App to help children learn in Norfolk
It'll help support learning
A new app encouraging young families to make the most of free or low cost activities to support children’s learning and development has launched in Norfolk.
The ‘50 Things to Do Before You’re Five’ project offers a wide range of activities from outdoor discoveries in the woods, to exploring how sound changes in different places, to sharing stories and water play. The suggestions focus on free or low-cost activities enabling all families to take part.
‘50 Things’ is based on the simple idea that doing life-changing, fun, low-cost or no-cost activities with your family, and talking about them, is a great way to support the growth of your child’s skills and confidence. Children with this great start in life not only enter primary school much more ready to learn, but are more likely to be successful in their GCSEs and later in life.
John Fisher, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said:
“For young families, finding simple, fun ways to play a part in helping support young children’s development is crucial. Helping children explore nature, language and literacy can have a profound impact on achievement throughout their lives. Our county is full of great places to explore, abundant nature and lots of events to get involved in, so I can’t wait to see how families will use this app and the ideas it gives to help their young children thrive.
Evidence shows the benefits of parents getting involved in their children’s learning are wide-ranging. Children’s language development improves by having early conversations from birth, with grown-ups who are interested in and love them. The app also contains lots of useful information and links to other services and events taking place which complement the 50 activities.
The activities contained in the ’50 things’ vary widely, from exploring nature and local surroundings to trying creative activities and reading together. The summer holidays offer families the perfect chance to make a start on the challenge of completing all the events before the age of 5.