50 things to do before you're five

We all need a little help sometimes to remember what we want children to be able to learn and do. There may be a new practitioner in your setting, an apprentice or someone returning to childcare after a long break.

The 50 Things To Do website and app can provide essential information which could inform your curriculum and extend individual’s knowledge and practice. For each 50 Things activity there is a section on why the activity is important, how to differentiate it to meet the needs of all children, key words to use to build on children’s existing vocabulary, ideas of stories to share, as well as more detailed explanations and articles under additional information and resources.

Practitioners can use 50 Things to do Before You’re 5 alongside our START approach.

We have created some planning sheets as examples of how you can use 50 Things with your children and families during sessions and to promote the home learning environment.

The START practitioner guide available above can support practitioners in delivering a well-planned curriculum which will build on what children already know and can do in preparation for school.

Useful links

• Planning with 50 Things To Do (opens Microsoft Sharepoint folder)

Practitioners need to know about, understand and share what children 0-5 years need to be eating and doing to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The majority of 50 Things activities are aimed at getting out and about in the fresh air and they all focus on an element of physical activity and mental well-being.

Useful links

• Child and Maternal Health - Data - OHID
• The Eatwell Guide - NHS
• Help for early years providers: Areas of learning

Transitions into school will be easier for children as they learn to embrace independence and know when to, and be confident to, ask for help. Physical and mental well-being is at the heart of keeping children safe, helping them develop and ensuring they have positive outcomes into adulthood (Public Health England, 2021).

Sharing 50 Things To Do activities and Ready to START messages with all practitioners and parents will optimise the opportunities children have to develop into healthy, confident, resilient, lifelong learners.

Useful links

• 50 Things To Do activities
• Ready to START messages
• Help for early years providers: Areas of learning

All activities provide suggestions of keywords and books practitioners and parents can use to support children’s development and build on their existing vocabulary whilst widening their experiences.

Support at home is important for children’s early development, in particular opportunities to share books and develop a wide vocabulary. However, children’s experiences at home vary. This is why it is important that practitioners focus on communication and language for all children, and particularly for those who do not benefit from a rich vocabulary at home.

Useful links

• Best start in life part 2: the 3 prime areas of learning - GOV.UK