3 and 4 year olds: how you can help me with my learning

Communication and Language

Have conversations with me about things that I am interested in. Encourage me to keep talking by nodding, smiling and making comments
Introduce new words when we are playing, eating or when we are out and about. Explain what new words mean to me
Talk to me about things that have already happened and what might happen soon
Play listening games with me such as ‘Simon Says’

Give me tasks to carry out, e.g. washing my plate after snack
Model how you manage your own feelings, e.g. “I’m feeling a bit angry so I am going to take a deep breath.” Help me to understand why I am feeling sad or frustrated
Make a ‘calm down jar’

Physical Development

Help me with dressing but let me do the last steps, e.g. pulling up my zip after you have started it off
Give me lots of opportunities to be active and practise running, jumping, balancing, climbing and swinging
Encourage me to walk, scoot or bike to my nursery or childminder

Mathematics

Point out the number of things rather than just the names, e.g. “We have two apples!”
Give me lots of opportunities to count for a real reason and always emphasise the last number – “There are 3 cookies”
Cut out a large shape from a cereal box (circle, triangle), then cut that shape into 2-4 smaller pieces to make a simple puzzle
When we’re at the park, use words like ‘up’, ‘under’, and ‘between’ to talk about what we see
Make playdough with me

Literacy

Talk about stories with me, what is happening in the pictures? Give me time to think and share my ideas
Play around with words. Make up fun rhyming sentences with me
Let me help you write birthday cards and shopping lists

Understanding the World

Help me make collections of interesting natural materials, e.g. pebbles, shells
Let me explore ice, once it has melted a bit (so I don’t get frostbite)
Plant seeds and bulbs with me
Take me to different places such as the library

Expressive Arts and Design

Make home-made paintbrushes using clothes pegs and items from around the house and outdoors
Join in pretend play with me
Give me a cardboard box and some fabric to build a den with