Parents
The Pre-school Learning Alliance is here to support you and your family through the early years. Parents are the most important influence on their child’s early years education. The Alliance works closely with parents in a range of practical ways to ensure children gain the best possible start in life.
From an early age, children develop through activities such as listening and watching, using body movements to explore and by re-enacting experiences and events. Our groups offer a choice of fun play activities which provide the children with lots of interest and stimulation, helping them to learn.
For the past 40 years, the Alliance has actively promoted learning through play in the early years. The enormous benefits of this approach are also reflected in the Government’s early years curriculum guidance for young children.
There are lots of opportunities to help your child grow and learn. Parents can support their child's development by choosing activities at home which gives them a chance to explore and use their imaginations.
The following activities may help your child's development:
- Taking your child swimming or on walks to the local park will help with their physical development.
- Counting everyday activities, such as the number of red flowers in the garden or ducks in the pond, supports their cognitive development.
- Reading with your child encourages language development – click here to visit our book shop for lots of ideas on good reads.
- Making up stories and rhymes together and encouraging imaginative play with items such as tea sets and dressing-up clothes have a positive impact on cognitive and social development.