Here's an idea for encouraging children to share with others about their home life as well as trusting them to be responsible for borrowed items.
What you will need:
- Crayons or coloured pencils
- Sheets of paper or drawing pads
- Pictures of houses, varying in size and shape. You can find a good option here.
Preparing the activity
1. Arrange drawing pads/sheets of paper so that each child has something to draw on, as well as crayons/coloured pencils to draw with.
2. Separate additional crayons/coloured pencils into small packs of around 6 (varying in colour), along with paper/drawing pads, to give to children to take home.
3. Print out the house picture sheet a few times, so there are enough for children to share with one or two others.
Doing the activity:
30-50 months
Talk to the children about the differences between the houses on the sheet. Encourage the children to choose which house is their favourite or which they would like to draw.
40-60+ months
Talk to the children about the differences between the houses on the sheet. Encourage the children to choose which house is their favourite or which they would like to draw.
Ask the children how they think living in the various houses would be different (e.g. an igloo would be cold, a lighthouse would be by the sea) and where they would prefer to live.
Both age groups
Encourage discussion about how many people live in our homes, making sure to celebrate the differences between different home lives and ensuring children enjoy their differences, rather than feeling ‘othered’.
Give each child a pack with crayons/coloured pencils and paper and ask them to draw, with help from an adult, what their house looks like. Emphasise the importance of them borrowing the items from class and the responsibility to bring them back.
A note for / discussion with parents may also be useful in explaining the task.
Tracking the activity
30-50 months
Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Self-confidence and self-awareness; “Enjoys responsibility of carrying out small tasks. Shows confidence in asking adults for help.”
40-60+ months
Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Self-confidence and self-awareness; “Confident to speak to others about own needs, wants, interests and opinions.”
