Totsy's Place

Talking Tots has got the basics covered

The Government has recently announced the launch of a new reading test for all six year olds.  They want all children to learn to read using synthetic phonics and schools inspectors Ofsted have also recently endorsed this method.  All pupils in Year 1 will start to take the tests from 2012.  The Education Secretary Michael Gove says the test will confirm whether individual pupils have grasped the basics of "phonic decoding" by the end of Year 1.

 

Talking Tots is the only national pre-school group that offers classes in pre-literacy skills which includes developing phonological awareness by breaking down the sound structure of words.  Phonological awareness is an important and reliable predictor of later reading ability.

 

Although this all sounds very serious, Talking Tots covers this basic understanding in such a fun way, that children do not realise that they are learning such an important skill that will help in the Year 1 test. They are simply enjoying playing with sounds.

 

Talking Tots was founded in 2005 by Tracey Park and Lisa Houghton, both experienced paediatric speech and language therapists. Tracey and Lisa realised that many children were not reaching their full potential because they lacked vital communication skills. The two women worked closely with a team of speech and language therapists, teachers and educational psychologists to develop a series of age-appropriate classes that would boost these skills.

 

The first Talking Tots classes were a phenomenal success, and there are now many classes throughout the UK. Visit www.talkingtots.info to find a class near you.

Talking Tots 2011 Toy Awards

 

The Talking Tots 2011 Toy Awards will launch in November 2011 with a new website and competition, which we will be promoting through some of the UK's leading parenting sites and social networks. Our own blog and website reach more than 10,000 parents in the UK every month.

 

 

The Talking Tots Toy Awards panel will be looking for toys that excel in developing skills in the following categories:

• Communication: toys that promote language skills, nurturing social confidence.
• Motor Skills: toys that develop fine and gross motor skills, helping young children become more confident and co-ordinated.
• Creativity: toys that encourage children to explore colour, texture, shape and form.
• Social Skills: toys that allow children to mimic the world around them and develop imagination.
• Pre-literacy: toys that introduce children to words, sounds, rhymes and rhythm in an age-appropriate way, helping to build the skills that will be required for subsequent reading and writing.

If you would like to submit a toy for consideration, this must be sent to Talking Tots before November 4th 2011. If you need toys to be returned , you will need to arrange collection. Please let us know if this is the case, and we'll do our best to keep packaging intact {if this prevents us from reviewing the toy, we'll let you know}. Please note, all toys must be available in the UK {either in retail stores or online} in December 2011, and be suitable for children aged 5 or under.

Please send to:
Talking Tots Toy Awards
108 Warton Street
Lytham
Lancashire
FY8 5HA

Please contact us for more information on headoffice@talkingtots.info  or visit  www.talkingtots.info

A new term !

A new term is beginning here at Talking Tots. It's an exciting time as we welcome old friends and new faces to our classes.

Activity classes are a fantastic opportunity to make new friends, have fun, and boost your child's development but the crucial thing to remember is quality matters more than quantity. If your child is always haring off to one class or another, they will probably be too tired and demotivated to get the best out of any of those activities.  

Look for one or two activity classes per week, that fit in with your schedule and which offer a progressive programme. Young children love repetition, but a good activity class combines repetition with new and more challenging activities, to keep your child learning AND having fun.

You should feel happy and confident that your activity class leader is able to deliver the class effectively, while bringing out the best in each child. A good leader knows how to nurture shy children while also capturing the attention of livelier toddlers! You should feel confident that these are people who will bring out the best in your child. With that in mind, Talking Tots spoke to the marvellous Sue Atkins, parenting coach and author of Raising Happy Children, to see what advice she has on choosing the right toddler activity class for your child.

She says: "Well run and well designed classes represent more than just an opportunity to entertain your kids for an hour! They can make a long-lasting and profound contribution to life long learning and help develop important social skills. As a teacher, I could always tell when children had been to a well-run toddler class. But don't think you have to spend a fortune - choose carefully and don't forget that you are your child's best teacher." 
Sue encourages parents to be really clear about what they want from an activity class and only choose those that feel right.

Questions she thinks you should ask before signing up for any class are: 
* What skills am I looking to develop or encourage in my child?   
* Are the people running the courses and classes professional?  
* Would you be happy to leave your children in the care of these people if you had to?  
* Do they have a progressive programme that builds up as your child develops and matures in skills?
* Are the classes too long, too short, badly organised?   
* Can you see the syllabus for the classes in advance?   
* Is the atmosphere full of playing, exploring and learning together in a fun and relaxed atmosphere?
* If you had to describe the people running the classes what would you say (as this helps you to clarify your intuition and gut feelings)   
* Would you feel happy recommending them to other parents?   
* Are your children enjoying the classes, what are they learning exactly and are they learning happily and easily?  

So why not come along and try a Talking Tots class? Talking Tots unique classes, which follow the developmental stages of language, are bursting with fun ideas and games! Watch your child’s language skills blossom, as they enjoy a variety of exciting and exclusive Talking Tots activities!

Sprites…boosting early chatter This class looks at fundamental skills such as social confidence, sharing & turn taking and listening & attention skills. There's lots of fun & action packed structured games, with exciting props, singing and rhymes. At Sprites, we focus on fun games and carefully-designed activities that encourage your little one’s natural desire to communicate, by building his vocabulary and helping him to understand and talk about the world around him.      

Sprinters… building confident communication At Sprinters, children take part in games and interactive activities that will build their social confidence and listening skills. Our exclusively-designed, vibrant pictures and props also help to develop your child’s narrative ability and build their vocabulary.  

Sparklers… paving the way for school In this pre-school year, children may enjoy playing with sounds, and will begin to join in with word games such as finding rhyming words and identifying the beginnings of common names and objects. Sparklers builds on this natural interest in words and sounds to boost a child’s pre-literacy skills and help prepare them for the classroom. At the same time, our friendly, supportive classes promote vital social skills such as listening, turn-taking and sharing.

 

Visit us here and see if there's a class near you!