Nursery World - EYFS Activities: Essential experiences… Learning about jobs

Introducing children to the jobs done by ‘people who help us’ will provide many learning benefits and improve their understanding of the world around them, explains Penny Tassoni

Download the PDF of this article

Most young children are interested in what adults do and will often try to incorporate what they have learnt into their role play. They pretend to be everything from a parent feeding a baby to a vet examining a sick animal.

While many early years settings focus on traditional roles such as firefighters, doctors and police officers, there are plenty of other occupations that fall under the umbrella of ‘people who help us’.

BENEFITS

Learning about adults’ jobs provides children with many learning opportunities, especially if they are able to watch or participate in some way.

Language There are many opportunities for children to develop their vocabulary, as many occupations will use words or phrases that are specific for tasks – such as ‘squidgee’ for a window cleaner or ‘prescription’ for a pharmacist. Children may also use language to ask questions and make links between their own experiences and what they have seen or heard.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included