Category:

Education

The Benefits of Construction (Play-Based) Learning for Early Childhood Education

Amongst early childhood education specialists, construction play-based learning has emerged as a powerful tool for fostering holistic development in young children. This innovative approach combines the joys of play with the educational benefits of constructing and building, providing children with a rich learning experience that extends beyond traditional classroom boundaries. Cognitive Development Construction play stimulates cognitive development by engaging children in problem-solving and critical-thinking activities. As they experiment with different materials and structures, children learn to plan, predict outcomes, and

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Sparking a Lifelong Love of Learning: The Happy Ladybird Approach 🐞📚

At Happy Ladybird, we believe that the early years are the most crucial time to ignite a child’s love of learning. It’s not just about acquiring knowledge, but about fostering a natural curiosity and a thirst for discovery. 🔍 Here’s how we create a nurturing environment that cultivates a love of learning: 1. Playful Exploration: Learning at Happy Ladybird is anything but one-dimensional. We create a world of playful exploration where children can discover and learn through engaging activities. Think

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Bridging Traditions: Insights on Foundational Learning from Accra to Lagos

Greetings, fellow educators, parents, and lifelong learners. I’ve recently returned from a captivating visit to Accra, Ghana, and the experience was an eye-opener on the state of foundational learning in both Ghana and our own Nigeria. Join me, Ihiese, as I reflect on this educational expedition and the lessons we can glean from our neighboring country. Shared Legacies, Diverse Paths Common Colonial Foundations: Our educational systems in both Nigeria and Ghana bear the imprints of our colonial histories. This influence

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Fine-Tuning Phonemic Awareness for Early Readers in Nigeria

Continuing our exploration of early literacy development, we turn our focus from the initial sounds of words to their final echoes. This progression is crucial in the phonemic journey of young Nigerian learners as they begin to grasp the complete sound structure of words. The Progression from Beginning to Ending Sounds Capturing the Last Note: Once children have mastered identifying the beginning sounds in words, it’s time to introduce the concept of ending sounds. This can be a bit more

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Advancing Reading Skills with Jolly Phonics: The Happy Ladybird Approach

Welcome back to our literacy series at Happy Ladybird. Building on our previous discussion about the foundations of reading through blending, we now turn to the next steps in a child’s reading adventure. Once your little one grasps the concept of joining two sounds, the world of words begins to unfurl before their eyes. Let’s delve into how we use the versatility of vowels and the structure of Jolly Phonics to guide this exciting journey. The Versatility of Vowels Vowels

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The Symphony of Sounds: Teaching Children the Essence of Alphabets

In the heart of every language lies the rhythmic dance of alphabets and their sounds. When introducing children to the world of language, the approach matters. Should one begin with the names of the letters or dive straight into the sounds they produce? The answer, as many educators suggest, leans towards starting with the sounds. The Melody of Language Think about the rich tapestry of sounds that make up our daily communication. The soft hums, the sharp tss, and the

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Celebrating International Day of the Girl 2023: A Focus on Early Child Education

Every year on 11th October, the world marks the International Day of the Girl (IDG), an occasion that shines a light on the multifaceted issues faced by girls worldwide. In 2023, amidst an unsettling tide of movements against gender equality and women’s rights, the situation for many girls seems particularly challenging. This year’s theme, “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,” is a timely call-to-action by UNICEF and its partners to increase investments for adolescent girls by a staggering

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Creative Play: Nurturing creativity through play

Creative play refers to any activity or form of play that encourages children to use their imagination, express themselves, and engage in open-ended, loosely-structured play experiences. It involves exploring, experimenting and inventing, allowing children to think creatively, problem-solve, and develop their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical skills. In creative play, children have the freedom to create and explore without predefined rules or specific outcomes. They may engage in activities such as imaginative role-playing, building with blocks or construction toys, drawing,

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The Value of Having Environment-Aware Children

This World Environment Day join us in the global effort to #BeatPlasticPollution. This is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matter. The steps governments and businesses are taking to tackle plastic pollution are the consequence of this action. It is time to accelerate this action and transition to a circular economy. It is time to #BeatPlasticPollution. Early environmental literacy plays a pivotal role in fostering a deep connection with nature and instilling a sense of responsibility towards our

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The relevance of art in early childhood education

Do you know that art is not just about fun and entertainment?  Yes! Art is not only used for entertaining children. They are also educational! Art allows young children to explore and experiment. This sort of free exploration helps children form connections in their brains, which helps them learn.  Art is necessary for all children. Especially at the earliest age, since their brain is still maturing and is highly sensitive. Art allows children to express emotions, develop ideas and stimulate

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