Wizzy’s Words AEL #freeresources Set 4 | #earlylearning #nurseryrhymes | Birth to 5+
SET 4 | A-D | TODDLER TO PRESCHOOLER TO FOUNDATION STAGE AND BEYOND | BUILDING ON SETS 1,2 AND 3
See blog posts 58-62 and corresponding videos | Set 5 to follow
Wizzy’s Words | Early Learning in ACTION | Birth to 5+
Rhymes to promote bonding, development & reading and learning readiness
Laying the foundations for language development, reading and learning
Wizzy’s Words | A social not-for-profit initiative/resource, developed and published to support early years development and learning readiness. A book of 70 rhymes for today, based on research and validated child and language development data*. The rhymes contain the key spoken vocabulary that if developed before school or at the earliest opportunity, is associated with successful learning outcomes.
Furthermore, active, early exposure to rhyme and its rhythm promotes physical development and rhythm perception both of which also contribute to successful, healthy, early and lifelong learning.
Wizzy’s Words Active Early Learning (AEL) #freeresources Once again based on child and language development research*, including how to support parents, childcare providers and educators to support infant development and learning. A selection of rhymes taken from Wizzy’s Words book of rhymes have been used to create Wizzy’s Words AEL resource sheets. Each sheet can be adapted for baby (prenatal and from birth to walking), toddler (building on walking up to age 3), preschooler (building on previous stages as appropriate and generally from age 3 to 5) or early years foundation stage (overlapping and building on the previous stages as appropriate and beyond the preschooler stage to 5 and beyond). The stages are not prescriptive and should be seen as a guide. A child that enjoys a rhyme should continue to enjoy reciting and adding actions to it whilst gradually being presented with more challenging rhymes to facilitate progression.
Each rhyme is presented with suggested actions in line with developmental milestones and the accompanying videos modelling the actions can be used as a guide. Sharing the rhymes from the resource sheets regularly and with the actions, from birth, will lead to the natural development of language and also promote development across all areas of child development. Reading and learning readiness, the key for early and lifelong learning, will be achieved as the child moves from hearing to saying to singing and moving to the rhymes. The resource sheets and accompanying videos will be freely available on the Wizzy’s Words website | YouTube | Times Ed – Early Years Resources area | Pinterest
https://www.youtube.com/@wizzyswords3987/videos
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/Wizzyswords/
It is important to note that although infants generally follow the same developmental path, they do this at different rates. Use Wizzy’s Words AEL resources for language play at an infant’s developmental rate and add in increasingly challenging rhymes as appropriate.
From baby to toddler to preschooler to early years foundation stage and beyond
ACTIVELY sharing appropriate, increasingly challenging rhymes with infants from birth promotes:
> Parent and infant bonding (a basis for co-regulation and self-regulation)
> Listening and speaking (communication and language development)
> Physical development (gross motor and fine motor development)
> Cognitive development (thinking, discovering, problem solving…)
> Social and emotional development (relate to adults & others/recognize & manage feelings)
> Knowledge and understanding of the world (and its vocabulary)
BUILDING physical and mental health and school, reading and learning readiness
Simple overview for sharing rhymes
The holistic role of rhyme in childhood development and learning
Whilst language can be seen to be the basis for development across a number of the domains of child development, research shows the importance of adopting a holistic approach to child development. Rhymes with their simple repetitive language and rhythms are an ideal holistic learning resource. For example, indoor and outdoor experiences and physical activity promote healthy learning and lifestyles. Rhymes and language play should be taken outdoors at every opportunity.
Regardless of when a child meets developmental milestones, a general pattern can be used as a guide. Importantly, developing gross motor skills, i.e., progressing through physical developmental milestones, is vital for the development of fine motor skills. For example, using a pair of scissors or holding a pencil requires the use of fine motor skills. Furthermore, if the stages of gross motor skill development are neglected, not only is a child less able to accomplish fine motor skill development but they are also more susceptible to physical injury throughout their lifetime. Where children may have missed out on developing key gross motor skills or need fuller support to develop them, rhymes provide an ideal resource for doing this.
Research* shows that the eye contact used in early interactions (at the developmental level of the child, not forced) together with/or close body contact and actions that promote development of both hemispheres of the brain support healthy child development. Furthermore, actions that then start to involve crossing the midline (e.g., right hand to left knee tapping and vice versa) are important. This developmental skill is involved for example in tracking and hitting a ball in sport, writing from left to right and everyday skills for example using both hands to put on socks or shoes. You will notice that the suggested actions incorporate these findings.
The aim of Wizzy’s Words is to provide a practical, accessible, universal and educational resource for parents, child care providers and educational practitioners, that can be used to support and promote early childhood development and therefore learning. It arose from my classroom practice where I saw children entering school ‘unready’ for reading and learning and then often not being able to access the benefits of education. My research confirmed that ‘This matters because when you’re behind from the start you rarely catch up’ (Hinds, 2018, Secretary of State for Education)
*To request a copy of the research that Wizzy’s Words and its EAL resources are based on please send me an email wizzyswords@gmail.com or use the contact button on the Wizzy’s Words website
Jacqueline
Wizzy’s Words #freeresources are based on a standalone selection of rhymes
If you decide to buy the book
DO NOT LEAVE IT ON THE BOOKSHELF!
Keep it in & around the toybox, house, garden, nursery, classroom… for regular, active, fun, language play
(Follow the link for preferred retailer - (RRP £9.99 – BUT see offers and eBook and audiobook formats)
http://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/young-children/wizzys-words
You can follow Wizzy’s Words on all the usual social media channels