Early Years Home Learning with PLD

Kindergarten (WA/QLD/SA/TAS), Preschool (NSW/ACT/NT/VIC)

In preparation for the likely closure of schools, we have created downloadable plans that are easy to implement at-home or in-school. These resources draw upon PLD titles that are likely already in schools. If schools do not have the recommended titles, then the below easy-to-follow three-week plan includes parent information videos and downloads.

These guides can be used in full or relevant tasks can be selected from and collated. If you have any questions read our post ‘Unsure where to start?’ HERE.

Key skills for parents to work on at home:

Literacy Activities

  • Activity 1 – Preparing for the alphabet and developing the ability to hear, say and think about beginning sounds. This skill sets children up for success learning the alphabet sounds. Download the alphabet preparation resources here. These activities should take about 5 – 10 minutes per day.

Oral Language Activities

  • Activity 1 – Picture discussions with a focus on vocabulary. Download the scene and question resources HERE. These activities should take 5 – 10 minutes per day, twice a week.
  • Activity 2 – Read the suggested picture books out loud together while asking age-appropriate comprehension questions. We have included 16 days of reading question activities, based on popular titles. This should take 10 – 15 minutes per day.
  • Activity 3 – Do some cooking together and then talk about what was made. The cooking component of these activities should take 30 minutes. The activity discussion afterwards should take about 5 minutes, twice a week.

Movement & Motor Activities

  • Activity 1 – Develop and refine cutting skills. These activities should be scheduled twice a week. They will take approximately 15 – 20 minutes.
  • Activity 2 – Pre-writing activities should be scheduled daily, they will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes.
  • Activity 3 – Gross Motor activities. These Movement tasks take approximately 20 – 30 minutes per day, however, you can extend them to suit your day.

These activities have been compiled into a downloadable summary of allocated time. Click here to download the summary of allocated time for Early Years.

Early Literacy Activities

Activity 1 – Preparing for the alphabet and developing the ability to hear, say and think about beginning sounds

Please watch this video to help parents and caregivers understand the PLD process when talking about the alphabet sounds. Once you have watched the above video, PLD recommends you download the following 9 pages of activities that cover the pronunciation of long sounds of M, L & S. This resource will help with the sounds while the picture cards are a fun game for children. For further initial sound awareness activities beyond the three-week period take a look at Preparing for the alphabet eBook.

Oral Language Activities

Activity 1 – Picture discussions with a focus on vocabulary

Parents and caregivers should watch this video to find out more about how PLD’s picture discussion cards help students develop their vocabulary skills. The below resources contain two posters, age-appropriate questions, adequate/inadequate answers along with hands-on sorting activity ideas. Click HERE or on the image(s) below to download the Zoo and Transport Scene poster and activity cards. Looking for further pictures to use at home? Then take a look at Semantic Scenes and Questioning – Set 1 eBook.

Activity 2 – Read the suggested picture books out loud together while asking age-appropriate comprehension questions

We suggest parents and caregivers watch PLD’s oral language videos HERE and HERE to help understand the process. PLD recommends the following picture books, which you may already have, if not we have provided suggested links/videos below. The three picture books in this activity are: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carie, Wombat Stew by Maria Vaughan & Pamela Lofts and Hairy MacLary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd.

Children learn best when picture books are read and re-read. Read one of the above picture books to your child every day over a week period and include a different set of questions from the download below. The resource contains 16 days of questions along with adequate/inadequate responses to accompany each book. For further picture book comprehension question cards and to extend the program beyond 3 weeks take a look at Comprehension Questions for 4 year Olds eBook. Click HERE or on the images below to download the resources.

Activity 3 – Do some cooking together and then talk about what was made

Engaging activities followed by orally retelling the activity supports your child’s ability to develop their oral language or speaking skills. The activities below are centred around cooking: Iced Biscuits, Pikelets and Cut Out Biscuits. These resources provide simple cooking instructions along with visual cues that are perfect for use at-home. For more information on how parents can model questions watch this video. Click HERE or on the images below to download the activities. For further cooking/craft activities and to extend retells beyond 3 weeks, take a look at Activity Retells for 3 to 5 Year Olds eBook. For more on your child’s developmental milestones, parents and caregivers should watch this video or download this Guide.

Movement & Motor Activities

Activity 1 – Develop and refine cutting skills

Download the PLD Developing Cutting Skills Milestone Guide. Then complete the following at-home activities, which include: teaching your child how to hold scissors, to open closed scissors, hand dominance and snipping activities (the picket fence, Cathy the caterpillar’s legs, Cathy the snap around zebra). There are left and right-handed versions of each activity. Click HERE to download the templates or click on the images below. For further cutting tasks and to extend the program beyond 3 weeks take a look at Developing Cutting Skills – Stage 1, 2 & 3 eBook.

Activity 2 – Pre-writing should be scheduled daily

Download the PLD Development of Appropriate Pencil Grip and Drawing Skills Guide. Then complete the following at-home pre-writing activities, which include: big body movements, movement instructions and pre-writing pattern worksheets. Click HERE to download the resources or click on the images below. For further pre-writing tasks and to extend the program beyond 3 weeks, take a look at Pre-Writing Patterns eBook.

Activity 3 – Gross motor activities

Watch the parent education video HERE. Then complete the following at-home gross motor activities, which include: ball skills, jumping and landing and balance along with an overview and checklist. Click HERE to download 5-pages of resources or click on the images below. For further pre-writing tasks and to extend the program beyond 3 weeks, take a look at Preparing Children for Handwriting – Step 1 eBook.

Additional At Home Resources

The PLD eBooks and Apps are great additional support for parents. The eBooks contain high-quality activities to use with your children. The Apps are self-guided practice for independent use in the home.

Click for other year levels