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We are totally blessed in the UK to have such changeable weather. If you are reaching for your holiday brochure of permanently warm climates, hang on a tick and hear me out... Living in the UK, we are lucky to have so much variety in the weather - and culturally speaking, many conversations would probably never have been started, if we didn't have this variety upon which to comment. So, whether you're a permanent resident, a long term visitor, or just staying in the UK for a while, you can't fail to be affected by the weather - be it for good or ill! The weather here DOES have a significant impact on our lives - and we have our four glorious seasons to enjoy with our children - each of them carrying the potential for many new, exciting experiences with them. In the spring, the season of new growth, lengthening daylight hours and fresh colours, we have the sunshine, the April showers (lots of splashing about in muddy puddles), the beautiful spring flowers, the new leaves on the trees, increased activity of native animals and birds to talk about. Some days are sunny, some rainy, some showery, some windy, some warm, some cold, some even snowy. There is much to talk about with our children. In the warm summer days (2012 excepted!), we have the longest days of all, the bright midday sun, the exuberant flower colours, busy insects, gardening, paddling pools, days out, picnics, lots of time outdoors, thunderstorms, camping, holidays abroad. So much to talk about. As autumn comes and the leaves start to die off, we have the beautiful autumn displays, shorter days, more changeable weather - lots of wind and rain - lots of puddles to splash in again, conkers, leaf rubbing, playing in piles of colourful leaves, wrapping up a little bit warmer, an extra hour in bed (unless you have a baby.... ;) ), warming foods, cosy days and evenings at home, coughs and sneezes, harvest festivals, animals hunting out the last vestiges of the summer food bounty, umbrellas, gloves, boots. So much to talk about. And at the turn of the year, we find ourselves in winter. Short daylight hours, cold weather, frosts, snow, hats, gloves, boots, scarves, extra layers, longer in bed (unless you have a baby... ;) ), winter holidays and celebrations, warm colours to wear, decorating the house for various holidays, spending time at home with our families and pets. So much to talk about. The weather is a hugely important part of our lives in the UK - affecting babies and toddlers as much as it does grown ups. Talking about the weather and the seasons has many benefits for our children - many of which we can easily relate to the EYFS requirements for 0 - 5s.
So when we teach weather related signs in week 3 of Stage 2, we are doing much more than promoting small talk or simply noticing that it's raining (again). We are teaching an awareness of the world around us and our children. We are teaching the passage of time. We are teaching children to observe how they feel in different weather conditions. Experience the weather as a child does - with interest and wonder at all the differences. To cite Sir Ranulph Fiennes, there is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.
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So in week 2 of the Stage 2 classes, we introduce colours. I have to say, the look on the faces of the grown ups as I talk and sign them through the main colours of the rainbow, plus a handful more, can be highly entertaining.... the degree of concentration is very high. Aside from the sheer number of signs that colours introduces in one burst in one short class, there is some important information to impart about HOW to teach colours to your toddler. I must point out that colour recognition is not usually expected by child development professionals until most children are around 3 years or more - so I would like to stress that, whilst we teach colour signs to you in the toddler class, please do not think that your toddler must/should be successfully identifying colours! Our class offers you ideas to get you in the right frame of mind. Of course, just as with anything, you are your child's main teacher and mentor - so it stands to reason that if you show your child colours and explore different colours in the world around you, then he or she will stand a chance of learning about colours earlier than may be "expected". It is always your choice though! In my experience of teaching babysigning classes, I have realised that there seem to be two principal stages of colour learning. The first, and possibly the harder of the two, is to help your child to understand the concept of colour. The second stage is to help them distinguish and correctly identify different colours. Stage 1 of colour learning. First of all, a child needs to grasp that colours exist! Quite a big ask for their brains, when it's actually quite an abstract concept. I believe that I have hit upon a successful and EASY way of helping this along, though. What you need: Several items (e.g., blocks, cars, socks, balls, etc,) that are identical in every respect apart from their colour. Teaching the concept of colour Gather the items together and talk with your child about the similarities you see. The same shape, the same weight, the same name. Next (you guessed it!), talk about the fact that the items are the same apart from ONE THING. Then explain that the items are DIFFERENT COLOURS. Pretty simple! It DOES work though - I promise. Of course, your child is unlikely to grasp the concept the first time that you play this colour game. But you wouldn't expect them to ride a bike the first time either, would you? Stage 2 of colour teaching - the ACTUAL colours What you will need:Several items (e.g., blocks, cars, socks, balls, etc,) that are different in every respect apart from their colour. Teaching a specific colour Gather the items together and talk with your child about the differences you see. The different shapes, the different uses, the different names (etc.). Next talk about the fact that the items are DIFFERENT apart from ONE THING. Then explain that the items are THE SAME COLOUR. There are many resources on the internet to help your child with colours - from craft activities to SmartPhone apps to games to play at home. Here's a link that I particularly like: http://www.underfives.co.uk/colourshr.html |
AuthorTrish Cummings - waxing lyrical about babysigning, babies, toddlers, parenting, and sharing her many opinions :) lover of South East London, ex pat of Cornwall. Archives
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