Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Learning Without Limits: Helping Every Child Discover Their Strengths
Primary Times explores how children learn, why every child develops differently, and simple ways families can build confidence and curiosity at home.
Every child is unique, and so is the way they learn. While children follow many of the same developmental milestones, they don't all reach them at the same time. The important thing to remember is that learning isn't a competition – it's a journey that continues throughout childhood and beyond.
Learning Looks Different for Everyone
Children often engage with learning in different ways, and most use a mixture of approaches depending on what they're doing. For example:
Visual learners often enjoy pictures, diagrams, maps, colourful charts and demonstrations to help bring ideas to life.
Auditory learners may find it easier to remember information through listening, group discussion, storytelling, songs or spoken instructions.
Reading and writing can help children who enjoy books, making lists, highlighting key information or taking notes.
Hands-on learners often learn best by moving, building, experimenting and trying things out for themselves.
Offering a variety of activities at home gives children opportunities to discover what might help them.
Building Brilliant Brains and Strong Foundations
In the early years, learning happens through play, exploration and everyday experiences. As they grow, children also learn by exploring their own ideas, working things out and interacting with others. They develop confidence by experimenting, making mistakes and trying again. As parents, one of the best ways to support learning is to encourage curiosity.
Technology as a Learning Tool
Technology is now a normal part of children's education and, when used well, can open up exciting learning opportunities. Rather than simply watching videos or playing games, children can use technology to create, investigate and solve problems.
This might include:
• Learning basic computer skills such as typing and using documents.
• Exploring beginner coding through child-friendly games and apps.
• Creating digital artwork and animations.
• Developing good online habits by learning about internet safety, privacy and respectful behaviour online.
Balanced screen time, alongside plenty of offline activities, helps children to enjoy the benefits of technology while developing a wide range of useful skills.
Supporting Learning at Home
Parents and carers don't need to recreate the classroom to help their child learn. A few simple habits can make a big difference:
Try to:
Talk about the day. Ask open questions like "What was the most interesting thing you learned today?" or "How did you solve that problem?" Talking through ideas helps children remember and understand them.
Follow their interests. If your child loves dinosaurs, football, space or baking, use these interests to encourage reading, writing, counting and researching.
Encourage hands-on learning. Cooking, gardening, building with construction toys, simple science experiments and arts and crafts all develop problem-solving, creativity and practical skills.
Practise little and often. Short, regular sessions are usually effective. A quick maths game or spelling challenge can fit easily into the day.
Give them time to think. If your child is stuck, avoid jumping in with the answer straight away. Gentle prompts and encouragement help build confidence and independence.
Celebrate effort as well as achievement. Praise perseverance, trying a new approach or sticking with a challenge, rather than focusing only on getting the correct answer.
Keep learning fun. Board games, puzzles, treasure hunts, museum visits, nature walks and baking together all encourage children to think, communicate and learn without it feeling like homework.
Most importantly, avoid comparing your child with others. The skills that come easily to one child may take longer for another. With encouragement, patience and opportunities to explore, children can develop the confidence to keep learning and to enjoy the journey, whatever path they take.