If you’re a mum, a childminder, a tutor who spends hours scouring the internet for ideas that you can download, we hope that this will save you time. Making your life more efficient.

My children are older now. As I write this, I have my phone next to me waiting for the call. My oldest Clara is due to have her first baby in the next few days.

But when they were young there was nothing, I enjoyed more than spending time with them. I was once told that everything I did with them had to be educational. It wasn’t intended that way. I just enjoyed getting the paints out, reading books with them, playing games.

If we went for a walk, we would look out for various numbers or letters in the environment. The local library used to offer a weekly story time. They would read the children stories then afterwards that would provide the theme for pictures to colour and things to make.

I appreciate it probably was predominately educational, but the kids loved it and I met mums who had similar interests to my own. I made some really good friends.

Around this time, I started my journey into the world of education. It started with a Diploma in Pre-school practice. Then a degree in childcare and education through the Open University.

My main interest was learning styles and learning difficulties. I believed Clara was dyslexic, but her school dismissed the idea. So, alongside my degree I set about learning as much as I could so that I could help her myself.

Nearly everything I learned stated that learning needed to be creative.

The child needed to be relaxed and engaged on multiple levels.

I felt that this attitude would be beneficial to any child. Not just those who learned in different ways. 

You probably agree?

What I have also found (after being involved in educational settings for over 20 years now) is that games and creative tasks offer repetition.

If you asked your child to read a book they struggled with, more than once, or do a work sheet more than once, they probably would resist.

However, if you were to ask your child to play a game with you again, or paint another picture, bake another pancake, they would probably do so with enthusiasm.

This repetition strengthens the memories needed to help the child recall the information when needed.

When your child is faced with a test or something else that worries them their brain will often not think logically. It’s a bit like a bee flying around trying to find the open window to get out of.

Recalling information works in a similar way when we are stressed.

So, each time we do something we create a memory (we open one window for that bee).

If we repeat the task, we make that memory stronger. (We open the window a bit further).

However, if we provide multiple tasks. We are creating more memories. More opportunities for your child to recall the information. (We are metaphorically opening multiple windows).

By repeating each of those tasks, we are making those memories stronger.

If you are like I was, you want your child to do well.

You don’t want to be a pushy parent, but you want them to enjoy learning and reach their full potential.

If they are still at primary school, you may not want to embark down the road of tutoring, but you need something.

Something that will save you time from having to find resources yourself to use.