Newsletter 2
“Things for the weekend” to develop your children/young people’s Life Skills
Early Years (0-5)
- Follow instructions – design games to help e.g. Simon says, nursery rhymes i.e. – head, shoulders, knees and toes, everyday activities – putting toys away, asking them to do anything!
Real world play –doctors, nurses, modelling your jobs at home - Developing language and numeracy – talk, listen, cuddle, take turns in conversations, build in everyday maths – how many spoons do we need?
- Encourage independent living – feeding, drinking, toileting, getting dressed, making choices
- Making friends – with their teddies, recording a video that can be sent to friends and family
- Be healthy – Eating healthily and checking in with health professionals – https://essexfamilywellbeing.co.uk/ or other services if needed.
Primary Aged (5-11)
- Develop Everyday Numeracy and Literacy – set up a snack shop at home, encourage children to pay for things you have ordered for them online, talk about where money comes from, what a bank is, pocket money for chores, write a letter to a friend, write a shopping list, create a timetable of activities for the week
- Discuss future aspirations – talk to your children about what they want to be, as a friend, as a job, where they would like to travel, who they would like to meet, what are their interests and ambitions – build activities around this. This helps them feel valued and think positively about their future
- Encourage independent living – brushing teeth, washing, telling the time, making a cup of tea, helping with dinner, chores around the house
- Making friends – encourage your children to write a postcard to a friend/grandparent, Skype/Zoom/facetime friends and family
- Be active and healthy – encourage them to get outside and play, go for a bike ride/walk/scoot. Take some time to make and bake -make activities indoors or outdoors that gets you active, or bake something healthy and delicious
Secondary Ages (11+)
- Develop employment skills – enhance following instructions, listening skills, turn taking – all skills that need redeveloping as a teenagers brain develops. What FREE online courses/sites would help with developing interests – Essex wildlife trust, virtual safaris, national history museum virtual tours etc.
- Encourage independent living – cooking, managing their time, wider skills to help them live independently – budgeting, being safe at home, cleaning, taking ownership of a project
- Promoting Emotional Wellbeing – promote SPICES -spend time socialising – safely and with social distancing (connect with them, allow them time to facetime/Zoom friends), be physical – go for a walk, have a kick about, do something intellectual (encourage them to do something that interests them), support cultural norms – do what you have always done – have a fake Friday night take-away, picnic in your living room, support their emotions (allow them to regress, express their emotions – this is a tough time for everyone!), give them space to be spiritual (get them to focus on things that are the bigger picture – this allows them to put things in perspective)
- Improve mental health – give them activities to build resilience – encouraging them for the effort and attempt not the final result, access online support if they need additional support – https://www.essex.gov.uk/staying-well
- Maintain friendships and feel safe online – help them make decisions about how to spend their free time, how to manage social media/online gaming and feel safe
There is a lot of information that may raise questions as to where you can get help/assistance/ideas – feel free to post queries, make recommendations, or message us
Don’t forget to check out our classes on: https://aclessex.com/community-family-learning-online/
Or join our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/552150055488898/
