Many of the skills your child needs for preschool can be learned through play. Some of the simplest games and most basic toys can provide huge boosts to the brain without feeling like “school.”
Benefits of Building Blocks. Start with simple motor skills and coordination, Stacking and Sorting. Then ready, steady, Aim and smash down the tower. All these skills are movements that your kids WILL need in school. Then you take these basic blocks and add the bright letters, numbers, animals and shapes. You support their reading and letter recognition skills. You can teach colors, simple spelling, and so much more from these simple little cubes that you can pick up at any toy store. The can be used countless ways.
Read, Read, Read. The advantages of reading to your child from birth are absolutely amazing. You share with them your own passion for books. You foster an appreciation for the arts. Both written and drawn. You encourage their imagination and drive for lifelong learning. Books written for children now often includesuggested reading levels. Suggested ages for age-appropriate reading are openly listed on the covers. If you offer a variety of levels you can encourage their skills. Lower level books or books at the perfect level for your child will boost their reading speed. Some great titles are available through educational toy stores. Introducing more difficult levels, just a little above your child’s comfortable reading level, will keep them challenged and reinforce the skill of sounding words out. Keeping them just past the comfort level will consistently help them expand on this vital life skill. Don’t discount graphic novels either, if the content is appropriate for your child, these books will still encourage reading skills and allow your child to expand their own interests.
Arts and Craft Time! Even the most basic scribbles are the foundation of so many skills. It’s not just about letters|numbers|the end resulting pictures}. The range of skills involved with writing are profound. Propping oneself up on their elbows and laying on the floor to draw stimulates a wide range of muscle groups. These same muscle groups are used for everything from grasping a pencil, using scissors successfully and even playing catch with mom or dad in the back yard. When your toddler has begun drawing circles with their food on the high chair tray, they are ready to pick up a crayon and get busy. There are so many types of markers these days to fit the hands of wee babies right up to professional artists. Find what works best for your child and offer it often. You can even choose no mess items that only color on special paper and dry erase boards that are easy to clean up.
Don’t try for perfect form too quickly. Allow room for creativity and freedom. Applaud the simplest scribbles (even if only that it hit the paper and not the table!). Encouraging the act of just picking up the pencil is easily as important as whatever they may create.
Every moment can be used as a teaching moment. Whether you are naming colors, naming shapes, cutting and gluing, or just simply drawing with no particular plan, these skills will last a life time and give your child an edge on school assignments.
And remember, just as it’s important to provide learning games, is making sure that your child has plenty of free play time as well. Learning happens constantly with children. Give them plenty of room to grow!
More information on great learning toys and games can be found at this online educational toy store. Visit www.laughnlearn.ca today!
