FAQs

What benefits are there in supporting my child's learning?

Research has shown that shared learning in the home has a positive impact on children's later success - babies and young children's early experiences play a vital role in shaping their later development. By being involved with your child's learning and giving him positive praise and encouragement from an early stage, and continuing this throughout the school years, your child's confidence will increase.

How can keen 2 Learn help with home-learning?

The products provide games and equipment that are both educational and fun and which complement and support children's work at school. By using Keen 2 Learn, you and your child can reinforce the skills involved in reading, writing, and number work as well as a wealth of other subject areas.

What products are best suited to help my child's learning?

The Keen 2 Learn, products have been especially selected to match the different subjects and stages of learning within the UK National Curriculum. Each product comes with a picture and description so that you can browse through the many products in order to find those best suited to you and your child. Simply select the Key Stage required followed by the subject area.

Also talk with the teacher to understand any areas of concern and develop a mutually agreed programme of support. This could also help transform the Parent teacher evenings into a far more proactive conversation.

What is the best environment for learning?

The time spent with your child is a time for focused attention so choose a place where you and your child are comfortable and where there are no or minimal distractions. Remember you both have to concentrate during the process, and watching the TV with one eye, or doing the ironing may not allow you to achieve the maximum benefit.Try to vary the activities that you do but equally, don't be surprised if your child wants to do the same thing again and again - repetition is a fundamental aspect of learning.

What is the best time for learning?

There is no "best" time for learning. Find a time that best suits you AND your child, preferably when you know you will be free from distractions and when you are not tired. For most, this will be earlier in the day (especially at weekends) when the brain is most receptive (hence why schools choose the mornings for their "literacy" and "numeracy" hours). Work with your child little and often and above all keep it fun!

And don't forget the opportunity say whilst travelling on holiday to use airport waiting time, long flights, ferries or car journeys in a fun and constructive way.

How does a child's mind develop?

Children's learning begins from a very early age, the brain acting like a sponge, soaking up information from all around. Even before a child starts school, they will learn a great deal about reading and writing from the environment they are in. It is equally important to nurture this development throughout the school years by engaging with your child in activities and being a role model for them - children learn by example.

How can I help my child with his writing?

Show your children that writing is both useful and enjoyable. Let them see you write yourself and join in with activities such as writing shopping and jobs lists, letters and birthday cards. "Giant CVC dominoes" are perfect for helping children to recognise Consonant Vowel Consonant words,and "Cursive letters"will help develop children's cursive writing.

How can I help my child with his letter recognition?

With younger children, read stories and nursery rhymes together as constant exposure to words helps with letter recognition. Use "Alphabet bean bags" and "Desktop alphabet mats" to encourage individual letter recognition, and "Sticky key words" to assist with basic spelling. Make up stories using puppets such as "Table top theatre",Hanging theatre "Finger puppets" and get your child to write them down. Tell a story in pictures only or find an interesting picture and tell a story to go with it.

How can I help my child with his reading?

Since the publication of The Interim Report by Jim Rose in December 2005, the strategies in place in schools for teaching reading by the age of 5 are based around a knowledge of Phonics www.standards.dfes.gov.uk in other words, the way a letter or word sounds."Naughty phonics" focuses on different aspects of phonological awareness helping with common spelling for each phoneme and blending phonemes into words for reading.

How can I help my child with number recognition and counting?

It is important for your child to be able to relate mathematical skills to an essential part of everyday life. By seeing you use counting, adding up and so on (checking change in a shop for example) he will realise the need for this skill. "Compare bear counters" help with counting, sorting, matching and weighing whilst "Soccer dominoes" is ideal for the child who finds number work daunting.

For more information please visit parentscentre.org.uk