At Home with

Family Learning

Fun and useful ways to

improve reading, writing
and maths skills for all
Acknowledgements
The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) wishes to
thank everyone who brought together this workbook.

Written by Margaret Keating. At Home with

Family Learning 2020 is a revised edition of
a booklet of the same name first published
in 2005 and revised in 2009.

Any item may be reproduced by

permission and with relevant credits.

The views expressed in At Home

with Family Learning are not necessarily
the views of NALA.

Published by:

National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)

Sandford Lodge
Sandford Close
Ranelagh, Dublin 6

© National Adult Literacy Agency, 2020.

ISBN 1-871737-51-6
Contents

Introduction 2
Sounds and rhymes 4
Stories and books 10
Lines, patterns and shapes 22
Maths around us 30
Creative fun 38
Art and craft 39
Making games 42
Food 44
Learning outside 48
Playing outside 49
Family outings 53
Where to find help 56
Help My Kid Learn 60

1
 Introduction

As a parent, you are your child’s

first teacher. Your home is a place
where lots of learing is happening
every day. This booklet tells you
how to make the most of your
home as a place where your family
can enjoy learning together.

2
We learn through our senses by Chapters start with questions
seeing, hearing and doing. Young about learning and are divided
children learn by playing and by into three sections.
copying things they see you doing and
•B
 abies and toddlers
saying. You can support your child’s
•P
 re-schoolers
learning by helping them find the way
they learn best. •Y
 oung school children

By the time children go to school, Each section lists fun, easily-managed

they have learned: games or activities to do in and around
the home.
• to listen and understand what
is being said, The chapters finish with a Quick Quiz
literacy activity. You can do this with
• to concentrate on things that
a child who has some reading skills.
interest them,
It acts as a summary of the chapter.
• to move around in their environment,

• about numbers and how things work,

• how to get along with other people, and

• lots and lots of other things!

3
 Sounds and rhymes

Here are some questions for

you to think about as you read
this chapter.
How do children learn to talk?
What can I do if I don’t know any
nursery rhymes?
How can I help my child to become
aware of sounds?

4
For babies and toddlers
Babies learn to talk by hearing other people talking.
• Talk naturally to them about what you are doing.

• Have them nearby when you are talking to other adults

so that they can listen.

• Repeat sounds they make by themselves and turn them into a game.

• Turn sounds into words. For example, say “bang, bang”

if they are banging.

• Name sounds you hear. For example, if you both hear

a car engine, say “That’s a car”.

• Sing a lullaby. Even just “la, la, la” will do.

• Listen to different kinds of music together.

• When they use a word, add another one. If they say “cat”,
say “nice cat”.

• Listen together and name the sounds you hear around you.

Sounds around us
Here are some examples:

Indoors: Outdoors:
- Tap running - Plane overhead
- Radio and TV - Car, bus or train
- Baby crying - Wind in the trees
- Fridge or washing machine - Someone calling
- Birds or insects
5
For pre-schoolers You could also:
Children get better at using words • say words that rhyme with your
when they have something to say child’s own name,
to people they want to talk to. • listen out for rhymes in TV adverts,
• Play “I hear with my little ear something
• make a tape for children to match
that goes ‘woof’”(or ‘miaow’).
sounds to pictures, or
• Say an alphabet sound, ask the
• make sound patterns with words.
child to find something that starts
For example, clap or stamp to a name
with that sound
— 1 clap for Ann, 2 claps for
- b for ball or balloon
Sim – on, 3 claps for Jess – i – ca.
- s for sock
- d for doll

• Make up rhymes or songs about

everyday activities that your child
is doing.

•S
 ay action rhymes and do finger
plays with your child.

• Sing or read nursery rhymes.

• Make up same sound sentences

for your child to say.
“Lucy learned to leapfrog
in the leaves”.

6 Sounds and rhymes

Everyday rhymes Nursery rhymes
Here are some examples of Here are some examples
made-up everyday rhymes: of nursery rhymes:
“One, two, three, four, who Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall
is knocking on the door?” Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
“Are you able, to set the table?” All the King’s horses
“Don’t be slow, it’s time to go! and all the King’s men
Hats and coats on, now you know!” Couldn’t put Humpty
together again
Action rhymes
Here are two examples Little Miss Muffet
of popular action rhymes. Sat on a tuffet
Incy Wincy spider Eating her curds and whey
went up the water spout Down came a spider
Down came the rain Who sat down beside her
And washed poor Wincy out And frightened Miss Muffet away.
Out came the sunshine
dried up all the rain
So Incy Wincy spider
went up the spout again
I’m a little teapot
short and stout
Here’s my handle
and here’s my spout
When the tea is ready
hear me shout
Pick me up and pour me out!

7
For young school children • Let them describe events that
Children improve their learning and happened during the day at school.
reading by listening and speaking. • Call out a list of directions, for example,
• Some children prefer listening as a way “Go upstairs, find your bag and bring
of learning. Allow your child to say the it to me.”
letters out loud when learning to spell.
• To help your child put ideas in the
• Ask your child questions that need right order, let them retell a story they
more than a Yes/No answer such as, have heard.
“How do you feel about that?”
• Encourage them to give opinions
• Help your child make their own and to ask questions.
recording for you to guess the
• Help your child make decisions
sounds, for example door shutting
by discussing their ideas.
or brushing teeth.
• If they use a wrong word when talking,
• Ask the child to ‘teach’ you
say the right one when you are talking,
something they have learned.
rather than correct them. For example,
if a child says, “I goed to the shop”,
you would say “Oh, you went to
the shop.”

?
!
8 Sounds and rhymes
Quick Quiz
This quiz can be done with a child
who has some reading skills. You need
to finish the missing words. They can
be found in the chapter above.

Talk about what you are d________.

Get children to notice s_________.

Use r_________ in songs and play.

Listening is a way of l___________.

Answers: doing, sounds, rhymes, learning

9
 Stories and books

Here are some questions you

may have about learning to read.
What is a good book?
How do stories help reading?
Does TV stop children becoming
good readers?

10
For babies and toddlers • Choose a variety of books, especially
Sharing stories and books at ones that look fun. Libraries are a good
an early stage helps reading later on. place to try out lots of different kinds of
• Stories are not just found in books. books, without any pressure to buy.
Tell your child short, simple stories
• Show your child how to use books —
you know.
how to hold them the right way up,
• Make up a story using your child’s go from left to right across the page
favorite toys. and go from the front to the back of

• Make your own picture books with the book.

pictures of your child’s favourite things • Give your child old catalogues or
cut from old magazines. magazines to practise turning pages.

• Share books by looking at and talking • R un your finger under the words
about the pictures. Name something occasionally so your child’s eyes
and ask your child to find it in the get used to going from left to right
pictures. across the page.

• Find time to sit together and share

books sometime during the day;
five minutes can be enough.

Types of books - touch and feel books

Here are some of the types of - lift-the-flap books
books available. - homemade books

- cloth books - home or toy catalogues

- waterproof bath books - picture books

- board books - story books or storybook with a CD

- pop-up books - e-books you can read

- big books on a computer or phone

11
For pre-schoolers
Stories help reading, as children learn
that the words you say match the words
on the page.
• Tell your child ‘real life’ stories you
know. They love hearing about
themselves as a baby. Tell a story about
yourself or a grandparent as a child.

• Talk about photos taken at family

events. Turn them into a story.

• Make a scrapbook using old photos.

Write words or short sentences under
the photographs.

•S
 ome books only have pictures, so get
your child to tell the story to you.

•E
 ncourage your child to make up
their own story about their favourite
toys or figures.

• Ask your child to draw their

own pictures of a story.

12 Stories and books

What is a good storybook?
It is one that the reader and listener find interesting.
It might be funny or entertaining. Ask yourself whether
your child would enjoy it and be able to listen to it.
Are the pictures well drawn? Is it well written? Do you like it?
You may be the one reading it, over and over and over!

• Make your own ‘storysack’ with your child. A ‘storysack’ is a

cloth bag filled with a story book, toys, puppets and real-life
props that relate to the story. A group of parents could make
them to share with friends.

• When reading a story, stop to ask the child

to guess what will happen next.

• Let them retell a story that they have heard, in their own words.

• Ask their opinion about a story, for example,

“What did you like best?”

• Read stories that appeal to a child’s feelings.

These can help them to deal with a family
event, like a new baby or starting school.

• Consider taking your child to a ‘storytime’ at your local or

mobile library. Book shops sometimes have writers reading
their stories, particularly during book weeks.

• Read notices, car numbers or newspaper headlines to your

child. Tell them what it says on signs in shops and on the street.

• Help your child make their own book, using old toy catalogues.

13
What to do with children of card and cut it into four or five pieces
before they learn to read for your child to remake.

Before children learn to read • Talk about the pictures and

they already; shapes in jigsaws when you
- know the first letter of their name, are doing one together.
- know favourite food packets or shops, • Name a colour and show your child
- can match pictures, and an example. Ask them to find it
- can match shapes. around the room or in a book.
• Make an ongoing alphabet scrapbook • Make the letters of their name in
with your child. Write a letter on each pastry. Write their name in large letters
page. Look for magazine pictures of on a piece of paper. The child can put
things that start with that letter sound the cooked pastry shapes on top of
and put the pictures in the book. their name.
• Ask the child to find a named packet or • When you have finished reading
tin in the press. a story, ask them what happened first,
• Make simple jigsaws. Cut out a picture then what happened next and how
from a magazine, stick it on to a piece the story ended.

Television

Television has been called ‘the extra storyteller’. Try to watch with your child
and talk about what you have seen. Sometimes they recognise a favourite
character and want to read about it. But be aware of how much TV your child
watches. If children spend too much time watching TV, they don’t have time
for playing or reading stories.

14 Stories and books

For young school children things, take one thing away and ask the
Reading aloud to children shows them child to spot what is missing. You can
that you think reading is important. put out more things as they get better.
• Some children learn best when looking • Give your child a pen or highlighter.
at things — they are visual learners. If Name small words — a, as, it, is,
your child likes to look at words when and, for — and ask them to find them
learning to spell, ask them to close in an old newspaper.
their eyes and picture the word before
calling out the letters or writing them
down.

• Playing ‘Kim’s game’ is a good way of

learning to remember what you have
seen. Put about 10 things from around
the house on a tray and ask your child
to look at them for a few seconds. Then
take them away and ask them to call
out what they remember. Another way
of playing this game is to cover the

15
 Helpful homework hints • Before they get a reading book,

• Ask the teacher how long your children are sometimes given words

child’s homework should take. written on small cards to learn.

• Discuss with the teacher if the • If your child gets a small card from

child is taking too long. school, write another set of words for
them to match.
• Make your child feel that homework
is part of family life. • Play ‘snap’ with the two matching
sets of words.
• Find out what kind of help
the child needs. • Put the cards around the room and
call out a word for the child to find.
• Help children to organise
themselves. • Play ‘go fish’ or ‘memory’ by turning
cards face down and getting the
• Agree a time with them that
child to try and match pairs.
you are free to help.
• You can also play this game
• Make sure they understand what
with playing cards.
they have to do beforehand.
• Encourage your child to read joke
• Taking short breaks between
books, comics and maps as their
subjects can help. Turn off the
reading improves.
TV and keep calm!

16 Stories and books

• Find small words in longer words —
learn, them. Ask your child how
many small words they can find in
‘bingo’, ‘another’ or ‘television’.
• Encourage your child to read things
around them — cereal packets,
notices and signs in shops.
• Use magazines and newspapers to
provide lots of new words and facts.
Your child can use the pictures for
information about the words they
are reading.
• Listen to your child reading aloud
in short regular sessions.

17
Ways of reading with children • Use story CDs to help your child’s
reading. They can listen to them or
• Paired reading can help your child’s
read with the CD.
confidence. The child might choose a
book (or comic) to read. At first, both of • Encourage or help your child to make
you read aloud together. When the child and write their own books, drawing their
is ready, they carry on reading alone. own pictures.
If they don’t know a word, you say it for • Encourage your child to read for
them and both of you continue to read pleasure. This gives them confidence as
together until they are ready to read they try to work out the meanings and
alone again. No pressure is made to get sounds of words.
them to read by themselves. They only
• Encourage your child’s interest in
do it when they are ready. This is useful
reading about topics they enjoy —
with older children when they find text
animals, music and football.
books difficult.
• As your child reads more difficult
• Read longer books to your child.
books, it can be helpful to use the
This helps memory skills.
‘before, during and after’ way of
reading to help them.

18 Stories and books

Teaching reading • Ask your child if they can make
2 letter words by adding a i o u
Schools have different ways of teaching
to the letters f m n p s t
reading. In some schools, the teacher
writes the words on small cards and the
See how many words you can make:
children learn by recognising the shape
an, a___ , a___ , a___
of the word. Other schools teach the
sounds of the letters. Children put the if, i___ , i___
sounds together to make words. Most o___ , o___
schools use both of these ways.
u___ , u___
•W
 hen your child asks what a word is,
tell them. Later on, ask them to find it
on another page.

• L etters must be in the right order to say

what you mean — on/no, was/saw. Help
your child practise making these words
with small plastic letters.

19
Here are some more helpful • Books should be at a level your child
hints about reading. can understand. The child could attempt

•A
 llow an older child to practise their to read the first page before buying or

reading skills by reading to younger borrowing the book. If they do not know

children. 10 words out of 100 in the text, your

child will only understand half of what
•A
 sk the child to read a recipe or call
they read.
out a list to you.
• Ask your child’s school about computer
•B
 uy games with written instructions
programmes that help children make
for your child to follow.
their own stories. This is a good way
•B
 e aware that when your child becomes of expressing ideas if your child has
a confident reader, they may like to difficulty with writing and drawing.
read silently.

Before, during and after

way of reading

Before: Look at pictures for clues

and talk about word meanings.

During: Try to work out new words

but keep reading.

After: Talk about what made it a

good story and any parts your child
found difficult.

20 Stories and books

Quick Quiz
This quiz is a literacy activity that you can
do with a child who is learning to read.
Small words can be found in longer ones.
For example, the word ‘all’ can be found in
the word ‘small’. Can you find the following
words in the four sentences below?

or, in, me, are, our, us, how, rest, read

•T
 ell stories of all kinds.
•M
 ake time to share books.
•E
 ncourage children to use the library.
•S
 how your own interest in reading.

21
 Lines, patterns and shapes

Here are some questions you may

have about learning to write.
How can play activities help writing?
Should I show my child how to write
letters?

Stages of writing
movement Ž making marks Ž
drawing Ž letters Ž words

22
For babies and toddlers • Show your child how to draw large
Learning to move helps shapes in the air.
children to learn. • Play a mirroring game where you lead
• Encourage your baby to reach and your child follows your movements,
for things — pram or mirror toys then get them to lead.
or bubbles.
• Encourage your child to make marks
• Give your baby opportunities to
by giving paper and washable markers
explore their surroundings by moving
that are easy to hold.
— rolling over, sitting up, crawling
• Draw lines or shapes on large sheets of
and walking.
old newspapers, with crayons, markers or
• Give the child small toys to pick up
paint for your child to copy.
and put in a box.

• Play with building blocks or large

Lego®.

• Encourage your toddler to move

around and pretend they are an animal
- jumping like frogs or kangaroos,
- stretching out one arm like an
elephant’s trunk, or
- standing on one foot like a bird.

23
For pre-schoolers • Trace over written number and
Writing develops from the initial letter shapes with your hand on
scribbles they enjoy doing. top of your child’s.

• Give your child toys where they need • Ask your child to draw shapes with
to use their fingers and thumbs — peg their eyes open and then closed.
boards or safety scissors, for example.
• Make an alphabet book, with your child
• Prepare a tray of salt or sand. Drawing cutting out and sticking in pictures.
on a tray of salt or sand with their finger
• Write words under your child’s drawings
helps your child to feel the movement of
for them.
lines and shapes.
• Draw on your child’s back with your
• Provide opportunities for free painting
finger. Ask them to guess what you
on large sheets of newspaper.
drew.
• Keep crayons and paper
• Let your child see you writing —
with toys.
notes, lists, letters.
• Encourage your child to use ‘pretend’
writing in play — writing own name,
notices or price lists.

24 Lines, patterns and shapes

Holding a pencil

2 3
1

Right handed — lightly between thumb Left handed — slightly further back on
and first finger 2cm from the point pencil, with paper turned at an angle

A pencil grip or sticky plaster wrapped

around the pencil makes it easy to hold.

25
For young school children •W
 ith your child, draw a line between
Writing means knowing how to make things that go together.
the letters and numbers and being
able to put what you want to say into
words and sentences.
• If your child likes to learn using
movement, get them to write on a table
or in the air with their finger. They learn
spelling best by writing the words.

• Writing goes from left to right across a

page. Ask your child to draw between
the lines with their finger or pencil.

• Drawing lines and shapes leads to

making letter shapes. Ask your child to
copy lines and shapes.

26 Lines, patterns and shapes

• Trace over dot-to-dot shapes or their • Do maze puzzles with your child.
name in dots.

• Making patterns develops your child’s

fluency in writing. Complete these
patterns and draw your own. You can
use patterns to decorate art work.
• Help your child use a junior dictionary
to check their spelling.

27
 Handwriting
Schools have different ways of teaching writing. Check with
your child’s teacher about how it is taught in your child’s school.
Look out for opportunities for your child to use ‘real writing’,
for example lists, labels and signs. Here are some more
examples of ‘real writing’.

•W
 ith your child, make and write cards for
special events — birthdays and Christmas.

•W
 rite ‘Thank you’ letters with your child.

•S
 ew or stick pages together to make a book and
let your child write their own stories.

•F
 ill out forms to send for offers or a library card.

Self-check for writing

- Do I write clearly and leave spaces
between my words?
- Do I write in sentences and use capital
letters and full stops?
- Who will read my writing?
- Are my spellings right?
- Did I check my work?
- Have I used interesting words?
- Do I need to look up a dictionary?

28 Lines, patterns and shapes

Quick Quiz
If your child is a confident reader see if
they can do this quiz. Put the letters in the
right order. The words are about writing.

An example is: ensil = lines

aepg ____________

lpsle ____________

rtiwe ____________

Answers: page, spell, write.

29
 Maths around us

Here are some questions that you

might have about learning maths.
Do I have to be good at maths
to help my child?
What if my child wants to use higher
numbers than they use at school?

30
For babies and toddlers • Turn tidying up into a sorting game —
Children learn ‘maths’ language for example putting dolls or cars into
in a natural way through play. different boxes.
• Collect boxes and containers of • Match things that go together —
different sizes for your child to play shoe/sock, cup/saucer, for example.
with. Play by fitting them inside
• Count steps out loud together when
each other or putting one on top
going up or downstairs.
of the other.
• Stamp and move to rhythmic music
• Shoe shops are good sources of boxes
on the radio.
to use for stacking. You can also use
shoe boxes as large building blocks • Sing number rhymes or songs together.

with the lids taped on. • When putting shopping away, show

• Use bath time as a good opportunity your child that some things go in the

for pouring and emptying games with fridge, but big boxes have to fit in

containers. the press.

• Count as you do things — putting out

plates or clothes for example.

Number rhymes

One, two, buckle my shoe

Three, four, knock on the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big, fat hen

31
 Five green bottles should accidentally fall
hanging on the wall There’d be two green
And if one green bottle bottles hanging on the wall
should accidentally fall Two green bottles
There’d be four green hanging on the wall
bottles hanging on the wall And if one green bottle
Four green bottles should accidentally fall
hanging on the wall There’d be one green
And if one green bottle bottle hanging on the wall
should accidentally fall One green bottle
There’d be three green hanging on the wall
bottles hanging on the wall And if one green bottle
Three green bottles should accidentally fall
hanging on the wall There’d be no green bottles
And if one green bottle hanging on the wall

32 Maths around us
For pre-schoolers
Everyday activities help your child’s
understanding of maths.
• Compare things when talking: big/
small, long/short, older/ younger,
faster/slower: “You carry the small box
and I’ll take the big one.”

• Use the words — up/down, over/under,

near/far, more/less when talking to your
child.

• Talk about the shapes of everyday

things. Ask your child what shapes they
can see around the room they’re in.

33
Shapes • Use ‘time’ words — early, late, weekday,
For example, ask if there are any circles, weekend, second, minute, hour.
squares, rectangles or triangles or Talk about the time for different things
what shape the window is. Doors are you do every day — “It’s nine o’clock,
rectangular and so is the TV. time to go to playschool”.
• Encourage your child to use blocks that
• Let your child see you mark dates
fit together, like Lego®, to help build
on a calendar.
maths skills.
• Make a number book using a different
• Ask your child to look out the window
number of objects on each page.
and name any shapes they can see.

• Birthdays are important for candles,

cards and wrapping presents. Use this
occasion to practise numbers, writing,
sizes and shapes.

• Let your child help to put away

the washing — matching the socks,
sorting clothes and folding towels.

Rhyme for learning how

many days in the month

Thirty days hath September,

April, June and November,
All the rest have thirty one,
Except for February,
When once in four,
February has one day more.

34 Maths around us
Numbers • The kitchen provides lots of
It takes time to learn that 2 means two opportunities to practise maths skills
things, 5 means five and that the final with your child.
number you count out refers to a total Set the table — 1 knife, 1 fork
amount. and 1 spoon for each person.
• Encourage your child to use jigsaws. - Cut fruit into halves and quarters.
These give lots of practise at putting - Divide pizza into enough slices
shapes together to make another shape. for everyone.
You can help by talking and asking about - Sort out big and small spoons.
how a piece fits. - Weigh out ingredients on
• Make shapes from Playdough scales together.
or Plasticine. - Estimate “Is there enough
for everyone?”
• Make your own fun dough with children.

Homemade fun dough

How to make your own fun
dough. This is not suitable Mix dry ingredients well. Add
for eating. oil and colouring. Knead very
• 2 cups flour well. Keep in airtight container
• 1 cup salt and use within a few days.
• ¾ cup water Or it can be baked at a low
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil temperature. Shapes can be
• 1 or 2 drops colouring decorated when cool.
35
For young school children • Children learn to use a calculator in 4th
Children learn that using maths is an class, but younger children love to make
important part of their everyday life. big numbers. Show your child zero and
• Ask your child to put out 2, 3 let them make millions!
or 4 toys. • A wall planner shows all the days
• Put out some small objects on the table in a year, so put one where your child
and then remove one. Ask your child can use it. It also lists the months in
how many you have in your hand. a row, which your child can learn in

• Write a couple of numbers on some the right order.

paper. Your child matches the number • Keep a ‘small change’ jar so your child
to the correct number of objects. can sort and count coins.

• Measure how long or wide the room • A small amount of pocket money helps
is by counting the number of footsteps develop your child’s money skills. They
it takes to cross it. learn the names of the coins and what

• Encourage your child to estimate how they are worth. Knowing what change

many things there are before they you get is a lesson in subtraction.

count them. • Playing games with your child helps

• Use objects to help your child with maths. Include dominoes, cards or board

addition and subtraction when doing games with a dice and counters. You

their homework. could make your own bingo number

game for matching numbers.

36 Maths around us
Maths at school
At school, maths is taught in a structured way,
building on what children have already learned.
They use the metric system (centimetres, kilos,
litres) and learn about number, shape, size
and patterns. Children also learn how to use
information, solve problems and estimate. They
are introduced to addition and subtraction using
coloured blocks and counters.

Quick quiz
This quiz is a ‘word snake’ that you can
do with a child who has good reading
skills. The words are about learning maths.
How many can you find?
addsortmatchsizetimeyearweighcountmeasure
lengthnumberssubtractdivideshapecalendar

measure length numbers subtract divide shape calendar

Answers: add sort match size time year weigh count
37
 Creative fun

Here are some questions that you

might have about enjoying creative
activities as you read this chapter.
What can I do if I’m not artistic?
Are babies too young to enjoy art?
How can food be used for a creative
activity?

38
Art and craft
Children need opportunities to be
creative and use their imagination.

For babies and toddlers • Give easy to hold washable markers

They need adults to give them from about 12–15 months for drawing.
opportunities to explore a variety • Let your child paint with their fingers.
of things to look at and to touch. Finger painting is an enjoyable and
• A mobile is a hanging toy. Make one by messy activity that can be done on
hanging a few small soft toys by thread a tray as well as paper.
from a coat hanger. Put it where your
• Make butterfly paintings by putting two
child can see it, perhaps over the cot.
or three colours on one half of a page.
• You can also make a mobile by cutting Fold the paper over, press down and
out pieces of coloured card in different then open out to see the new shape.
shapes and hanging it up.
• Use cardboard rolls, vegetables,
• When your baby is sitting up encourage sponge shapes, leaves or hands to make
them to reach out for brightly coloured prints of all kinds. Dip into paint and
toys, by putting them slightly out of press on a piece of paper.
reach.

• Make a ‘texture’ book by sticking on

fabric or paper that feels different to
touch. Include pieces of fun fur, plastic,
sandpaper, tweed or shiny paper.

• Cut out samples of colours from

magazines or pieces of rough or smooth
material. Glue them onto a large piece
of cardboard for a baby to touch.
39
 Things to collect Pebbles Elastic bands
for art and craft
Leaves Bits of wool and string
Boxes of all kinds
Magazines Scraps of material
Cardboard rolls
Old birthday cards Shoe laces
Broken necklaces
Old socks and gloves Used wrapping paper

For pre-schoolers • Help or encourage your child to make

The activity of doing the artwork a picture by sticking small things to a
can be more important to them than piece of paper or card. They can use
the finished picture. the following:
• Talk about names of colour mixes - strips of coloured paper from a

in painting, for example red and magazine,
yellow make orange, blue and yellow
- coloured tissue paper or sweet

make green.
papers,
• Paint stripes of colour on a page. Cover  - dried pasta or rice,
over with black crayon. Then help your
 - material of different textures,
child scrape a design into the crayon
 - leaves, shells, small stones, and
to make a picture.
 - glitter, tin foil and tinsel.
• Make textured prints by pressing
• Make ‘junk’ constructions with your
objects on play dough or clay.
child by sticking together cardboard
• Cut out storybook characters from toy
boxes, rolls and paper.
catalogues and stick on lollipop sticks
• Provide pencils and plenty of paper for
to make puppets.
your child to draw their own pictures.
• Help your child make simple puppets
from old socks, gloves or cardboard
rolls. Parents can use a puppet to tell
a story or teach the child in a fun way.

40 Creative fun
For young school children • Make prints with other objects, for
These children become better at example leaves, sponge or corks, by
noticing the world around them and dipping them into paint and pressing
expressing their emotions through art. onto a page.
• Ask your child to “Take your pencil
• Put names or designs on old T-shirts,
for a walk around a page” and colour
runners or pieces of cloth with fabric
in all the different shapes made.
paints or ‘glitter glue’.
• Have your child cut out small square
• Let your child practise writing their name
shapes from coloured paper in
by designing a name plate for their book
magazines to make mosaic pictures.
or door.
• Make potato prints. Cut a potato
• Encourage your child to paint a portrait
in half, dip it in paint and press on
of a family member or a pet.
a sheet of paper.
• Allow time for your child to paint and
• Encourage your child to make their
draw the pictures they want to.
own cards and invitations for writing
• Ask your child to lie on a large sheet
to friends.
of paper or roll of left-over wallpaper.
• Help your child make decorations for
You or an older child then draws
different festivities, such as Halloween
around them, so the child can paint
and Christmas.
in their shape.

GLUE

41
Making games
This is an enjoyable way to
learn a variety of skills.

For babies and toddlers For pre-schoolers

Games are a way for them Children make up their own games,
to interact with people. but playing games with others helps
• Your baby will probably like games that their concentration and social skills.
arise naturally, for example ‘peep-o’. • Play card or board games when
• Play ‘peep-o’ with a toy, where you you can have a quiet time together
hide a toy and make it reappear. with your child.

• Try action games that involve bouncing • Make a picture-matching game by

your child gently on your knee. cutting out matching pictures from
catalogues and sticking them to card.
• Show your child how to play circle
games, for example Ring-a-rosy. • Play the game a few times so the
child has a chance to learn the rules
• Use clapping games to help your
and to win!
child’s co-ordination. Pat-a-cake
is an example. • Learning to lose is an important thing to
learn, so don’t always let the child win.
• Show your child how to draw
large shapes in the air. • Let your child learn to follow rules in a
game by watching other children play,
as in Simon Says or Follow the Leader.
Clapping game

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker’s man

Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Prick it and pat it and mark it with B
And put it in the oven for baby and me

42 Creative fun
For young school children • Make your own games together.
Games are a way of practising some This involves deciding
of the reading and number skills they - whether to make a card or
have learned. a board game,
• Encourage your child to play board - what colours and design to use,
games. There are lots of board and
- what the rules are, and
card games available in the shops,
- how many players the game is for.
for example Snakes and Ladders
and Junior Scrabble, that children • When playing, talk about what

enjoy playing. you are doing, such as, “I need to

throw a six to start.”
• Play card games together. Old
favourites like Snap and Old Maid • To improve your child’s matching skills,

can help number and picture matching. make up number or word bingo.

• Play noughts and crosses to help • Help your child to make their own

your child plan ahead. jigsaws by sticking one of their

paintings on cardboard and cutting
• Make your own card or board games
it into shapes.
to go with a favourite storybook.
Children will reread a book several • Make large board games for the floor

times to get enough details to make by opening out cardboard boxes and

a good board game. drawing out a game on which children

can move around.

43
Food
A healthy, balanced diet is needed
for growth but can help learning too.

For babies and toddlers • Children are more likely to eat food
Mealtimes can be enjoyable and fun that is good for them if they help to
and a treat for their senses. They also prepare it. So let your child:
give children a chance to listen to - mix yoghurt and fruit for milk shakes,
conversations. - slice bananas or kiwis,
• Give your child tiny sweet, sour and
- peel satsumas, or
savoury tastes.
- wash berries for fruit salad.
• Allow your toddler to feed themselves.
• Make food art
It helps their co-ordination.
- Slice or chop fruit, vegetables
• Put their spoon directly in front of them.
and cheese slices.
This lets them decide which hand to use.
- Arrange to make ‘pictures’ or designs.
- Eat.
For pre-schoolers
Preparing snacks can help • Let your child help you make salads.

improve eating habits and learning. • Involve your child in growing mustard
• Talk about food and where and cress seeds. Sprinkle seeds on
it comes from. a piece of wet kitchen towel placed

• Let your child practise pouring liquids. on a plate and put the sprouts in
salads or sandwiches.
• Show your child how to make
a simple dip.

44 Creative fun
 Cheese dip

2 tablespoons natural yoghurt Mix all ingredients well

2 tablespoons cottage cheese together. Serve with raw
2 tablespoons low fat vegetables such as celery or
mayonnaise carrot sticks or with corn crisps.
1 teaspoon mustard

For young school children • Read the recipe together to see

Cooking provides lots of if you need to go shopping.

practical learning opportunities, - Plan and make a shopping list

while having fun. with your child.
• Help your child learn to: - Read the list at the shop.
- wash hands before preparing food, - See how much money is needed.
- use utensils carefully, • Talk about it later: “How does it taste?”,
- chop, slice, knead and cut out shapes, “Did we use too much flour?”
- use words related to size, shape and • Help your child put together a
temperature, and recipe book of things they helped to
- measure in millimetres (ml) make. You can include their drawings
litres (l) and grams (g). or take photos.

• Ask them questions such as “What will

we make?”, “What can we make with
the things we have?”, “Do we need
to buy anything extra?”

45
 Gingerbread cookies

This recipe makes a popular treat for children.

350 g plain flour

¼ teaspoon salt
2 dessert spoons ground ginger
75 g butter or margarine
50 g sugar
3 dessert spoons Golden Syrup
2 small eggs

Cream butter, sugar and syrup in a bowl. Gradually add

the beaten eggs. Sieve in flour, salt and ginger. Make it
into a mixture that you can roll out with a rolling pin.
Cut into shapes and bake for 20 to 25 minutes at gas
mark 3–4 or 170º–180ºC. Decorate when cool.

46 Creative fun
47
 Learning outside

Here are some questions that you

might have about family learning
outdoors as you read this chapter.
How can my children learn outside
if I don’t have a garden?
How can I keep children occupied
during the school holidays?

48
Playing outside

For babies and toddlers

Children explore the world through
their senses by looking, listening and
touching. They enjoy outdoor space
— rolling over, crawling, walking and
running on different surfaces.
• Let your child experience shapes and
textures outside — leaves, puddles,
grass or sand — by looking at and
touching them.

• Take your child for walks in the garden,

park or street. It gives them a chance
to see and to hear what is going on
around them.

• Encourage your child to look at small

things — insects, flowers and leaves.

49
For pre-schoolers • In summer, provide sand and water
These children need space play, using old basins as containers.
to move freely and develop But never leave your child alone when
their movement skills. they are playing with water.
• Have races with your child to give
• Let your child blow bubbles using
them space to run, jump, hop and
washing up liquid.
skip outdoors.
• Allow your child to paint with water
• Play at throwing and catching ball
on outside walls using household
with your child.
paintbrushes.
• Encourage your child to count and
• With your child, draw with chalk on
jump and count and skip with friends.
a path — the rain will wash it away!
• Have an Easter egg hunt. Hide
eggs around the play space.

• Look for and match leaves

or flowers, telling your child
to “find the same shape”.

50 Learning outside
For young school children • Children like to plant fast-growing
The garden, park or street things. You can grow some things
can be a place to learn. with your child indoors.
• Play some of your favourite childhood - Sprouted seeds grow in a container.
games with your child. Rinse out with water every day
- Skipping and hopscotch are until they sprout. Put sprouts in
good for balancing. salads or stirfries.
- Marbles or ball games - Plant nasturtium seeds, in a
help co-ordination. hanging basket.
• Plant cherry tomatoes in baskets. - Sunflowers or pumpkins grow very
Your child can measure the amount big and can be grown in pots. You
of water given to tomato plants and can then measure your child’s height
keep a record. against the sunflower.

• Help your child make obstacle courses - Bulbs take longer than seeds to
or build with large objects, such as grow but can be planted in pots.
boxes, planks and wheels.

51
• Some children love exploring by taking • Help your child to collect flowers
apart things such as old telephones, and leaves and press them in a heavy
clocks and so on. They are full of book, when dry, they can be used for
interesting shapes and children can making cards.
see how things fit together. If you • Let your child help care for pets.
let your child take apart any of these
things remove any batteries before
you hand them over.

• Write or draw a list of clues for a

treasure hunt outside. Hide the
‘treasure’ somewhere and make up
clues related to your own space.
For example ‘Take six steps from the
back door…’

• Give your child a bag and a list of

things to find outside and put in a bag
such as a leaf, stone, daisy or conkers.

52 Learning outside
Family outings

Outings provide opportunities for • For a food shopping trip,

conversation and for all the family make a list for your child.
to learn new things. - Draw simple fruit and
• Talk about where you are going vegetables shapes if your
before and after. child does not yet read.
• Go for a walk down the road - Write a short list if
or to the local shop and talk your child reads.
about what you see. - In the shop, ask your child
• Put sticky tape (sticky side out) to find things for you.
around a toddler’s wrist so they - Let your child use the picture
can attach the things they collect weighing scales for fruit and
as they walk. vegetables.

• Go blackberry picking with - Let them count items for you, as in
your child and make blue “Put six oranges in the trolley.”
milkshakes later. - Give your child money

• Visit a shopping centre to pay for some items.

to window shop.

• Join in a local tree planting

in national tree week.

53
 • Find out what is available in your • On car trips:
area. Check your local paper or - count cars of a named colour
library for special events for families. or type,
Good places include;
- count animals or people on bikes,
- local park or playground,
- find the numbers 0 – 9
- t he beach or a swimming pool, on number plates,
- s torytime at the library, - listen to story CDs,
- f orest parks or woods, - sing songs or rhymes, or
- children’s farm or animal shelter, - play “I spy”. If your child is young,
-a
 n art gallery or theatre, they can name a colour rather than a
-a
 heritage centre or local letter.
museum, or • At the seaside let your child
- s ummer projects or sports clubs. - write and draw in sand,
• Children enjoy picnics, so let your - do lots of pouring and emptying,
child help with planning and getting
- dig, build and fill buckets
the food ready.
with sand, and
• Play an A – Z treasure hunt. Your
- count and collect stones and shells.
child finds or writes down the name
of things beginning with the letters.

54 Learning outside
Quick Quiz
This quiz is for you to do with a child who is
able to read. Put the words in the right order
in the two sentences below. The sentences
have family learning messages!

can Parents together. and children learning enjoy

fun of lots can have seaside. the at We

We can have lots of fun at the seaside.

Answer: Parents and children can enjoy learning together.

55
 Where to find help

As a parent, you know your

child better than anyone else
does. Sometimes talking to
relatives or friends can be useful
if you are concerned about your
child. At other times, it is helpful
to get some professional advice.

56
If you are worried about your baby’s or If the problem differs with your child’s
toddler’s development, you can ask your ability in other areas, you can ask for
public health nurse or your GP for help. an assessment through the National
You can also get practical advice from Educational Psychological Service
people who work with your child, such as (NEPS). Your child’s class teacher or
a playgroup leader or crèche manager. principal will have details for your area.
It is important for children to get any
If you need to improve your reading,
help they need as early as possible.
writing, maths or digital skills NALA
Some children may need extra support can help:
when they start school, so you should
• Freephone 1800 20 20 65; or by
discuss this in advance with the class
• Text ‘Learn’ to 50050.
teacher. If you think your schoolchild
We will talk to you about your
is having difficulty, talk first to the class
learning options. You can study online
teacher. You could bring someone with
or work with a tutor over the phone.
you, or have some questions ready,
We can also refer you to your local
to get the most from your discussion.
adult literacy centre. It’s free and
When a child has a problem learning
you decide what, where and how
to read and write they may need some
you want to learn.
extra help both at home and at school.

57
Where else to find help

• Parentline Helps you to deal with the • Citizen information centres

challenges of parenting. Parentline Provides up to date information on
has trained facilitators you can talk to public services and entitlements.
in confidence, and without judgment. Telephone: 0761 07 4000. See
Calls come from parents of different www.citizensinformation.ie
aged children, including adult • Schooldays Provides list of
children. Telephone: 1890 927 277. primary and secondary schools.
• The Dyslexia Association of Ireland See www.schooldays.ie
Supports adults and children who • National Parents Council Helpline:
have dyslexia. Dyslexia makes it 01 887 4477. See also www.npc.ie
harder for some people to learn,
• Early Childhood Ireland Provides
to read, write and spell. Telephone:
list of childcare providers and parent
01 677 6001. See www.dyslexia.ie/
and toddler groups. 01 4057 100.
• Webwise Provides information,
• Scoilnet Resources for children
advice and free education resources
set out in different age groups.
about internet safety to young
See www.scoilnet.ie
people, teachers and parents.
See www.webwise.ie/parents/ • Childline Helpline (number changes
every morning) for children, parents and
• Barnardos Supports children and
carers for guidance on children’s welfare.
families with information such as
See www.ispcc.ie/ispcc-support-line.
parenting courses (including for teen
parents) and can help during difficult • National Council for Curriculum
times. Telephone: 1800 910 123. and Assessment Has lots of resources
See also for parents and guardians. See
www.barnardos.ie/resources/parents www.ncca.ie/en/primary/resources-
for-parents

58 Where to find help

Lifelong learning

We learn throughout our lives. Learning • Study online by yourself on NALA’s

with your children is informal, as you website www.learnwithnala.ie.
follow their interests. • Work with a tutor over the phone
It could be nice for you to attend a on our Distance Learning Service.
learning programme. There are lots • Do a combination of the above.
of adult education day and evening
For information about the options above:
courses throughout the country. The
• Ring NALA on 1800 20 20 65
16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs)
around the country have Adult • Freetext “Learn” to 500 50. One of

Education Centres. our operators will ring you back.

• Or log onto our website
If you would like to improve your
www.learnwithnala.ie and
own reading, spelling, maths or
start learning today.
I.T. skills there are lots of options.
You can:
• Attend the adult literacy service of the
ETBs. There are over 50,000 adults
improving their reading, writing and
maths skills in local ETB adult literacy
centres. You can work on your own
with a trained tutor or join a small
group of other learners. It is a free
and confidential service.

59
 Help My Kid Learn

A website for parents

of 0 – 12 year olds.
See helpmykidlearn.ie
for more fun activities.

60
www.helpmykidlearn.ie is a website www.helpmykidlearn.ie is for the parents
that highlights how children learn as part and guardians of children aged 0 – 12 years,
of their everyday lives and the positive from birth to the end of primary school.
things that children can learn at home To keep the website easy, when we use the
from their families. word ‘parent’, we mean parents, guardians,
family members and childminders.
By speaking and listening to your child,
by talking and reading to them, by pointing The website is about how you and your
out words and notices at home or out and family can enjoy learning together. It is
about, you introduce your child to the world designed to support parents with fun
of language — spoken and written. activities and tips according to their child’s
age. And each age group has lots of ideas
Through playing with your child, they
for helping children with talking, playing,
learn new words, and learn to think and
reading, writing and using numbers.
to talk about their thoughts or feelings.
For example, pretending to be a nurse or Since your child was born you have been
doctor, a shopkeeper or looking at and teaching them to learn about the world.
talking about picture books, all help your We hope that you enjoy the tips, activities
child to speak, to listen, to read and to and links provided by this website and we
write. When your child starts school, you would welcome your feedback so that we
continue to have a key role in helping them. can keep making improvements that help
you, help your kid learn.
What is NALA?
The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) is a charity and
membership based organisation. We work to support adults with
unmet literacy and numeracy needs to take part fully in society
and to have access to learning opportunities that meet their
needs. NALA does this by raising awareness of the importance
of literacy, doing research and sharing good practice, providing
distance learning services and by lobbying for further investment
to improve adult literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

Registered Charity Number: 20020965

Charity Number: 8506
Company Number: 342807

www.helpmykidlearn.ie

National Adult Phone: 01 412 7900

Literacy Agency (NALA) Freephone: 1 800 20 20 65
Sandford Lodge Website: www.nala.ie
Sandford Close Email: [email protected]
Ranelagh, Dublin 6 nalaireland
@nalaireland

Adult Literacy is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund
as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.