Children learn new things all day long. Whether she is swinging on a play gym or sitting in a classroom, her mind is constantly making new connections. According to Sean Brotherson, family science specialist for the North Dakota State University Extension Service, a child continues completing her brain connections after birth and into early childhood. Even after early childhood, your child continues learning new skills and maturing. Make learning fun for your child by deliberately enriching her every day activities.
Step 1
Expand a subject he is learning in elementary or preschool by showing him the real life relevance. If he is a preschooler, ask him to help you count the eggs you need for a recipe or show him letters he recognizes in books you are reading. With an older child, involve him in the family budget. Help him make a pie chart of how much your family spends on food, entertainment, schooling and transportation. He may enjoy presenting his graph to the family.
Step 2
Sing learning songs to your child. Sing simple songs, such as the "ABC" song, "One, two, buckle my shoe" and rhyming songs. These teach your child letters, numbers and language skills with little effort. Songs and music in foreign languages introduce your child to new words and cultures. Play classical music at home and dance with your child. Use the different rhythms and tempos to teach your child how to listen actively.
Step 3
Take walks together and collect interesting objects like leaves, sticks, pieces of moss and small stones. Glue the objects on a poster board to make a collage. Develop tactile learning by providing her with play clay, markers and paints. Sit with her and show her how to use each medium. Challenge her to make shapes with the clay or draw simple objects with the markers. Draw out mazes for her and have her trace the path with her paint-dipped finger. As your child gets older, show him pictures of great art masterpieces and discuss the details he notices.
Step 4
Read many books to your child. As a baby, simply holding her on your lap and exposing her to the pictures and language expands her horizons. Later, use a classic children's book as the basis for a fun themed activity day. Read the book together. Provide her with art materials, and have her try to replicate one of the pictures from the book using the same type of materials the illustrator used. Make a recipe from the country the book references and look on a map to locate the country.
Step 5
Use your imagination to fuel his imagination. According to the University of Georgia College and Family Consumer Sciences, "Pretend play helps children to understand how other people think and feel." Provide him with dress up clothes and encourage him to pretend to be a firefighter or a doctor. Invite some friends over and ask the children to put on a play for you. Film the play and watch it together. Play charades as a family. Drape clothes over your kitchen table and let your children pretend to fly away into space.
Tips and Warnings
- Stock a closet with art supplies, such as painting smocks, paint brushes, colored pencils and paper. Plan family game nights and turn off the television. Write an object's name on an index card and tape the card to the object to help her reading skills. Ask your child to find 10 objects in the house that are shaped like circles or rectangles. Use different shapes of dried pasta for sorting games. Fill old spice jars with coins, unpopped corn or sand. Seal the jars and ask her to guess what is inside.
- Keep small objects out of the reach of young children. Always supervise your child when he is painting or using art supplies.
Things You'll Need
- Eggs
- Books
- Paper
- Music CD
- Glue
- Poster board
- Play clay
- Markers
- Paint
- Pictures of art masterpieces
- Map
- Dress-up clothes
- Cloth
References
- North Dakota State University: Understanding Brain Development in Young Children
- Penn State Better Kid Cafre: Help Your Kids Learn Through Music
- South Carolina Foundation for Early Education: Play and Learn Together
- California Department of Education: Fifty Ways to Help Your Child Learn
- University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences: What Is My Preschooler Learning in the Dress-Up Area?
