What parents do at home with their children is more important than who they are.
Making it REAL
Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy) is a fun and practical way for families to support young children’s early learning at home. It focuses on everyday moments to help build skills in four key areas: reading, writing, talking, and noticing print in the world around us (like signs or labels). The approach is based on the ORIM Framework—Opportunities, Recognition, Interaction, and Modelling—helping parents and carers understand how to support learning by creating chances to explore, noticing and praising children’s efforts, having meaningful conversations, and showing how things are done. Even with babies and toddlers, things like sharing books, chatting during routines, or pointing out words and pictures all help children feel confident, curious, and ready to learn. It’s about making learning playful, personal, and part of everyday family life.
Making it REAL activity booklets are available free of charge at Oldham Library or your local Family Hub to be used at home with your child.
Videos
Asking questions about books:
Talking about books
Building vocabulary with reading
Reading with your child
Play, Learning, Grow
We work alongside parents, one-to-one, in community groups or educational settings, to promote speech and language development, gross motor development and encourage learning through play. When parents are empowered to support early learning and skill-development at home, children are more likely to be ‘school-ready’ when they start schools and able to thrive in education.
- About Play, Learn, Grow – Homestart website
50 things to do before you’re five
50 Things to do before you’re five is based on the simple notion that quality time with family, indoors and outdoors, is a great way to support children’s development. That’s why we’ve put together 50 fun, low or no-cost activities for you to explore and enjoy at your own pace.
Little Moments Together
The more we chat, play and read with our kids, the more we help build their brains.
Any time, anywhere, whether at home or out and about, it all adds up.There’s no need to buy lots of toys or have big days out. Wherever you are, simply chatting back and forth, answering your child’s questions and sharing special moments together all help their brain to grow and develop secure and strong connections.
Just what they need to get off to the right start at school. The Start for Life website is packed with simple ideas from other parents on how to build these little moments into each day.
It includes lots of examples of tips and activities for you to do together with your child at different ages, as well as links to nd further support in your local area.
Video
This video explains how children’s brains develop during the early years, and the crucial role parents play through all the little moments they spend together with their child.