Home Learning Fun for Families

Supporting families by giving children the very best start in life has been the catalyst for Tameside Council’s My Big Book of Learning, developed for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.

The three books – Babies; Now I’m Getting Bigger; and Now I’m Getting Ready for School – are designed for home learning and can now be downloaded for free from the Go to Grow website, or given out at children’s health checks.

In bright and colourful designs, each book offers over 20 age-appropriate activities that help parents to nurture their child’s natural curiosity. All of the ideas incorporate learning through play and are easy to do, using items available from within the household or outdoors, so not to add any expense to families.

Activities are categorised into three themes:

• Physical development
• Communication and language
• Personal, social and emotional development

Children can be encouraged to try a variety of fun activities including costume making, leaf rubbing, creating magic potions and exploring smells.

The Council’s Executive Member for Population Health & Wellbeing, Councillor Eleanor Wills was at the Outdoor Explorers session in Ashton’s Stamford Park to meet families using the resources, and said:

“I’m delighted with the launch of My Big Book of Learning to add to the many resources Tameside Council are rolling out for local families. It’s a pleasure to see the enjoyment on the faces of the children taking part in the activities and the ongoing development they will experience as they grow.”

As part of Tameside Council’s Family Hub programme, this resource aims to support families with learning opportunities from an early age to affect a child’s development positively. Each activity includes an explanation of what the child will be learning and how to extend their fun.

It is hoped that as many families as possible in the borough will benefit from this free resource, creating fun and playful experiences for their little ones.