3.4 Describe sources of information and advice for parents on meeting children’s play and learning needs

This guide will help you answer 3.4 Describe sources of information and advice for parents on meeting children’s play and learning needs.

Parents play a huge part in supporting a child’s development. Play and learning are linked, and children make progress in many areas when they have access to the right opportunities and the right support at home and in the wider community. Many parents benefit from knowing where to go for practical advice and trustworthy information. Different sources can help depending on the child’s age, needs, and family circumstances.

In this guide, we will look at possible sources available to parents to help meet play and learnings needs in children.

Health Visitors

Health visitors provide professional support from birth up to school age. They offer advice on play, learning, and overall development. They often do this during routine visits or through drop-in clinics at local community centres.

They can:

• Suggest age-appropriate toys and play activities
• Give information about learning through play
• Screen for developmental delays and advise on early interventions
• Offer tips on encouraging speech and language through play
• Help parents understand the benefits of social play

Health visitors are free through the NHS. Workers can remind parents that health visitors are not only for medical concerns but also for everyday developmental guidance.

Children’s Centres

Children’s centres are local hubs that offer free or low-cost services for families with children under five. They often run stay-and-play groups, baby sensory sessions, and storytelling activities for young children.

Helpful features include:

• Play sessions led by early years staff
• Lending libraries of toys and books
• Parenting workshops
• Links to speech therapists, family support services, and nursery placements
• Advice on home activities that build learning skills

These centres bring local parents together, which can help children develop social skills and give parents a support network.

Early Years Settings

Nurseries, preschools, and childminders follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. This sets standards for learning, development, and care from birth to age five. Parents can speak with key workers and staff for tips on extending learning at home.

Benefits of using early years workers as an information source:

• They know what developmental milestones look like
• They can give personalised ideas for play activities based on a child’s abilities
• They often share observations and progress reports that guide parents

Early years settings may offer newsletters, parent evenings, and workshops that explain how play supports learning in areas such as language, maths, and physical skills.

Primary Schools

For children in school, class teachers and teaching assistants are an excellent source of advice. They understand a child’s learning style and can suggest appropriate homework activities or games that link to current topics.

Primary schools may provide:

• Parent training events focusing on phonics, reading, or maths games
• Guidance on educational websites and apps
• Opportunities to observe lessons or activities
• Advice about supporting learning during school holidays

Communicating regularly with teachers helps parents adapt play and learning at home to support what is taught at school.

Specialist Support Services

If a child has specific developmental needs, parents can benefit from specialist advice. Examples include:

• Speech and language therapy services
• Occupational therapy services
• Educational psychology services

Specialist workers can guide parents on using play for therapy, such as games to improve hand strength, songs for speech practice, or sensory play for children with autism.

Workers should make sure parents know how to request referrals through GPs or schools.

Libraries

Libraries offer more than books. Many run free play and learning sessions for children. The environment encourages reading and imagination.

Libraries may provide:

• Baby rhyme times and toddler storytelling sessions
• Book libraries including dual language books for bilingual families
• Homework clubs for older children
• Recommended reading lists to support learning topics
• Access to computers and educational games

Library staff can suggest materials and resources suited to different reading levels and learning needs.

Parenting Organisations

Some national charities provide detailed guidance on children’s play and learning. These include:

• National Literacy Trust
• Play England
• Family Action
• Action for Children

They often produce free online resources, printable activity sheets, and advice videos. Many run local play events or workshops. Parents can use these resources at home to support development in areas such as early reading, creative play, problem-solving, and social skills.

Online Resources from Trusted Sources

Parents can find information online, but it is best to guide them towards reputable sites. Trusted sites include:

• NHS Start4Life for early development advice
• BBC Tiny Happy People for language and communication tips
• CBeebies for educational games and videos
• GOV.UK guidance on child development stages and the EYFS framework

Workers can help parents understand how to check the reliability of online advice by showing them how to use official sources and avoid misinformation.

Support Groups and Parent Networks

Peer support can be valuable. Parents often share ideas about play and learning needs with one another. Support can be found through:

• Local parenting groups
• Social media groups run by schools or children’s centres
• Community play schemes
• Special interest groups for parents of children with specific needs

These networks encourage informal advice-sharing. They can be a source of both practical ideas and emotional support.

Toy Libraries

Toy libraries lend play equipment and games to families. This helps parents provide a variety of activities without large expense. It can also introduce children to new forms of play.

Benefits include:

• Access to educational games
• Ability to trial toys before buying
• Exposure to play types that help fine motor, gross motor, and cognitive skill development

Staff at toy libraries can explain how each toy supports learning skills.

Museums and Visitor Attractions

Many museums have children’s areas, workshops, and interactive exhibits. Parents can use these spaces for learning through exploration and discovery. Attractions such as science centres, nature reserves, and historical sites often run themed events for children.

Workers can encourage parents to attend family activity days, which mix fun with learning and give ideas for extending these themes at home.

Bookshops

Some bookshops offer more than sales. Larger branches often host reading events and sell educational kits, puzzles, and activity packs. Staff can guide parents towards age-appropriate materials for different stages of learning.

Local Authorities

Local council family information services hold details of childcare providers, play schemes, after-school clubs, and holiday activities. They can point parents towards subsidised play schemes or free workshops. Their websites often have downloadable information about child development and learning opportunities in the area.

Faith and Community Organisations

Church halls, mosques, temples, and other community spaces sometimes host playgroups or learning clubs. These can give children an opportunity to learn through social interaction, crafts, and collective games. They can also offer guidance for families new to the area.

Worker’s Role in Connecting Parents to Support

As part of their role, workers should:

• Listen to parents’ concerns about play and learning
• Assess what type of support a family may need
• Provide details of suitable services available locally or online
• Help parents make contact with those services if needed

Clear communication can make a big difference in how parents use available sources. Workers might give printed lists of organisations or demonstrate how to find services using official websites.

Age-Specific Advice

Advice must fit the child’s age and stage. For example:

• Babies benefit from sensory play and simple interaction such as talking, singing, and peekaboo games
• Toddlers benefit from imaginative play, building blocks, simple puzzles, and drawing activities
• Preschool children can start basic counting games, letter recognition, and role play linked to real-life experiences
• Primary-age children enjoy more structured games, outdoor challenges, and project-based learning linked to topics they learn at school

Different sources offer different activities suited to these stages, so workers should guide parents based on the child’s current abilities and interests.

Final Thoughts

Parents often want the best for their child’s play and learning but may lack clear information. By knowing the wide range of sources available, workers can direct families towards opportunities that match their child’s needs. This guidance makes a practical difference to a child’s readiness for school and their ability to learn confidently.

Mixing formal advice from trained professionals with informal ideas from community groups gives parents a balanced view and more chances to see what works for their child. The more connected parents are to helpful sources, the better they can support learning through play and make it a natural, enjoyable part of everyday life.