Explore new things with your child and learn together. © Chris Pearson

Children like to feel they're on a journey with you rather than being lectured at. So it's good to have some guides to hand, such as a dictionary or a computer with internet access (for search engines). Then when you find answers to questions, you've been working as a team.

Most of all, be enthusiastic about discovering new things. As Band Aid put it, 'There's a world outside your window ...'

Being on the look-out
Just about everything in and around your home can be used to help your child learn. For example:

• At mealtimes, you can talk about where different foods come from, how they are made and why they are good for you



• When watching TV you can talk about the programmes you like (or don't like) and what you can learn from them



• When you visit the shops, get your child to add up prices or pick out things to buy so they read the words on the packages

What parents say:

'My son Connor was quite slow to read at first, but when we started playing games when we were shopping, to find the baked beans or the Jaffa Cakes, he really improved. When he learns a new word he's very pleased and says it over and over.' – Anna, Sheffield

'When we talk about where fish come from and how fishing boats go out to sea, my two daughters both get excited and make up stories about storms and adventures. And they seem to eat more fish!' – Ian, Bristol

Picking up vibes
All children like certain things more than others. A great way to encourage them to learn is to focus on whatever really excites your child. For example:

• Music. Does your child love it when they hear a drum or a guitar? Encourage them by buying a CD of the music they tune in to or by buying or renting an instrument. Renting can be an affordable way to learn an instrument like a piano



• Languages. If your child gets excited about Italian food such as pizza, why not get a book of easy Italian words or a tape to start learning the language?



• Arts and crafts. Lots of children like playing with toy bricks, but if your child seems particularly keen, why not move on to a more advanced building set such as Meccano or a model aircraft set?

What parents say:

'When he read a Paddington Bear book about going to France and eating snails, my son Angus begged us to go to France. On that trip he started learning French and now speaks it very well.' – John, Elgin

'Samuel wanted to learn the flute but I couldn't afford to buy one. So we rented one and he's loving it. He practices every day and will be taking a grade soon.' – Simone, London

'I try to turn learning into a game wherever possible. For example, we play the alphabet game, working from A to Z in turns, thinking of an animal for each letter, or a country or whatever.' – Wilf, East Wittering

Passing it on
Whatever your background or work experience, there are always hundreds of things that you can pass on to your child. For example:

• Subjects you enjoyed at school, whether art, history, maths or drama. Think back to when you achieved something (however small) and tell your child about it. It will help them realise they can achieve too



• A skill that has helped you. Maths is not just an academic subject. Pretty much all of us need it in our everyday lives. Explain to your children how you've saved money by comparing prices and finding the cheapest option



• Books you've loved. Many books that you will remember from your childhood are still popular, so try to find your favourites and introduce them to your kids, telling them what you liked back then

Remember, it's more about inspiring your child and giving them a love of learning than filling them with facts.

What parents say:

'Matthew was pretty terrible at maths until I told him about how I'd bought and sold things at school – just stuff like comics. He started doing the same and his mental maths has come on enormously.' – Peter, Ipswich

'I loved reading Roald Dahl books when I was a kid. What's great now is that there are still films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory being made from them, so my kids can get into them all over again.' – Maryon, Hertford

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