The last two decades have witnessed a transformation in thinking about the development of children during their pre-school early years. Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s researchers began to investigate the importance of the early years on a child’s overall development of learning skills. These studies challenged the belief that academic learning capabilities developed only at school age. Indeed, it was demonstrated that children who went through pre-school learning programmes consistently demonstrated improvements in academic achievement in their later formal education.

The recognition of ‘early learning’

These early studies sparked widespread interest in pre-school education; if children can enhance their learning abilities at an early age, it was asked, what is the best way to nurture these competences and skills? Research indicates that children who engage in purposeful play and structured activities acquire a range of skills and abilities that provide a strong foundation for later learning and development.

A well designed early learning programme can, for example, nurture social and emotional development by helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, a respect for others, and a positive desire to learn. Story telling and reading activities can help develop language and literacy skills by supporting proficiency in communicating, speaking and listening, being read to and beginning to read and write. And problem solving activities can help children develop their confidence and aptitude in reasoning and numeracy skills. With a strong grounding in these areas, children demonstrate a real aptitude for learning when they begin formal education and go on to long term achievement in their later childhood and adulthood.

Acquiring skills in the early years

Language and communication skills are vital to a child’s emotional and personal development as they develop a sense of self and their relationship to others. Exposure to stories helps to enrich the imagination and provide knowledge of a range of experiences that a child can draw on to give them confidence in their daily encounters with the world.

Literacy skills provide a child with the building blocks necessary for reading and writing and learning more generally. Through exposure to books and stories, babies and toddlers acquire the vital preliminary tools for learning to read and write.

Firstly, they equip themselves with a sizeable spoken vocabulary which helps them to listen, understand and remember what they hear.

Secondly, children at a very young age start to become aware of the existence of books. Toddlers and even small babies will turn the pages of storybooks, and look at the pictures in them. Soon afterwards, parents can begin to read to their children so pre-schoolers become aware of books and begin to enjoy stories.

Thirdly, children become aware of what a book is and how to handle it, i.e. that print looks different to pictures, that we read from top to bottom of a page and from left to right, and spoken vocabulary is linked to print.

Finally, children develop specific skills for learning to read: what alphabet letters look like and sound like, and that when put together in a certain way, they make up words.

As the days get warmer and longer, my mind starts to turn to thoughts of holidays and relaxing in the sun. So, why not get my holiday off to the good start by choosing the best possible way to get to airport.

Travelling by train is undoubtedly the most scenic way to travel but I remember a really bad experience with train from my last holiday break. It was scheduled to leave at 07:24 in the morning. It was 07:24, but no train to be seen … and no announcement, nothing. At 07:45 the train arrived. Of course, trains never compensate for their delay once they’re on the track, so I didn’t catch the connecting train. Instead I had to take the regional train (much slower). That ‘s what people face while travelling by train.

Coach is a great cheaper alternative to travelling by train. But of course tickets are often cheaper the further in advance you book them. From my experience I can say that coach travelling has never been more uncomfortable, with not enough personal space. In fact, on a recent journey, a seatmate turned to me and asked, “My dear, are the seats getting smaller and a smaller, or we are just getting bigger?” Yes, there is nothing better than a cramped, noisy coach ride.

So, is there really nothing left except from expensive taxis?

Yes, taking a cab can be the fastest and most convenient way of travelling from an airport to your accommodation, or for taking you home safely at night. A taxi driver is to meet you at the agreed pick up point. It’s like having a friend meet you at the airport. He is there even if your plane is delayed, knows where you are going to and takes you there.

I always use taxi transfers because arriving in a foreign airport is disorienting enough; it’s nice to know you can get to your hotel without a hassle. But what about the cost of having such a comfort? I can assure that there is a wide variety of taxi services offering a low price airport transfers for example to http://www.fairfare.co.uk actually invites you to submit your own price.

Why does to http://www.fairfare.co.uk allow me to determine the price of my airport transfer? Research has shown that many customers have a good idea of current taxi prices between cities and major airports. Other have a good idea of how much they wish to pay or indeed can afford to pay before considering other means of transport. With to http://www.fairfare.co.uk you may simply enter your price expectation and see if any taxi operator accepts it. If an operator is looking to sell an otherwise unused journey leg, you may hit on a real bargain. Have a go!

Have you been looking for a really trendy mobile phone that has the right features to suit your personality? Does the present mobile you use functions to satisfy your needs and requirements? Have you been on the look out of the latest mobile handsets? If yes, then the best ways in which you can avail the most exciting and attractive handsets are through an online mobile shop India. These online mobile shops in India can be of immense help in purchasing the best of the mobile handsets.

When you shop online, you save a lot of your energy, time and legwork. Moreover, shopping for the online mobile handsets in India makes it possible to browse through a plethora of handset options. It also enables you to compare the price of the various online mobile sets India so that you have a fair deal. some of the most sought after handsets on these online mobile shop India that are making people all over the country crazy about them are the following:

Nokia 6070

This is one of the mobile handsets that are truly a rage among the youth. It has 24 channels of polyphonic ringtones, MIDI and MP3. It has a photocall memory, downloadable screensavers and wallpapers, GPRS, efficient call records, Infrared port, USB, SMS, Email, MMS and the facility of instant messaging as well. The best features are that it has a camera, FM, video player, voice command and memo, built in handsfree and comes with a year’s warranty.

Motorola KRZR K1

This is another amazing handset that has a lot of great features. it has downloadable logos, wallpapers and screensavers, polyphonic ringtones, MP3, great call records, GPRS, Bluetooth, USB, games, 2 MP camera, built in handsfree, EMS, SMS, Email, MMS and instant messaging. It also comes with a year’s warranty by the manufacturer.

HP iPAQ hx2490 Pocket PC (FA675A)

This is one phone that you cannot afford to miss. This handset is like a mini computer and is of great usage. it has an integrated Wi-Fi, internet, Email, rechargeable and removable battery, data encryption, Intel PXA270 Processor, thumb or foldable keyboard, 192 MB memory, Bluetooth 1.2, touch sensitive display, USB desktop, integrated microphone, headphone jack, speaker, 3.5mm stereo, MP3 stereo, free software points and a lot more. It comes with a warranty of one year.

These are the most sought online mobile handsets India and are available at discounted prices and that too in a variety of colors. So, undoubtedly making a purchase via the online mobile shop in India can be a great advantage.