No Hassle, Day-to-Day Early Learning Activities

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As a parent, you are your child's most important first teacher. It is well recognized that the early years have a major influence in the forming the best possible development outcomes for the future.

Before the start of school, the earlier you become engaged in supporting your child's learning, the better it will be for their future and bring lifelong benefits.

Fortunately, there are some very simple ways to engage in everyday activities that support your preschooler's progress and make a considerable difference to their learning. The good news is that the activities do not need to be time consuming or involve much preparation.

Try these easy and straightforward suggestions for some undemanding day-to-day activities to enjoy with your little one.

Encourage Thinking Skills

At Home

Using everyday objects and experiment with putting them together and taking them apart. Make use of pots and pans, plastic containers, bolts, locks and keys.

For example play 'Will it Fit?' and explore how different objects fit and connect.

• Ask your child to stack different sized measuring cups inside each other to replace them in the cupboard
• Pack a bag for child care - get the child to work out how to fit in a lunchbox, drink bottle, spare clothes and books

These tasks help develop problem solving skills and persistence which are most important math concepts for later on.

Some of the terms you can use to encourage concepts and build vocabulary include, 'same, different, on top of, connect, next to, measure, inside, outside, flip, and direction'. For example, 'Shall we start at the top or the bottom'? and 'Does it turn both ways'?

Out and About

While walking or traveling in the car take note of traffic signs. Ask your child, 'Why do we have signs'? and 'How do we know how fast to go'?

Discuss why signs are there and what they tell us to do.

• As you go along, get your child to predict what signs you may see on the outing.
• Identify pedestrian crossings. Talk about how they help people cross the road safely. Find school crossing signs.
• Look for speed signs - they tell the driver how fast they are allowed to go.

Recognizing the different signs helps your child learn that signs and symbols convey meaning and can tell a story. This is important for mathematical concept development.

Whatever the activity, whether making sandcastles, block building, driving along or simply playing with a cardboard box, use the opportunity to exercise your child's natural curiosity and develop their thinking skills.

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30 May 2017