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Nurseries are substitute parents
I came across this article on the Telegraphs website about how an increasing number of children are beginning school with extremely poor language.
Whilst it seems natural to read your child a bedtime story, talk with them or teach them letters, this is not the case for all parents. It is becoming increasingly common that pre school/nursery staff are the ones teaching children basic language skills as these disadvantaged children have unfortunately not learnt these skills at home.
Having good language skills are an essential component in life and therefore it is crucial that these skills are mastered early on. Language impact many other areas including literacy, hence a lack of language leads to difficulties within school, in the wider community and later on in life in terms of jobs.
Please find the link below:
Museum of Childhood
Yesterday I visited the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green, London. I had never been before yet thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
It’s not the biggest museum but it’s certainly full of a never ending supply of toys, history and information. I’d also like to point out the attention to detail, on some of the blinds were quotes relating to childhood. Pictured below is my personal favourite stating “we don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”.
As a 20 year old, my childhood doesn’t seem that long ago so it was interesting for me to see what toys were like when my parents, grandparents and great grandparents were young. It was fascinating to see just how much has changed. The materials used to make toys as well as the actual toys themselves are so very different to what the children of today are playing with.
Lego for example, is a toy that has been around for centuries. The contrast between new and old is insightful. The old box of lego was very basic allowing for children to express their imagination with the limited supplies they had, however, the new and ‘improved’ Lego box is comprised of many small pieces with an instruction manual describing exactly what to do with the Lego. Although I think that Lego is a brilliant company, I think more of an emphasis needs to be placed on children being able to build what they want with the bricks rather than following the instruction manual. Lego is a brilliant way for children’s imagination to run free.
everythingchild 