10 ways to prepare your child for their 4+ Assessments over the Christmas break.

Preparing a 3-year-old for an assessment is all about making it fun, interesting and engaging. At this age, it’s important to keep things simple and playful so they feel comfortable and happy. If your child isn’t enjoying their learning, something has gone terribly wrong and you need to check how you are approaching the Assessment preparations.

Here’s how you can help your child continue to get ready over the festive period:

1. Keep it Playful

Learning must always be fun otherwise it is no longer considered learning. Have some fun music on in the background and invite your child to join you to complete some of their learning. Have some of their favourite snacks ready and have a visually interesting learning environment set up.

2. Use Songs and Rhymes

Children love songs and rhymes. You can sing songs about the alphabet, numbers, or animals to help them remember things in a fun way. Read books that have rhymes in them - there are hundreds! Here are a few just for you!

3. Do tasks in short, sharp bursts.

Short and sharp. Plan to do tasks in short, sharp bursts. Do an activity and then move onto another. Your child will undoubtedly love doing somethings more than other - eg. cutting over counting or role play over colouring. Mix things up. Plan to do things that you know your child loves mixed with things that they don’t love as much.

4. Talk About the Assessment in a Calm but Honest way.

Many parents disagree with me on this one. They don’t think that their 3 year old should know that they are going into an Assessment. You don’t even need to use the word Assessment but make sure that your child knows exactly what you are sending them into!

5. Always use positive language.

Never refer to learning in a negative way. Always talk about it in a positive way.

6. Create a Routine

Many of my clients have taken some time off during the festive period. Some have taken a week off and other have taken 3 weeks off. Others have gone on holiday across the world and have continued to meet with me. Whatever you’ve decided to do, please don’t tell me that you’ve done nothing with your child during your break. You must continue with your study routine over the Christmas break. It really doesn’t matter how long you spend on the learning, what matters is consistently practising what needs to be practised in order for your child to be able to pass their Assessment.

7. Make Sure They’re Well-Rested

Try to keep up with a decent sleep routine over the Christmas break. Your child will need to be very well rested for their 4+ Assessments in January.

8. Stay Calm and Supportive

Kids pick up on how adults feel, so if you stay calm and relaxed, they will too.

9. Consistent work on the EYFS Curriculum

Focus on all areas of the EYFS Curriculum and dip into these areas every single day.

10. Don’t stress

We don’t know what the outcome will be. That is not in our control. The only thing that we have control over is how well we prepare our children to be in the best position to pass.

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