Useful links
Activities, information and guidance to help you practise these skills at home.
Growing independence
Growing independence
- Online advice hub and magazine for parents: ‘Be School Ready’ - Parentkind
- 5 tips to help your child get ready for Reception - Family Corner
- Guidance for parents and practitioners - PACEY
- Download a free mobile app for tips and activities to support everyday parenting moments - EasyPeasy
Taking care of themselves
- How can you make separating easier? - Family Corner
- Getting dressed and ready for the day - backward chaining information sheet - NHS
- Getting ready for the Day - BBC Tiny Happy People
Toilet training
- Advice and tips on toilet training - The Institute of Health Visiting
- Simple and supportive toilet training advice - ERIC
- Potty training and bedwetting - NHS
- Pants4School - Down Syndrome UK
Playing, creativity and curiosity
- 5 steps for brain building through serve and return - Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
- How to follow a child’s interest in play - National Literacy Trust
- How to role play with your child - Pretend role play - BBC Tiny Happy People
- How to role play with your child - Playing pretend animals - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Fire up their imagination with drawing - BBC Tiny Happy People
- What is mark-making and why is it important for learning? - PACEY
- Sharing story books on World Book Day - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Nature activities for children - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Learning and having fun on the bus - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Play a game of 'What's that sound?' - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Give your child the best start in maths - ECMG
- Everyday activities to help your child with maths – ECMG
- Six Fat Sausages number rhyme - BBC
Building relationships and communicating
- The Shaping Us Framework outlines how these skills develop in early childhood - The Royal Foundation
- Top tips for enjoying stories together and book recommendations for starting school - BookTrust
Being with others
- Learn how to support your child to make friends - Family Corner
- Understand your child's social development - Words for Life
- Practise sharing with toys - BBC Tiny Happy People
Communication and language
- You are your child’s first teacher – help them learn how to write their name - Words for Life
- Explore a range of approaches to language learning and development - NHS Start for Life
- Build your child’s imagination and language by making up stories together - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Child's Progress checker - Speech & Language UK
Listening and engaging
Healthy routines
Understand what 'healthy' levels of screen time are, by age
- World Health Organization guidance on screen time and physical activity - WHO
- Tips for a healthier screen time - Health Professionals for Safer Screens
Get insights on internet safety, how screen use impacts young children and recommended screen time
And for those with younger children, the NCT covers advice for babies and toddlers too:
Help children build a strong relationship with food and make the right choices from the start
- Nutrition guidance - Department for Education
- Healthier families - NHS
- Five tips for helping your kids to eat healthily all year round - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Eating Well - First Steps Nutrition Trust
- Factsheet for healthy children's diets - Association of UK Dieticians
Brushing teeth
Sleep guidance