Forget professional entertainers and over-the-top goody bags, today’s under-5s are shunning expensive gimmicks in favour of traditional party fun such as musical chairs and pass the parcel.
Parenting on Female First
I CAN, the children’s communication charity, today unveils the top five children’s party activities from a survey of 1500 UK parents of under-5s.
It’s a list full of fun pursuits that build communication and social skills and encourage interaction with other kids:
1. Dancing games like Musical Chairs, Musical Statues and Musical Bumps.
2. Party games like Pass the Parcel and Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
3. Playing outdoors with other children.
4. Eating party food.
5. Singing and rhyming games like the Hokey Cokey and Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
Yet more than a quarter of parents (27 per cent) may not realise that there is a serious side to the fun at children’s parties and these can help enhance their child’s social skills. The research shows that, although children are invited to an average of five parties per year (which is one more than their parents), 17 per cent of mums and dads feel parties have no impact on speaking and listening skills.
Kate Freeman, I CAN Communication Advisor, said: “Children’s parties have become more sophisticated in recent years, with many parents spending lots of money on entertainment for children. Yet this research shows that, when it comes down to it, children still prefer the traditional games and party fun.
“The top five activities all involve communicating and socialising with their friends – from pass the parcel, which boosts turn-taking and listening skills to singing and rhyming games like the Hokey Cokey. This type of activity enhances children’s understanding of the structure and meaning of language – and there is no better environment for a child to develop their confidence than with a group of friends and adults in a relaxed and fun setting like a party”.
I CAN is inviting hundreds of thousands of children to take part in the annual fun and educational event for nurseries, pre-schools, child-minding and community groups. Now in its 12th year, the 2013 Chatterbox Challenge: Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with Humf asks groups to organise sponsored tea parties where children can join in with popular songs and rhymes to develop their communication skills in a simple and enjoyable way. Thanks to the kind support of Openreach, funds raised through sponsorship will enable I CAN to help even more children who struggle to communicate.
Liv Garfield, Chief Executive of Openreach, said: “Communication is at the heart of the Openreach business and we know how important it is for children to develop good communication skills to succeed in life. This is our sixth year sponsoring I CAN’s Chatterbox Challenge as part of our ‘First Mile’ programme.
“The Chatterbox Challenge is a great way for young children to develop their own speaking and understanding skills whilst helping children who struggle with communication. By sponsoring the Chatterbox Challenge, we hope all children will get the best start in life.”
This year I CAN is partnering with Entertainment One to make its pre-school character Humf the brand ambassador for the 2013 Chatterbox Challenge Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with Humf.
Rebecca Harvey, Head of Marketing from Entertainment One, said: “It’s a pleasure to be involved in I CAN’s annual Chatterbox Challenge! We hope the children involved will enjoy their tea party with Humf and we are thrilled to be linking with I CAN on the important issue of children’s communication.”
Each Chatterbox Challenge: Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with Humf will raise valuable funds and awareness for I CAN’s work with some of the one million children in the UK who struggle with speech, language and communication, as friends and family will be encouraged to sponsor children for taking part and joining in. Groups can register now for their free fundraising pack at the Chatterbox Challenge website (www.chatterboxchallenge.org.uk).
The singing and rhyming activities for the 2013 Chatterbox Challenge: Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with Humf have been developed by I CAN speech and language therapists and teachers. Lesson plans, which include Humf and his friends in the activities and illustrations, link to key aspects of the new Early Years Foundation Stage including Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. All the activities are aimed at supporting and developing children’s speech and language skills.
Speech, language and communication are crucial for reading, learning in school, for socialising and making friends, and for understanding and expressing emotions or feelings. 1.2 million children in the UK have long-term difficulties with their speech, language and communication and will need extra support. The Chatterbox Challenge: Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with Humf encourages children to think about communication, whilst helping support those who find talking and understanding difficult.
Chatterbox Challenge week is 1st – 8th March 2013 and most groups will be holding their Tea Party with Humf during this week, though groups can actually take part at any time during 2013.
To register and get involved in this year’s Chatterbox Challenge: Mad Chatter’s Tea Party with Humf, go to http://www.chatterboxchallenge.org.uk