Stay-at-home moms?

Question

Tell me some learning activites that you do with your children.

I work with my 3-year-old on recognizing shapes, numbers, the alphabet and colors. I read to her also and let her look at pictures of family members identifying them.

What are some different types of learning activities you do with your small children?

What amount of time do you spend daily on this?

Answer 1

ok, I have a good one! I taught my two yr old (now 22 yr old) colours by lining up Smarties (like m&m's) in rows of colours... I went through the colours, then pointed to one at a time asking him to tell me the name of the colour. Each one he got wrong I ate. :)) Every one he got right he got to eat... It didn't take too long before he was getting them all right! It was good for me while it lasted. ;) I also know someone that played a lot of concentration games with her daughter.... Also viewing a few objects for a short time, then hiding them and asking what objects used to be there. Don't forget that learning also involves the world around them.. teach the value of nature and how to appreciate a walk in the woods or a splash in a puddle. These things were more important to me than academic skills, because learning to experience and appreciate what some term the small things in life is more important than letting life pass you by with your nose in a book, computer or office! Ok, my kids, (4 in total) now aged between 17 & 22, are all grown up now, and they didn't win any prizes for dux of the school, they are not brain surgeons or lawyers, but they have good values, appreciation for the finer things in life (wind in the hair, a beautiful sunset, a walk in the forest), never got into alcohol in excess, or smoking or drugs, have never been on unemployment benefits and are happy with life and family.

Answer 2

With a child that age you can spend about 10 minutes each hour from 8-3 except during nap times on structured activities. Something that you direct.

You can cut up colorful squares for example and let your child glue squares to a big piece of paper. You can then talk about the number of squares and the color of squares.

Then give her some downtime; play music, sing, dance, or color, play tag, go for a walk, whatever she wants.

Later that day have her trace squares on a piece of paper with crayons, markers, colored pencils, paints, etc. Talk about the different things used to make the squares, etc.....

Downtime

Later that day have her draw squares on a piece of paper with her favorite media then talk about how it was harder to draw a square by herself but how it looks good anyway. etc.....

Downtime

Later have her do an activity that combines all the previous activities. and then talk about squares.


Make sure you kind of have a theme for every day. Do a different shape every day for a week then switch to a color and do a different color every day for a week then switch to a number and do a different number daily for a week.........

Do you know the days of the week song. She can learn it. If you know the months of the year song she can learn it too. Get a calander and teach her days and months by talking about today, yesterday, and tomorrow. She'll catch on. Make sure you show her the words.

If you're really adventuresome try to teach her the States song. It's all 50 states sung in alphabetical order to the tune of "do your ears hang low" If you go to an educational store you will probably find it. Bradburns is the one I go to. I had a wooden puzzle of the 50 states and taught 3-6 year old children all 50 states. They all knew the song but only about 1/2 knew locations of the states

Answer 3

Whenever my child wants to at that age we work on learning. When she is older I will home school her and we will have a schedule. Mostly right now, we do workbooks that teach shapes and numbers and letters. We read books together and learn songs. I also take her to kids museums and I answer every question she throws at me even if I have to get back to her because I don't know.

Answer 4

You don't have to concentrate so much on "school work." I bet you are doing a lot with her that you don't even realize. Make sure she's developing her fine and gross motor skills. At three, she should start cutting bold, simple lines with safety sissors (Friskers are the best), she should start following lines and then circles with crayons and pencils and then on to writing her name. Also, give her plenty of time with playdough and paint (the new sidewalk chalk paint is great!). All will encourage development of her fine motor skills.

For Gross motor, spend plenty of time outside riding bikes, kicking balls, dancing, climbing and running. Encourage her to get off the swings and take a hike on a nature trail with you. Depending on her skill level and abilities, she might be close to removing those training wheels too. Don't push her, but watch for signs of readiness (both of my kids had them removed before they turned 4)

This is a great time to make learning fun....count how many time you kick the ball into the net, sing a song while jumping a rope, and cut out squares of foam to frame your pictures of loved ones.

Have fun and good luck

Answer 5

Get him puzzles (age appropriate of course). Also get him things that he can sort. They have kits of different colored items (most commonly I have seen are bears) and colored cups. Your child can start practicting sorting. Also you can start teaching him patterns. Start working on writing her name (letter by letter) and recognizing her name. Also give her old magazines and pair of saftey scissors and let her practice cutting. Also using play dough dough, goo, and that type of stuff is fun for them and helps with creativity and fine motor. Also do art projects with her, keep them open ended as possible. Art is very important especially since a lot of activities work with fine motor.

In terms of amount of time. Each activitiy should be 5-15 minutes long. That is about how long she can focus on an activitiy to keep her interested.

Answer 6

It sounds like you are doing well. (I am a teacher, and stay-at-home mom) One neat idea that really worked well for me was getting plastic magnetic letters and numbers and my son would do stuff on the fridge with them. Every day I would leave up a small word, read it to him, go over the letters, etc. It was amazing how fast he caught on - at about the age yours is. Don't forget listening to music and singing and dancing!

Answer 7

It sounds like you are doing the right things already...relax and enjoy them while they are young. She will learn best by watching you!!!When you garden, let her dig a little, when you do dishes, every now and then let her play in the bubbles. You are giving her the most priceless gift of all-your time! You are doing the hardest job of all time so give yourself a break sometimes too.

Answer 8

As silly as this sounds, we play board games. Memory, Candyland, and Chutes and ladders. She has a blast and does not realize we are working on counting and colors. She has also started playing Go Fish and does an "I'm Winning!!" dance when she has 1 card left. Lots of laughs!!!

Answer 9

Kids that age should learn through play. Play board games and get her some CD-Roms that are very interactive. My kids started with the computer at 2.

Answer 10

I'm a single working dad, but I've raised mine on my own since he was an infant, and he is now 6. what you are doing sounds about right. a little sesame street and learning programs helped out to. At age 3, we started using the kindergarten jumpstart computer program. he loved it. he is now able to do his kindergarten homework on the computer. I don't every remember getting homework until about 2nd grade, but they really push kids now in school. glad we started early.