LEARNING THROUGH PLAY In today’s busy world it can be easy to forget the value of playing games. Not only do they help bond families together but they teach innumerable skills, help with social interaction, build confidence and (best of all) are fun! Children will want to play as a family, with each other or on their own. Remember: if a child is engaged in something then they are probably learning…it does not have to be ‘obviously’ educational. Activities such as riding a bike require balance and co-ordination which exercises and forms connections in the brain. The following list is aimed to give you some ideas but is by no means exhaustive. Happy holidays!

Flip the Bottle You tube: Flip the Bottle Yes it’s annoying but it does offer learning opportunities: physics, product design, hand eye co-ordination, manual dexterity, sports, perseverance, concentration, social interaction, self-motivation…. Get involved! How many can you do?!!! All that is needed is a bottle of water! If it really becomes too annoying try giving allocated times/rewards. (10 minutes of flip the bottle after homework.)

Speed Stacking Cups You Tube: Speed Cup Stacking Similar to Flip the Bottle (but less annoying).

Brainbox Maths, (Brainbox series) Maths vocabulary, maths, memory, Trivial Pursuit General knowledge, strategy, memory Dobble Visual awareness, quick reactions, fun

Uno Card games Top trumps Google: card games Strategy, memory, language, maths, fun.

Jigsaw puzzles Spatial awareness, sequencing. Seeing ‘the big picture’ and working out the parts – whole dynamic.

Bananagrams, Scrabble, Crosswords and Wordsearches Literacy, vocabulary, spelling. All of which affect writing ability.

Shut the Box Number bonds, strategy, fun Dot to dots Embeds basic sequencing, skip counting sequences, concentration.

Creative doodling books. Sequencing, narrative, story-telling…. (Language can be visual as well as written.) Colouring books, Mazes Relaxing and also help develop fine motor skills and pattern colour awareness.

Tom Gates – The combination of visuals and text is very useful – especially in Senior School as a lead into making multisensory revision resources. Encourage your child to make their own picture stories.

Cat’s Cradle Knitting Fine motor skills, dexterity, concentration, relaxation.

Cooking Cooking incorporates many, many skills. Especially if you encourage your child to follow instructions from a children’s cookery book. Sequencing – parts becoming a whole.

Addictaball Large Maze Hand-eye co-ordination , perseverance, fun Hama Beads Hand-eye co-ordination, manual dexterity, concentration, perseverance

Stilts Co-ordination, perseverance, fun

Who Am I?/ What’s Up For a cheap version use post it notes. The interviewee can only answer yes or no to a series of question: Am I a human? Am I a plant? Am I alive? Etc. Charades Guess Who?

Marble Run/ Hot wheels/domino topple Combine together….. You tube: ‘Crazy marble hot wheels track fun’ Physics, engineering, planning, visual/spatial awareness, perseverance

Lego Maths, visual awareness, engineering, creativity, manual dexterity, problem solving, fine motor skills…..

Draughts, backgammon, dominoes Maths, strategy, sequencing, social interaction, turn taking, thinking ahead, reflection.

Puzzles Problem solving, concentration, perseverance

Building straws Manual dexterity, creativity, spatial awareness, engineering, problem solving

Marbles Maths, strategy, physics Google: How to play marbles

Bilateral co-ordination Playing the Hokey Cokey or “Simon Says:” have

the child imitate body positions as well, “Simon Says do this…..” and include symmetric and asymmetric body poses

Climbing on the playground: up the slide (both the ladder and the incline), up/ down stairs, on/ off equipment

Obstacle courses Playing on dynamic (moving) equipment- small

trampoline, balance board, swings Pushing/ pulling weighted objects; medicine

balls, weighted carts, carrying grocery bags, laundry basket, taking out the trash, etc.

Sports/ athletics: gymnastics, karate, yoga, wrestling, soccer, basketball, baseball, etc

Playing Tug-of-War; and crashing into a pile of pillows, beanbags

Swimming Wheelbarrow walking, animal walking (bear walk,

crab walk, snake crawling) Playing “Twister”

Riding a bike

Skipping Co-ordination, fitness, stamina, spatial awareness You Tube: Rope skipping

Ball games Co-ordination, counting, fun Google: Ball wall games

Play shops…or involve your child in the real thing! Language, numeracy, social, role play

Gardening Visit a garden centre, gardening, science, environment, social interaction

and many more….