacle course is for developing body strength, balance and co-ordination,. While your baby is crawling set up a pile of cushions and pillows. Encourage them to climb over the pile and play with them. You can also use the cushions to hide a Christmas toy underneath and help them look for it.

Christmas obstacle course using safe and unbreakable objects gives children a challenge to practice and develop their physical skills.

Dressing up

From 18 months. Children love the opportunity to dress and be other characters and a dressing up box can be put together without great expense. It encourages children to use imagination and play together. You can think of seasonal characters or characters inspired by films or cartoon watched during the festive season.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Kate Summerside
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2502
Out of hours press calls: 07956 499621
E: Kate Summerside