Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
All About My Dad: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
All About My Dad is a free printable worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children ask a dad some questions, listen to the answers and write short words about him. It is screen free and needs only a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work well. Black and white printing is fine.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is built around short sentence starters, such as "My dad is called", "He likes to" and "I love my dad because". Children ask Dad a question, listen to what he says, then write a short word in the space. The sheet has numbered questions with room to answer. The first time, a grown up can share the writing so the child can focus on talking and listening.
- My dad is called ...
- He likes to ...
- His favourite food is ...
- He is very good at ...
- I love my dad because ...
Making the most of the sheet
Pick a calm moment
Choose a time when Dad, or the person your child is writing about, can sit down and chat. A few minutes at the table is enough. Do not rush the answers.
Ask out loud first
Let your child say each question aloud before writing anything. Asking and listening are the main skills here. The writing comes after the talking.
Say it, then write it
Ask your child to say the word they want to write. Stretch it out slowly and listen for the sounds. Then they choose letters to match. Praise every sound they get right.
Keep it as a gift
When the sheet is finished, your child can read it back to Dad and give it to him. Many families keep these sheets in a memory box or on the fridge.
Why talk about family at this age?
Children in Reception are learning that talking is a two way job. They ask, they wait, they listen and they reply. Questions about someone they know well make this easy, because they already have plenty to say. Talking about a person they love also builds vocabulary, and it gives them a real reason to want to write.
Early writing grows out of speaking. Before children write a sentence, they need to say it clearly and hold it in their heads. Short sentence starters give them a safe frame to fill in. Not every child has a dad at home. The sheet works just as well for a grandad, stepdad, uncle, carer or another special grown up.
Skills and curriculum link
- Speaking
- Listening
- Asking questions
- Writing short words
- Hearing sounds in words
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Communication and Language | Speaking | Reception |
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Literacy | Writing | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can ask my dad a question and listen to the answer.
- I can say something I know about him.
- I can write a short word about him.
Ideas for the grown up
- Choose the right personYour child can write about a dad, grandad, stepdad, carer or another special grown up. Let them decide who the sheet is about and use the name they use at home.
- Use the sentence startersEach line begins for the child and ends with a gap. Read the start aloud together, then let your child think of how to finish it. Say the whole sentence back before writing.
- Talk before pencilMany answers will be spoken first. That is fine. Spoken answers are still good learning, and writing can follow at your child's pace.
- Listen for soundsWhen your child writes, ask what sounds they can hear. Do not worry about perfect spelling. Sounding out a likely letter for each sound is a strong step forward.
Key words
- QuestionSomething you ask to find out more.
- AnswerWhat you say or write back when someone asks you a question.
- FavouriteThe one you like best of all.
- Sentence starterThe first words of a sentence, ready for you to finish.
- SoundThe noise a letter or group of letters makes in a word.
- Say it slowlySay a word one sound at a time, so you can pick the letters to write.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Read the sentence starters together. Talk about who the sheet is about and when they can be asked.
- Take turns. Your child asks a question, listens to the answer, then writes a short word in the space.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Ask your child what they found out and which word they wrote.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
A grown up writes the words while your child talks. Your child can add the first letter, or a sound they know, in each space. Do a few lines now and finish another day. Say each sentence aloud before writing so your child remembers it.
To stretch confident children
Draw a picture of Dad on the back. Then write a label next to it, such as a word for something he likes. Confident writers can add a whole sentence about what you do together.
Make it a game
Read the answers back to Dad. Your child is the reporter and Dad listens. Then swap. Dad reads one answer in a silly voice and your child guesses which sentence it is. Keep it light and fun.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child gives a long spoken answer but finds it hard to write it all down.
Try thisPick one key word from what they said. Ask them to say it slowly and write just that word. A grown up can write the rest.
Watch forLetters are written back to front or in an odd order.
Try thisThis is common in Reception. Do not worry. Gently show the right shape and keep the focus on having a go. Praise the sounds they chose.
Watch forA child runs words together or forgets the spaces.
Try thisTell them to put a finger down after each word to make a space. Say each word out loud before writing the next one.
Talk about it
- What is the best thing you do with your dad?
- What did you find out about him that you did not know before?
- What makes him laugh?
- If you could give him a present, what would it be?
- What is one thing you are good at, just like him?
- Who else in your family could you ask these questions?
Take it off the page
Photo chat
Look at a family photo together. Ask your child to say who is in it and what is happening. Listen to the words they choose and repeat them back.
Draw and label
Draw a picture of something you enjoy doing with Dad. Write a word or two beside it, using the sounds your child can hear.
Make a card
Fold a piece of paper into a card. Your child draws on the front and writes a short message inside. A grown up can help with the harder words.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit next to your child for the first go and let them lead. Fit it in when Dad, or the person it is about, is around. Short bursts work best. Praise effort, not only neat writing.
Teachers
Use it as a Father's Day activity, a table task or an early finisher. It supports speaking and listening as well as early writing. Pair children up, or ask a visiting adult to be the interviewee. Make sure you consider children who may choose to write about another special adult.
Home educators
Pair it with a favourite picture book about families and some outdoor play. Do a few lines at a time. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, so each child can write about their own special person.
Where this fits
Before this sheet, children are learning to talk in sentences, listen to stories and make marks with meaning. They enjoy talking about people they know. They are also starting to hear the first sounds in words.
After this, children move on to writing short sentences on their own. They learn to put spaces between words and begin to use capital letters and full stops. Asking and answering questions with confidence is a good base for all of this.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What did you find out that you did not know before?
- What is your favourite thing to do with your dad?
- Which word did you write, and what sounds can you hear in it?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is All About My Dad for?
It is written for Reception, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. A grown up shares the activity with the child, so it also suits younger children who enjoy talking and older ones who need gentle writing practice.
- What will children practise?
They practise asking questions, listening to answers and writing short words. The sentence starters give them a simple frame, so they can focus on talking about someone they love and putting sounds on paper.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Take turns asking and writing. Work through it together the first time. Then check the notes on page 2. Come back to it another day to build confidence.
- What if it feels too hard?
A grown up can write the words while the child talks. Your child can add the first letter or a sound they know. Do a few lines at a time. There is no need to finish the whole sheet in one go.
- Can it be used if a child does not have a dad at home?
Yes. Your child can write about a grandad, stepdad, uncle, carer or another special grown up. Let them choose and use the name they use for that person. The skills are exactly the same.
- How long should we spend on it?
Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work well. Stop sooner if your child tires, and return another day. The help and stretch ideas on page 2 let you make the activity shorter or longer.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Your child can add colour with pencils or crayons if they like, especially for the drawing on the back.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.