Home made Resources Guide

Guide to Making Learning Resources

The first thing I do when I make a resource is think about how I will make it engaging and interesting for my daughter. Isabelle loves playing games, quizzes and guessing games. This then helps me know what form the learning will take.

I then think about what she needs to or wants to learn about. Recently Isabelle asked me if she could learn more about bees so straightaway, I knew she would be more engaging with an activity that related to this topic.

I knew it needed to be in the form of a game but still allow for learning. I then put together a simple roll and move game on word. This allowed me to make my own question cards that were at the right level for Isabelle’s cognitive ability and I could make it as long or as short as I wanted. Isabelle tends to have shorter bursts of focus so a shorter game that she can choose to play more than once is better than a game that goes on too long and she loses interest.

When making resources it’s also important to think about the skills your child already has, and which ones still need developing. I wanted Isabelle to learn about services available that keep us safe and look after us such as doctors, police etc. I know Isabelle finds writing challenging, so I didn’t want her to start an activity with a negative mindset that she had to do something she doesn’t enjoy and finds difficult. This made me decide to provide a cutting and sticking activity instead.

I wrote out the services and why you would call them and provided pictures of the services, so Isabelle had a visual element to the activity. She then cut out and stuck down the services and we talked about them as she completed it. Isabelle was able to focus all her attention on what she was learning rather than using up energy on concentrating to write and not learning.

Some resources I put together have a more fun element which Isabelle is then gaining skills from without realising it. I put together a potions making station by typing and printing off potion recipes, filled old empty pots and jars with glitter, herbs and coloured water which allowed Isabelle develop her fine motor skills such as coordination, pouring, control, pincer grip and skills such as following instructions and reading.

Isabelle loves Harry Potter so I knew this would be an activity that she would be drawn to and enjoy which is so important with learning.

It’s always worth browsing online such as Pinterest to look at lots of different learning and activity ideas and then cater these to your own child’s needs and abilities/interests. I am more than happy to provide some ideas/ produce some learning resources so please drop me a message if I can help.

Finally, you don't need to spend a lot of money to make learning resources/ activities. I mainly print what i make online and use what I already have from my craft cupboard. I do sometimes buy quiz books from The Works but these are no more than £2 each. I also use youtube as Isabelle loves quizzes and there are hundreds on there so take a look.