Day One – Planning and Responding to Under Three’s Play

Babies and young children are powerful learners, reaching out into the world and making sense of their experiences with other people, objects and events. As they explore and learn, children are naturally drawn to play.

Calming restlessness, building up close social ties, developing language, communication and listening skills, stimulating sensorial response each as important as the other. If we reflect on the situation of a group of babies or toddlers sharing play together, it is tricky to imagine sometimes how each child’s wants and needs can be met. It is important that we reflect and respond to their interest and engagement as it occurs. If we ‘plan’ an environment that considers the development and stimulation needs of the toddlers and young children playfulness will occur.

The aim of this training day is to understand playfulness and how to plan and respond to every child’s engagement.

Day Two – Babbling Babies and Talking Toddlers

Even very young children learn and practice the skills that they need to develop to become an effective communicator. Consulting with, and listening to children, has many positive outcomes. We get insight into their interests and they feel valued.

Researchers found when adults who respond enthusiastically to a baby’s babbling they are helping to speed up the child’s language development. This partnership in talk is vital to enhance the ability of children to communicate. A baby or toddler who spends time in a non-stimulating or non-responsive environment will hinder the development of the child.

Talking and understanding speech go hand in hand. By listening to others, a child learns what words sound like and how to put a sentence together. She will then try to imitate the sounds and words. A toddler then goes through a period of extraordinary growth from speaking a few words to asking questions, giving directions and even sharing made up stories.

This day will provide many opportunities to become involved in practical activities that can easily be carried out in any type of early years setting. The talking ideas shared will cover all aspects of the curriculum; some focused on one area others covering a variety of aspects.

Day Three – Experiential Learning

Some of the skills and techniques that will be shared;

  • Characteristics of trainers
  • Structuring a session
  • Delivery techniques
  • Engage and motivate learners
  • Communicate, questioning and sharing knowledge
  • Effective visual aids

The third day will use various examples, learning prompts, visual aids and PowerPoint messages from the first two days to begin to shape the way delegates will share and train in their own situations.

We will explore many engagement techniques and try out on fellow delegates short ideas and ‘trials’ to ensure each technique is understood.

Interested in working with us?

Our professional development training programmes are designed to empower, enrich, motivate and revitalise staff working with children across all age ranges and settings.

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