Your child starting school might be the first time that they experience formal education. However, your child’s education can start long before then.
They might not be in a classroom setting, but your child can still learn a lot when they’re at home. Preparing your child for school can help them to have an easier time when it is time for them to get into the classroom. There are plenty of things you can do that are fun and educational so your child isn’t bored while they’re learning. Try some of these ideas if you want to work on your child’s education before they get to school.
Find Fun Educational Activities
When your child is learning before starting school, they should do so through fun activities. Having them sit and work through a workbook is probably not going to feel like much of a fun time. Online resources are great for this though, with plenty of games and activities available. If you want to have one resource that provides lots of activities for several ages, the Age of Learning site ABCMouse is a great option. It has games, books, puzzles, songs, and more for ages 2 to 8, so it can continue to support your child’s education in school too.
Work on Foundational Skills
When children start school, they don’t necessarily have to have learned a lot of academic skills. However, what is helpful for them to have is a range of foundational skills that will help them to learn. This can include their social and emotional skills and physical skills. For example, your child might learn how to hold a pencil to improve their dexterity, making it easier for them to learn to write later. They can spend time learning how to make friends and get along with others, which can prepare them for being in a classroom with other children.
Go on Educational Outings
Getting out and about can be an excellent way to help your child learn new things before they start school. You might visit places that are designed to be educational, whether it’s a museum, an art gallery, a science center, or an aquarium. But you don’t have to visit somewhere that offers its own educational materials to have an educational trip. Even a trip to the park can be an opportunity to learn new things and to do different activities. Or going to the store could be a chance to learn valuable skills too.
Get Started on School Learning
While you don’t need your children to be ahead of their classmates when they start school, there are still some academic skills that they might learn so that they’re prepared. This could include things like writing and recognizing their own name, the alphabet, and basic counting. However, you might want to avoid teaching too much, as it could end up being taught to them again all over again and in a different way, which could be confusing.
Your child isn’t expected to start school already knowing everything, but there are lots of skills that you can work on to help them be in a good position to learn.
Leave a Reply