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This year has turned many parents into impromptu homeschool teachers. Teaching children is a tough job, even when you’re their parent. If you have been feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of keeping up with your child’s learning at home, you aren’t alone! Many parents are struggling to support their child’s home learning. Enriching your child at home can be fun for you and them.
If your child is between 3 and 7, play-based activities are the best learning tool for them. Your child is in the Early Learning Foundation Years. During this time, their brains learn best through play. You can support their learning by setting up sensory play stations and spending just 15-20 minutes at a time doing learning activities together. Here are a few that you can try out:
Math Activities
Phone Numbers:
Help your child learn numbers and memorize your phone number by making a keypad on the wall. Draw or print out the numbers 0-9 on separate sheets of paper. Tape the sheets on the wall in the same layout as a phone keypad. Place colorful dots on the numbers in your phone number. Ask your child to touch and say the number that corresponds to the color you call out.
Counting & Sorting:
Put together a basket or bin of different types of objects. Sort and count them with your child. You can sort them into piles by color, size, or what they are (toy cars, dolls, blocks, etc.).
Sizes & Shapes:
Lay out an assortment of toys or shapes on a small table or surface. Ask your child to organize them from smallest to largest or largest to smallest. Once they are done, ask them why they chose to organize them the way that they did. If there are similar shapes, ask them to organize them by shapes next.
Literacy & Language
Language:
Read one of your child’s favorite books to them. Then make up a story together that’s similar. For example, if their favorite book is Pinkalicious and the Pirates, brainstorm another adventure that Pinkalicious could go on with her brother Peter. By creating a story together, they will learn how to put together a story and articulate their ideas. They might even learn some new words!
Writing:
Make writing fun by creating sensory writing trays. Inside the lid of a shoebox, pour a layer of salt, flour, or sand. You can dye this material to make it more fun or mix in a little glitter. Place objects in the lid’s corner related to the letter or word. Tape a piece of paper at the top with the word or letter you’d like them to practice. Give them a paintbrush or closed marker to trace the letter or word into the material. (If you want to see an example, check out this Soccer tray on The Imagination Tree!)
Science
Natural Science:
Go on a scavenger hunt in your yard or around your neighborhood to collect different types of leaves and nuts. Take pictures of birds, reptiles, and insects you come across. When you get home, make labels together for the natural objects that you found.
Wellness:
Soak up some vitamin D outside and get moving together by playing a fun game outside like tag or detective. (The goal of the game Detective is to be the first to find a set of objects. For example, the game leader could say that the first person to pick five different flowers or find four yellow blocks wins.)
If you’d like to find more play-based activities to support your child’s home learning, check out our online distance learning resources!