Improving Vocabulary in Primary School-Aged Children: The Complete Guide

Over the last several years, vocabulary development has all of a sudden, become the ‘hot topic’ in education and learning. Although this may seem a little perplexing given that development of a child’s vocabulary is, and always has been, an essential aspect of learning to read and write, in reality, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given that children are learning (and being expected to learn) at ever-increasing rates. Parents and teachers alike are pushing the boundaries of learning so that children develop at the fasts rate possible. After all, there is a long recognised correlation between … Read more

11 Vocabulary Games For Kids: How To Improve Your Child’s Vocabulary at Home

As parents, I doubt there’s a moment in your child’s life that you eagerly await more than hearing their very first word. When we say, “Point to your mouth” and they point to it for the very first time, we clap, cheer, get excited, and smoother them with praise. As they grow up and develop, their grasp of the English language expands, and they begin to talk more and take part in naturally flowing conversations. By the time they reach the age of four or five and start their schooling journey, it’s easy to assume that their listening and talking … Read more

How To Get Your Child Interested in Reading: 18 Ways to Encourage Reading

Some children love reading; they can’t wait to get home from school, grab one of their many favourite books, sit in their quiet and comfortable reading spot, and go on a literary adventure. Conversely, some children can’t think of anything worse than reading at home – even if their favourite toy depended on it! Getting children who sit firmly in the latter category to read and enjoy reading can, on the face of it, seem like a gargantuan task. How do you get children – who are stubborn by their very nature – to do something they’re really not a … Read more

Teaching Your Child How To Spell: Six Strategies to Success

To the vast majority of adults, spelling is an almost subconscious task that is performed with relative ease each and every day of our lives. But if I was to ask you to teach a child how to spell, where would you begin? Would you know how to guide them through the process without much difficulty? Would you know what activities to use? How would you decide what to do and when?  Do you see what I’m getting at? It’s much harder to teach a child to spell than you’d think! While a slap-dash, haphazard approach may have some success, … Read more

How To Get Your Child Excited About Reading: 10 Steps to Success

If you’ve found your way to this article, it’s probably because your child isn’t as enthused about reading as you’d hope – or they flat out refuse to read.  If so, the first thing we must say is not to worry. Not every child falls in loves with books and reading, and some will need a little more coaxing and persuasion than others to read for pleasure and enjoyable rather than out of necessity.  If you’d like to encourage your child to read and get them excited about reading, it’s often difficult to know where to begin. I’m sure numerous … Read more

Fun Ways To Practice Spelling Words at Home

If your child shies away from spelling homework or even point-blank refuses to do it, it’s clear they’re not exactly enamoured by the prospect spelling and learning to spell! While it can be worrying to see your child struggling with a certain aspect of learning, in reality, it’s completely normal. Take yourself back to your schooling days. Did you love all lessons? Were you always excited and keen to do your homework when you got home from school? Probably not! All children have preferences where learning is concerned; some like spelling, some don’t. If your child is the in the … Read more

How To Make a Child Remember Spellings: A Complete Guide

Does your child’s heart sink ever time their weekly spelling test comes around? Do they put off spelling practise and homework or even refuse to do it? If so, don’t worry.  While it’s clear that your child may not be the biggest fan of spelling, there are several activities you can introduce at home to make spelling that little bit easier for your little one. In today’s piece, we’re going to look at eight different exercises you can use to help your child remember spellings. Eight Activities to Make Words Easier To Spell and Remember #1 – Highlight The Difficult … Read more

Is Your Child Struggling With Spelling? Here’s How To Help

Children who lag behind their peers, who forget words relatively easily, or who confuse and mix up letters when spelling, are children who require a little extra special attention at home to assist them in overcoming the learning issues they’re facing. The question is, what are the most effective ways to teach a struggling child how to spell without making it seem like they’re partaking in extra school lessons? Well, the aim should be to always make the activities as enjoyable as possible. Rather than making your child feel like they’re back in the classroom, try to make it feel … Read more

How To Teach Toddlers To Say Their Name (And Talk): Everything You Need To Know

From the moment they’re born, your baby will make lots of different sounds – cooing, gurgling, grunting, giggling, and of course, crying. And, by around the age of 9 to 12 months, your little one typically will speak their very first word.  Whether that first word is a common one, such as “dada”, “mama”, or something else a little more exotic, this is a memorable milestone and certainly an exciting time for you and your family. However, as your child starts to get older, you might ponder how their language skills compare to their peers. This is entirely natural and … Read more

Teaching Your Child To Write Their Name: The Complete Guide

There is absolutely no question that when a child learns to write his or her own name is a huge milestone in early development. Not only is it the very first step on the long journey that is learning write, but it also instils a sense of achievement in both child and parents; not to mention putting an end to confusing mix-ups at nursery or school as to whose work is whose!  The question is, where do you start if you want to teach your little one how to write their name?  Well, in today’s post, we shall explore this … Read more