When I had my first two children at home I created a simple Preschool Program for them to keep them busy.
It is a simple weekly program that was implemented in playgroups in my local area. It was wonderful to see so many families enjoy it! Now I am home with my Jesse it is such a joy to introduce him to all the little videos. As he grows I will introduce the fun worksheets and learning cards.
There are 40 themes to immerse your child in every week!
- Weeks 1-10 – Animals
- Weeks 11-20 – Colours
- Weeks 21-30 – Food
- Weeks 31-40 – Places
For Babies
- Watch the weekly online video – each week has a theme
- Go to the library and pick out books to do with your theme
- Add a few themed toys to play time
For Toddlers
- Watch the weekly online video – each week has a theme
- Go to the library and pick out books to do with your theme
- Introduce safe sensory play based on the weekly theme
For Preschoolers
- Watch the weekly online video – each week has a theme
- Go to the library and pick out books to do with your theme
- Introduce safe sensory play based on the weekly theme
- Introduce weekly reading sheet
- Introduce weekly number sheet
- Introduce vocabulary card
- Introduce maths counting card
Frequently Asked Questions…
The Starskills 40 Weeks Program (available here) is designed for children aged 0-5. It is a weekly program that provides a literacy and numeracy introduction and focus. Children develop vocabulary, count and clap words. It is a visually based program with educators being able to login to the weekly early learning video, collect weekly learning cards. Parents are kept involved with “Homework Cards” each week this is great for parents who desire to be in touch with what is happening with their children each week. They love collecting the cards and feeling apart of their child’s learning.
Weekly Table Top Activities Ideas
Activities are easily broken up into table top of small group activities for your early learning class.
- Literacy focused colouring in sheet
- Numeracy focused colouring in sheet
- Weekly Reading Card (literacy and numeracy focus)
- Weekly Vocabulary Card that compliments the weekly early learning video in the members area
- Weekly Parent Homework Cards – these cards give parents a wonderful way to focus on learning throughout the week. These parent cards encourage children to go through words (vocabulary development), count, clap words (phonemic awareness)
- Weekly Early Learning Video (teachers and parents can login to watch and practice new theme words)
Who is the Starskills 40 Weeks Program for?
The program is perfect for playgroups, daycares, 3 plus programs, and anyone with a desire to teach the babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kindy children in their life. The simplicity of the program provides a simple framework but is flexible enough to add your own touch to and tie into teaching regarding the EYLF.
How to implement this program as part of your playgroup.
I have found children love knowing what is coming each week with regards to structure. The structure below is tried and tested over a year and the children and parents love it. Of course you can change it to suite your children. * Please note you will make changes to suit your setting.
- Children “sign in” – practice writing their name as they come into our class.
- Read books and then we pack away.
- When all the children have arrived we will “Find Our Name” and place it on our attendance easel.
- I welcome the children with some singing – Name Song
- I have the children’s names laminated and as I sing the song each child gets their name chart to write over. (This is amazing to see the babies and toddlers have a go at this!)
- Teddy bear gives the children a cuddle and the children come on the mat (special blanket)
- Watch weekly online movie (I try and dress the bear up depending on the weekly theme)
- Read weekly literature
- Table top activities
- Sensory Table – Playdough
- Weekly Numeracy Card – Children count stickers onto
- Weekly Worksheet – Children can colour worksheet
- Depending on my EYLF focus I will have simple fun activities set up on blankets / different areas.
- Pack away song comes on
- Bubble time – children come back to the mat area
- Parachute time
- Sticker time
- Children take Home their Weekly Vocabulary Card, Vocabulary card and Counting card to clap syllables each week, as well as talk about the meaning of their new words in order to extend the child’s language and pronunciation.
- You can place these cards in a little photo album so they can flick through and enjoy them. When the children come each week they can hand in their album
