Developed in partnership with Education Services Australia

The Australian Curriculum sets the goal for what all students should learn as they progress through their school life. Skills in the Foundation Year curriculum include:

• listening to and reading written and spoken texts
• finding meaning in texts by noticing how words, pictures, expression and layout are used in them.

It’s easy to help your child practise these skills as part of everyday life – just use these simple ideas.

Learn through fairy tales

Sharing fairy tales with your child teaches them all sorts of things about language, characters and plot structure. When you reach the end of the fairy tale and everyone is living happily ever after, you can ask your child questions such as:

• what did the main character(s) look like?
• did the pictures match the words in the story?
• did you think the ending was fair?
• what do you think is the lesson of this fairy tale?
• do you know any similar fairy tales?

Remember to make it a conversation, not a test!

As an extension, your child might also like to make up a different ending, make up a sequel or create their own fairy tale.

Go online

For online reinforcement, Rhymes and fairytales will give your child practice at:

• listening to and playing with rhymes.

As an extension of this activity, you and your child could make up silly rhymes, or your own rhyming games. It can be a great way to have fun together when you are stuck in the car or public transport!

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