charlesking830-blog

[charlesking830-blog]

How preschool toys can develop child's imagination?

Researches in child development have shown that play activities enhance every aspect of a child’s mental and physical growth. The play impulse has two essential characteristics: 1.The tendency to be experimental 2. Tthe tendency to be active. As Preschool and Parental Education  states, play "sends a child first to testing out his powers, and then to attacking experimentally his entire environment."

A child can acquire vital problem-solving skills through proper playtime activities. Important social skills can also be developed in children while they play with their favorite toys. At pre-school age, children prefer concentrating on a particular activity for a longer span of time. Thus preschool toys are aimed at kids between the ages of three and five. Child development toys are wonderful means of attracting children to the world of learning. Toys designed especially for preschool toddlers focus on memory skills, patterns and matching activities. Creative skills and artistic abilities of preschool kids are also enhanced by some of these toys. Moreover, preschool toys can develop a child’s imagination and interest in a specific field. multiplication learning toys http://www.preschoolalley.com/multiplication-learning-toys-a-fun-way-to-learn-math-concepts

Preschool toys also help toddlers to become acquainted with colors, numbers and letters. They also enhance interactive skills, and improve hand-eye coordination. The right kind of preschool toys encourage children to engage in basic activities like reading and writing. Playing with preschool toys can also enhance a child’s ability to communicate with other playgroup members.

Importance of preschool toys: • They act as important accessories in a toddler’s imagination. They help children imagine different situations and act it out. • When children play with preschool toys, they learn basic motor skills. Play also helps improve their visual and auditory senses. • Toddlers acquire the ability to solve problems while playing with toys. • Preschool toys have the ability to improve the memory and increase concentration levels. • Playing with toys makes children more aware of their surroundings. • Preschool toys focus on improving the child’s innate cognitive abilities.

Preschool age is the time when children start interacting with their surroundings and gain valuable knowledge in the process. The stage is marked by a dominant urge to explore and learn. Preschool toys are vital tools in developing this sense of exploration and learning. These educational toys aim at developing essential social and personal skills that eventually help in the overall development of children.

Preschool.  It’s one of our very favorite ages here at The Inspired Treehouse!  Kids at this age are active, imaginative, and ready to play and learn!  And, when provided with some fun toys and props, preschoolers can create all kinds of fun play experiences!  Here are some of our favorite development-boosting preschool toys.

The Best Gross Motor Preschool Toys

1 || Yo Baby Kick Flipper  – Like a skateboard without wheels, Kick Flipper is an excellent way to learn the balance, footwork, and coordination basics that are essential for skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing.  Kids can give it a try on carpet, grass, or sand. counting toys for 3 year olds http://www.preschoolalley.com/top-tips-to-choosing-counting-toys-for-3-year-olds

2 || Skuut Bike  – Kids kick off the ground as if running, pushing or scooting themselves and the bike forward.  Perfect for learning balance, steering, coordination and independence to progress toward a 2 wheel pedal bike.

3 || Scooter  – If you’re on the market for a well-made, durable, and versatile toy for kids, look no further than this little square scooter.  Nothing can get a kid more excited about therapy than whizzing down the hallway on one of these babies!  Try one of these awesome scooter activities and keep them busy for hours!

4 || Stepping Stones  – This simple toy is perfect for tackling all kinds of developmental skills – teaching balance and coordination while providing sensory feedback in the form of proprioceptive stimulation.  Give a child and watch their imagination run wild as they play!

5 || Teeter Bridge  – Encourage some amazing balance with this rocker board that would make the perfect bridge in the middle of an obstacle course or a great place to stand at a countertop to color while getting the wiggles out!

The Best Fine Motor Preschool Toys

1 || Magna Tiles  – A great toy for fine motor manipulation, these 3D magnetic building tiles that are designed for open ended play and to captive the minds and creativity of young children. Dinosaur Activities For Preschoolers Science http://www.preschoolalley.com/top-5-dinosaur-activities-for-preschoolers-science

2 || Velcro Cutting Food  – Beautifully painted and incredibly real, this food is held together with velcro making it easy to “cut” through and serve.  Kids love the pretend play this set inspires and we, as therapists, love the bilateral coordination and grip practice they get!

3 || Penguin Popper  – These poppers are crazy fun!  And, surprisingly, they are fabulous for core strengthening, hand strength and more!  Your child will giggle out loud each time he squeezes the penguin’s belly to send the ball flying across the room.

4 || Bee Hive Tweezer Game  – I don’t think I have ever seen such a cute toy!  This one helps your child develop fine motor skills and learn to use her super fingers by matching a bee to hive by using a set of tweezers.

5 || Take It Easel  – With a whiteboard on one side and a blackboard on the other, your child will get to choose his surface for writing on a whim!  Bonus:  vertical surfaces are a great way to work on a whole host of developmental skills!

The Best Sensory Preschool Toys

1 || Boomwhackers  – If you’ve never played with Boomwhackers before, trust us…you don’t want to miss out on one of our favorite toys for targeting all kinds of developmental skills…all while making music!  Check out 10 ways to play with Boomwhackers here!

2 || Body Sox  – This sack-shaped costume made from Lycra Spandex with a hook-and-loop closure assists in developing spatial awareness through balance and resistance and encourages creative movement for children 3 to 5 years old.

3 || Crash pad  – Perfect for jumping and crashing (great proprioceptive and vestibular input) or just sitting and relaxing, a crash pad is an awesome prop for sensory play! toddler speech delay exercises http://www.preschoolalley.com/toddler-speech-delay-exercises-tried-and-tested-tips-for-late-talkers

4 || Spooner board  – This awesome toy is like a snowboard…without the snow!  Kids can spin, twist, slide, wobble and more!  All awesome input for the vestibular system.

5 || Liquid Motion Bubbler  – These awesome toys can offer soothing and calming visual stimulation for kids, similar to a lava lamp.

[charlesking830-blog]

When preschool is good for your child?

When you think of preschool, what do you envision? Are you afraid that your child is still too small to be placed in a structured environment? Does it scare you how they might cope with the separation?

Well, don’t be. Preschool can only help your child.

Children gain a lot from going to preschool because they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes there. But, more importantly, they develop social and emotional skills and learn how to get along with other children, to share and to contribute.

Findings show that children who attend high-quality preschool enter schools with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not.  So why not insist on preschool education when it can only help; when preschool is good for your child? Know this: the 3-6-year olds are like little sponges at that age. They can take in so much; even more than you think. You as a parent should make use of this time to equip your little ones with the skills they need in their lives. Homeschooling your children at this age might give them a good academic head start (ONLY if you are educated in early childhood education to do so), but this type of schooling will fail to develop their social and emotional skills that are of an utmost importance for their future. And these skills get developed by child being around other children their age. multiplication learning toys http://www.preschoolalley.com/multiplication-learning-toys-a-fun-way-to-learn-math-concepts

Here are 6 reasons why preschool is good for your child:

1. Preschool provides a foundation for learning, both socially and academically.

Young children are naturally curious and observant. They want learn the skills that their families and society value — such as reading the instructions for assembling a toy, or selecting the correct bills or coins to pay for a purchase. To prepare children for the academic demands of school, teachers will offer a wide variety of games and activities that will help them acquire necessary academic but also social skills.

2. Preschool is an opportunity for kids to be in a structured setting.

Preschool is an opportunity for them to be in a structured setting with teachers and groups of children where they will learn to share and follow instructions, raise their hand when they want to ask a question, take turns, and share the teacher’s attention. Every child should have this sort of group experience before they start school.

3. Preschool will prepare children for elementary school where things get more academic.

Don’t be afraid that focus on development of pre-math and pre-literacy skills will make your child grow up too soon. These will not cut into important play time that every child deserves. A high-quality childhood education offers both. In fact, these programs are based on learning through play, so learning will be fun for your kid, have no doubt! counting toys for 3 year olds http://www.preschoolalley.com/top-tips-to-choosing-counting-toys-for-3-year-olds

4. Preschool will help your child develop socially and emotionally.

In preschool, your children will learn how to compromise, be respectful towards others, and solve problems. Preschool will provide a place where your child will gain a sense of self, explore, play with their peers, and build confidence. Kids in preschool usually discover that they are capable and that they can do things for themselves instead of always asking mommy to step in. They will learn wonders – from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables, to tackling bigger issues like making decisions on how to spend their free time. Isn’t that a great step for them?

5. Preschool will help your children find answers to their numerous questions.

The fact is that 4 and 5-year-olds will start asking some wonderful questions about the world around them, like “what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play?” Even you as a parent might become confused when trying to answer some of their questions, but the preschool will make your job easier. It will teach your children to find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.

6. They will learn their ABCs and 123s.

Young children will learn letters and numbers in preschool, but at their own pace and through playing games. Preschool does not sit kids down and ‘teach’ them because that would be the wrong way to do it. Instead, they teach them through doing various kinds of activities your kids find interesting, like story-time, talking to the teachers about stars, playing with blocks, etc. For example, to help kids learn language and strengthen their pre-reading skills, teachers in preschool play rhyming games and let kids tell stories. To help kids learn pre-math skills, teachers will ask their little students to count food items during snack time, use calendar to count down days to their long awaited preschool play, or play memory games with them. Dinosaur Activities For Preschoolers Science http://www.preschoolalley.com/top-5-dinosaur-activities-for-preschoolers-science

Keep in mind that for small children preschool is all about having fun and acquiring social skills – not achieving academic milestones. Kids need to be imaginative and to socialize because that’s what fosters creative and well-rounded people; it’s not about whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5, although they might.

And don’t forget: your child’s education does not stop once they come home from preschool. Oh, no! They will have bunch of stories to tell, and many questions to ask.

What you can do at home to further develop their social and emotional skills

• When they are feeling down, sit down with your child and discuss the feelings and events that made them feel certain way: ask what happened over the course of their day and how they felt about what happened. Also, be sure to talk about future events: what they will do next and how they will act.

• Brainstorm problem-solving strategies with your child. For example: you can read interactive books with them, such as Twiggle the Turtle, where turtle Twiggle goes inside his shell when he gets upset, takes a deep breath, and then says what bothers him and how it makes him feel. You can model this problem-solving strategy with your child too. Encourage your child to use these tricks too to gain self-control (by crossing their arms instead of hitting impulsively, taking a breath to calm themselves down, and then using words to describe how they feel instead of crying). toddler speech delay exercises http://www.preschoolalley.com/toddler-speech-delay-exercises-tried-and-tested-tips-for-late-talkers

• Practice the age-old advice: read, read, and read to your child, and have them read to you. Interactive reading is crucial to language development.

[charlesking830-blog]

What will your children learn in preschool?

1. What's the difference between childcare and preschool?

Childcare centers are generally an option for working parents who need their children to be taken care of during the day; centers accept babies as well as toddlers and are full-time, full-year programs. Preschool refers to an early-childhood educational class for 3- and 4-year-olds. Many offer a part-time schedule (for example, a few hours a day, two to five times a week) as well as full-day care, but only from September to May. Yet the terms are often used interchangeably. A childcare center with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities offers kids similar advantages to a preschool. "In fact, many preschools are part of childcare programs," says Linda Smith, executive director of the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies. (To learn more about high-quality childcare -- as well as preschool programs -- log on to naccrra.org and download a free copy of Is This the Right Place for My Child?)

• naccrra.org

2. How important is preschool?

"There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool," says Parents advisor Kathleen McCartney, PhD, dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time."

Statistics show that a majority of kids attend at least one year of preschool: According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds and more than 40 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005. "Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not," says NIEER director W. Steven Barnett, PhD.

"Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten," says Amy Flynn, director of New York City's Bank Street Family Center. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise her hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention. What's more, she'll learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. "Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behavior-management skills," Smith says.

multiplication learning toys  

In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving kids some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.

3. What will my child learn?

In addition to strengthening socialization skills -- how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve -- preschool provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. "Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time," says Angela Capone, PhD, senior program manager at Southwest Human Development's Arizona Institute for Childhood Development, in Phoenix. "Plus, 4- and 5-year-olds have begun asking some wonderful questions about the world around them -- what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play? Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation."

4. But what about learning his ABCs?

"Young children can certainly learn letters and numbers, but to sit kids down and 'teach' them is the wrong way to do it," says Smith. "They learn best through doing the kinds of activities they find interesting -- storytime, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks." To help kids learn language and strengthen pre-reading skills, for instance, teachers might play rhyming games and let kids tell stories. Keep in mind that for small children, school is all about having fun and acquiring social skills -- not achieving academic milestones. "Kids need to be imaginative and to socialize -- that's what fosters creative, well-rounded people. It's not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5," says Flynn. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being read to.

counting toys for 3 year olds  

Choosing the Right Preschool

5. How old should my child be when she starts?

Most preschools serve 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, and many kids begin at age 4. (Some preschools will start accepting children at around 2 1/2, but that doesn't mean your child will be ready when he reaches that age.) You can choose from a part-time schedule or a full-time one. Your choice will depend on your family's situation -- working moms might prefer five days a week -- and on your child's temperament. Parents typically start investigating options about a year before they want their children to attend. But if you live in a big city, where competition for spots can be fierce, you'll want to start applying even earlier and to more than one place.

6. How do I choose the right preschool?

Research, research, research. First, decide on location (close to work or home?) and hours (half-day, two or three days a week, full-time?). There are programs at private schools, daycare centers, religious institutions (like synagogues and churches), state-funded schools, and cooperatives run by parents. Start by asking for recommendations from other moms. Next, check whether the schools are state-licensed, which ensures the facility meets safety requirements and has adequate staffing (visit naccrra.org). Many states exempt religious-based preschools from all or some requirements -- although many meet these standards anyway.

The gold standard of approval is accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC carefully evaluates schools and childcare centers based on curriculum, teacher qualifications, class size, and health and safety standards; only about 8 percent of U.S. preschools are currently accredited. (Search for NAEYC-accredited preschools near you at rightchoiceforkids.org.) In addition, many preschools now have Web sites that you should visit.

Call each school you're considering and ask about its fees, admission policy, and curriculum. Once you've narrowed down your choices, schedule visits. Most preschools run open houses during the winter. Also, meet with the director and spend time in a classroom to observe the teachers. Visit each school with your child and see how she responds to the classroom, the teachers, and the activities.

• naccrra.org • rightchoiceforkids.org

7. What should I look for during a visit?

Check out the basics: Is the facility clean and safe? Keep your eye out for smoke detectors and first-aid kits. Is there a well-kept outdoor play area? Are there plenty of art materials, age-appropriate toys, and books? Are they in good condition? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun? Student work should be displayed in the hallways and around the classroom, hung at kid-level. "I tell parents to pay special attention to the artwork on the walls," says Dr. Barnett. "Would you be able to pick out your child's artwork? If all the pictures look the same, then your child will learn to make a bunny just like everyone else's. That's not really the goal."

The classroom should have a variety of activity areas -- a reading place, an art station with materials on shelves that kids can reach, a block corner, a puzzle area, and a place for naps. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time; they should be playing with toys or other kids but still well supervised.

Finally, do you feel comfortable? "You want to be confident that once you drop off your child, he'll be happy and well taken care of," says Mark Ginsberg, PhD, NAEYC executive director.

Making the Right Decision

8. What makes a good teacher?

Find out about the teachers' training and credentials. Ideally, head teachers should have a minimum of an associate's degree and formal training in early-childhood education. "Research shows that teachers with college degrees and specialized early-childhood training have more positive interactions with children, provide richer language experiences, and are less detached," says Dr. Barnett. Also, consider teacher-child ratios. According to NAEYC standards, there should be at least one teacher for every eight to ten 4- and 5-year-olds, and one adult for every six 2- and 3-year-olds. Low child-teacher ratios are very important, since they allow teachers to give ample attention to everyone, notes Dr. McCartney. Talk to the teachers about how they work with the kids. "Look for teachers who recognize the particular needs of different children, and who know how to adapt a curriculum for those who are ahead as well as for those who need additional help," she says.

Visit a class while it's going on. A good teacher talks with children, asking a lot of questions and patiently answering theirs. She makes kids feel welcome and fosters their self-confidence. Talk with the teacher about a typical day, and ways in which she'll keep you informed about your child's progress. If she's responsive to your questions and you're happy with her answers and her classroom style, you've found a good fit.

Dinosaur Activities For Preschoolers Science  

Visit Checklist

When you meet with the school's director, ask about the following. • Does my child need to be toilet-trained? Many preschools require that a child be out of diapers. • How are parents involved in the school? A good sign is an active parent association that plans programs like family picnics, holiday parties, and parent socials. You might want to talk to other parents -- the preschool should give you names. • How will the teacher let me know about my child's progress? Parents should be kept informed with newsletters, e-mails, and regular parent-teacher conferences. • What do you do when two children are fighting? It's crucial that you agree with the school's discipline policy. • What's the daily routine? You want your child to have a sense of predictability each day -- circle time, snack, reading.

[charlesking830-blog]

How to encourage your kids before starting preschool?

All parents want their children to have a strong start in life, and preschool provides a solid foundation for a successful future in school. If you worry that your child might not be ready for preschool, rest assured that there are a number of ways to help your little one prepare for this important transition before she starts preschool.

Encourage Independence

Children learn from their successes as well as their missteps, so don't rush to rescue your child in every challenging situation. "Socially adept children learn from parents who have confidence in their child's ability to soothe themselves in a difficult situation and make appropriate choices when allowed to or, at the very least, [to] learn and grow from their mistakes," says Grace Geller, the preschool director of A Children's Carousel in Weston, Florida.

Geller recommends encouraging your child to become independent with basic self-care skills, such as hand washing, nose wiping, opening lunch containers, manipulating simple clothing fasteners, zipping a backpack, and covering his mouth when coughing or sneezing. Teach your little one how to undress at night and have him pick out his outfit for the following day. If he wants to dress himself in the morning, keep in mind that he may need some assistance.

• Nurture Your Preschooler's Independence

Prime for Potty Training

"Potty training is a complex issue," Geller says. Before selecting a preschool, ask about the potty training policy. If independent toileting is required, carefully consider if your child is developmentally ready to be potty trained. If she's not, don't force it. But if your child is able to keep her diaper dry for an hour, then she's likely ready to begin training. "Preschools should be willing to assist a parent in the toilet training process," Geller says.

multiplication learning toys  

• Step-by-Step Guide to Potty Training

Instill Organization

Teach your child how to be organized. Work with him on ways to keep his clothes, toys, and gear organized in his room. Kate Dust, an early childhood education professor at Buffalo State College, suggests using inexpensive and colorful baskets or bins, and storing similar items together.

After a play session, tell your little one it's time to clean up and show him where each item belongs. Make it fun by singing a cleanup song until the area is tidy. Once your child knows the routine, have him clean up on his own. Be sure to praise him if he does a good job.

• 20 Smart Organization Solutions

Develop Social Skills

Social readiness, not academic readiness, should be a priority, says Claire Haas, vice president of education at The Kiddie Academy in Abingdon, Maryland. "Going to preschool is about socialization. When thinking about preschool, consider these questions: Can your child be away from you? Is she moving out of diapers? Is she talking about school?"

Social skills that are necessary for preschool include sharing, taking turns, playing with peers, and participating in pretend play. The most natural way for your little one to learn these skills is during peer play, so have your child participate in plenty of playdates prior to the first day of preschool.

Start teaching manners early, so that your child knows how to mind her p's and q's by the time she starts preschool. Greeting others, using table manners, following directions, not interrupting, and saying please, thank you, and excuse me are ways your child shows respect and consideration for others. Your child's teacher will be impressed.

Dinosaur Activities For Preschoolers Science  

• 5 Ways to Teach Manners to Preschoolers

Encourage Emotional Readiness

Julie Nelson, a professor of early childhood education and a former preschool teacher, believes that emotional readiness is an important social skill for preschool. It's necessary, she says, to "help children identify and process emotions in a healthy manner. When a child exhibits a strong emotion, it is usually best not to judge, undermine, or devalue [him] with such phrases as 'don't act like a baby,' or 'you drive me crazy with your tantrums.' A preschooler has difficulty understanding and putting labels on feelings and can feel out of control in these situations. [He doesn't] know why [he is] experiencing certain feelings or how to deal with those feelings. Parents can help by allowing the child to express their emotions in a safe situation and labeling the specific emotion by saying, 'Oh, you are cranky because you are so tired.' Let the child know you will be ready to talk when they are calm," she says. Learning to manage and express emotions in a healthy manner is not only important for preschool; it's also an essential life skill.

counting toys for 3 year olds  

• Activities for Emotional Development

Cultivate Communication Skills

Talking and listening are extremely valuable for school success, and parents have countless opportunities to develop their child's language skills. "Whether it's discussing what's in a room, talking about daily routines, or chatting about what's for dinner, parents can help expand a child's vocabulary by introducing new words and expressions. Teachable moments come from the child's own observations or from things they're interested in because children are so excited and curious to learn more. It can be hard when parents are working, but teachable moments can be just a few minutes or even a few seconds. The trick is to be aware that the things that we see and do as we go through our days may seem mundane to us, but to our children they are wonders," says Rebecca Palacios, Ph.D., Senior Curriculum Advisor for ABCmouse.com.

Focus on the Basics

Prior to preschool, teach your child his full name, his parents' names, and street name and number. She may even be ready to learn her phone number. Teach this by demonstrating how to dial the number on a toy phone and saying the numbers out loud. Encourage your child to do the same, providing prompts as needed. Also, if your child has an allergy or special health need, make sure she understands the importance of keeping the information accessible on a bracelet or note card.

Put Away the Flash Cards

Don't address academic skills in a drill format. It's much more fun to provide natural opportunities to expose your child to the basics such as colors, numbers, and the ABCs. Point out letters and colors on street signs and sing counting songs. "As a parent, you create the environments and experiences where learning happens, which makes you your child's first teacher," Dr. Palacios says. Don't stress out if your little one isn't an academic ace before he starts in a program. Rest assured, he'll gain those skills in preschool.

[charlesking830-blog]

Best education and activity for your child

The Basics

In preschool, children learn about the world through play. Subject areas aren’t separate in their minds or in the classroom. The objects preschoolers find on a nature walk, like feathers, rocks and leaves, might help them figure out math concepts like “big, bigger, and biggest” or motivate them to visit the book corner to find out more about birds. Teachers may introduce children to basic concepts such as shapes, letters, and colors, but preschool is about learning much more than what a circle looks like. It’s where children first develop a relationship with learning.

Language & Literacy

Children spend most of the preschool day working together with classmates. Each conversation, whether talking about the class pet or deciding which color block to put on top of their tower, helps children develop their thoughts and language. Preschool teachers read aloud simple stories like “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle to show children that text runs from left to right, expose them to new vocabulary, point out letter sounds and rhyming words, and help children talk about what they read.

Writing often appears as scribbles in the preschool classroom, but letters or shapes that resemble letters soon pop up as children try to write their own names in creative ways. Teachers model writing for preschoolers throughout the day. Many children will not be able to write words conventionally. However, every scribble shows that a child understands that the printed word carries messages, and that she is excited to be able to create these messages.

multiplication learning toys  

Math

Preschoolers use numbers every day when they count milk cartons for lunch or figure out how many children are at a table. They work with geometric shapes such as triangles, rectangles, and squares in the block center, and through art projects. They measure at the water table when they compare the size of their hands and feet. Preschool teachers invite children to arrange items in a series or pattern when they make collages and other art projects. Teachers also use simple graphs to present concepts, for example, determining how many children wear mittens to school and how many wear gloves.

Science

Preschoolers are scientists. They learn about the world by observing and experimenting. Natural things fascinate them, from rocks, to animals, to their baby brothers and sisters. They also notice the many ways that they can influence the natural world. Preschoolers may plant seeds, or watch what happens to an ice cube in a warm room. They’ll test what sinks and what floats at the water table, and which blowers make the biggest bubbles. They’ll find non-fiction books about animals and nature in the classroom library.

Social Studies

Preschool social studies is where children learn about their place in the world. Understanding how to get along with others can often take up the biggest part of a preschooler’s day. Children learn how to resolve conflicts and practice skills like sharing, taking turns and cleaning up. They figure out how to express their feelings using words. The class may also explore its community and the people in it by taking short field trips around the neighborhood.

counting toys for 3 year olds  

What Kind of Activity?

There's nothing cuter than a bunch of preschoolers playing T-ball or soccer, but is it the best way for them to be active? Probably not. Team sports offer a chance for preschoolers to meet each other and get some exercise, but can be too complicated. Even simple rules may be hard for a 4- or 5-year-old to understand. If you've ever watched your child run the wrong way during a game, you already know this. The average preschooler has not mastered sports basics such as throwing, catching, and taking turns. This can be frustrating and may discourage future participation in sports. If you do decide to enroll your child in soccer or another team sport, choose a peewee league that emphasizes the fundamentals.

The coach's attitude and the way other parents approach the game are also important. Above all, a team activity should be fun, not upsetting. If your child isn't having fun, ask why and try to address the issue or find another activity.

If you haven't signed your child up for a team sport yet, don't worry. Myths persist about how kids need a "head start" if they want to be competitive when they're older. But kids who learn the fundamentals and like being active can readily catch on to sports when they're a little older.

Dinosaur Activities For Preschoolers Science  

Keeping Preschoolers Active

If sports aren't a must, what should be on a preschooler's schedule? Engage your child in activities that are fun and challenging, but not beyond his or her abilities. Preschoolers are learning to hop, skip, and jump forward, and like to show how they can balance on one foot for a few seconds, catch a ball, or do a somersault.

They also may enjoy swimming, hiking, dancing, and riding a tricycle or bicycle with training wheels. All of these activities help develop skills and coordination. It's important for preschoolers to engage in a variety of activities to encourage a wide range of movement and skills. The National Association of Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends that every day preschoolers should: • get at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity (adult-led activity) • get at least 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity (free play) • not be inactive for more than 1 hour at a time (unless sleeping)

Adult-led activity means that you can get involved. Kids love seeing their parents play. Doing so also shows that being active is part of the normal routine for your family. Running, playing, and practicing basic skills, such as throwing, catching and kicking balls in the backyard or using playground equipment at a local park can be fun for the entire family.

toddler speech delay exercises  

Other activities to try with your preschooler (or for preschoolers to do together): • Play games such as "Duck, Duck, Goose" or "Follow the Leader." Mix it up with jumping, hopping, and walking backward. • Kick a ball back and forth or set up a goal for your child. • Practice hitting a ball off a T-ball stand. • Play freeze dance or freeze tag. • Practice balancing by pretending to be statues. Kids who enjoy physical activity tend to stay active throughout their lives. And staying fit can improve self-esteem, help maintain a healthy weight, and decrease the risk of serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.