What fun/learning activities at home to help prepare my child early on for possible entry to grammar school?

[Tudaisy]

A while ago I saw a thread about ways you could help a child prepare for grammar school entry at home. I have searched high and low for while now but can't find it anywhere on mumsnet. I seem to think it was on mumsnet but maybe it was even another site I just can't remember.im soo annoyed it didn't bookmark it as it was good thread. It was something along the lines of ideas such:

Lots of reading and wide range
Word games such as scrabble....

I can't remember anything else.

can you help by suggesting other things from 4 years through to 11 year old. Also I'm trying to look at creative ways so it doesn't look like preparing for grammar at all and can be passed of as fun activities.

[columngollum]

My child is young, she's not backwards!

[BornFreeButinChains]

Yes I agree, I thought you meant there are political reasons behind it.

A great difference in expectations there.

[columngollum]

The worst ones are my family. We've got quite a few nursery school owners in our extended family. One Christmas I was talking about reading books presents. Two of our nursery owners said your daughter can't read. She's too young to read. You only think she can.

I didn't realise nursery owners could gather such info by simply looking at a child eating lunch. I was mightily impressed.

[insancerre]

collumngollum
"I didn't realise nursery owners could gather such info by simply looking at a child eating lunch. I was mightily impressed."
They must have gone to a good grammar school

[Noteventhebestdrummer]

Find a good music teacher like me who can teach your child the violin! It makes their brains grow

[Bonsoir]

Anything that enriches your child's language skills and enhances vocabulary and expression will boost Verbal Reasoning. Listening to complex conversations is as important as reading. Films are a great resource and don't limit your DC to children's films.

[JakeBullet]

Anything you can do which supports learning is great. DS is now 11 and not Grammar school material (he is autistic with mild learning difficulties) but I am certain he has progressed so well simply because I have always made learning fun at home. He loves wildlife and we have done lots of research on stuff which includes that...Snow Leopards are the big obsession at the moment.

I agree with whoever said "ignore the shitty replies", you are thinking ahead...even if your child doesn't make Grammar school they will benefit from the extra input which will help in whatever school he/she ends up in.

[columngollum]

It's hard to get young children interested in (obviously appropriate) adults' films. My daughter even tells me which films/programmes are designed for children.

[BornFreeButinChains]

No Richmal its this thread, long but later on talks about oxbridge entrance and how schools dont seem to know how to put pupils forward.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2021465-Which-would-you-choose-for-kids-a-SAHP-private-schooling-or-a-secure-retirement

[tryingreallytrying]

See my thread which might be the thread you saw?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/education/1999995-Free-tutoring-for-the-11-or-how-to-make-the-11-more-meritocratic

[Tudaisy]

Hi JakeBullet

I agree anything you do to support your child's learning in a fun way is good. I bet your son learnt many new skills just on the topic of snow leopards because he is really interested in that.

Yes you have highlighted very nicely the fact that regardless of whether my child goes to grammar the support I give him will be helpful to whichever school he goes to

[BornFreeButinChains]

tryingreallytrying

Fab thread just wading through it!