He's not in daycare right now, and I want to take advantage of being able to give him a solid reading and math background before he starts Kindergarten in Fall 2008. Any suggestions for a highly-active little boy? I want to teach him to sit still, but I also want to incorporate learning into play.
2006-09-15 15:45:53 · 11 answers · asked by katfred76 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I'll answer the math bit. Number recognition and understanding that counting means each one item gets a count of one is imperative for a boy his age.
Seeing coins and counting them and knowing their combined value is really important.
I played math games with my mom. She'd say she has 4 boats and there are 3 men in each boat, how many men are there? It was a puzzle for me. And it helped to explain multiplication, way, way, way before I'd see it!
I hope this helps!
2006-09-15 15:59:57 · answer #1 · answered by J G 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The MOST important thing to do to prepare your child to school is to read to him everyday. Giving him the love of reading and learning will be something he takes with him forever. Remember that he is 3 and active, so choose a short book and let him do the choosing sometimes. If it doesn't have words, let him make up the story to go along with the pictures.
Exposure is also very important for your child's success in kindergarten. Talking about words, numbers, letters, colors, etc. are important ways to introduce your child to learning in small doses. You can talk about the colors of his toys. You can practice counting breakfast cereal or blocks. You can point out the letters in his name and begin the ABC song. While driving down the road, sing songs or listen to music that introduces your child to fun ways to learn these beginning skills.
Be wary of some of the previous answers. They are good ideas, but not always realistic for 3 year olds. You child is on the move all day long and your ways to introduce him to new things should be too.
Don't forget that there are always FREE educational activities offered at public libraries, museums, and interactive play areas that will help prepare your child for school. Take advantage of any opprotunity to expose him to learning.
2006-09-16 03:00:57 · answer #2 · answered by smwonder00 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We read stories to our children, once or twice daily. Also, while our children were in school, we had no television. While that seems radical, you might keep the television in a separate roo, to have restricted access. Our children became avid readers.
Regarding math, simply count with him - count the apples on the kitchen counter, count the places at the table, - ask him how many places there would be if two people were not to be present, etc. Make a game of counting out loud with him. I'm not sure there is an advantage in trying to teach him too much calculation before he gets to school: Often children learn just as well when they start at a later age.
2006-09-15 15:54:27 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
1. Flash cards with an individual word on one side and a picture on the other side.
2. Reading a picture story book with him.
3. Library story hour or time.
4. Picture book devoted to showing pictures with words.
5. Checking out a variety of picture books at the library on different topics.
6. Walk through the neighborhood and read signs to him found while on the walk.
7.Sesame Street.
8 Read Dr. Suess to him.
9 Practice counting out objects or blocks.
10 Work on following directions.
11 Trace numbers and letters.
12 Sing the alphabet song daily.
13 Go on a treasure hunt based on the letter of the day or moment.
14 Play board games like Candyland.
2006-09-15 15:54:08 · answer #4 · answered by dawncs 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are so many cool toys out there that can help you with both! A 3 year old wants to PLAY...but if you incorporate toys he can play and learn at the same time! I recommend the Leap Frog products - they have them for all ages. And also, as far as Reading goes, read to him! Touch the words as you read them with your fingers - that will familiarize him with letters. Flash cards are great too. There are so many options. Best of luck! Oh and by the way....it goes fast! My daughter started Kindergarten this year....but it feels like just yesterday she was a little toddler!! :)
2006-09-15 15:55:41 · answer #5 · answered by BL207 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm coming to this question late, and you've already gotten some excellent advice. I understand your desire to teach your child, but I also feel strongly - with a fair bit of evidence to support me - that three is just too young to begin much in the way of structured teaching. A three-year-old learns by playing. Play is his job. Allowing him time to be creative and to engage in imaginative play is critical to his developing brain. So by all means incorporate subtle teaching in picture books, in colors, in learning the names of things, in counting cookies etc. But flash cards? No! He will get plenty of that in kindergarten and first grade. And yes, do kill your television!
2006-09-17 13:23:09 · answer #6 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get workbooks -they're still sold in drug stores I go to near the toy section. I guess that's not free, but it's low cost. If you have TV, make sure he sees Seseme Street. If you have spare attention while he's moving about, go over and over the alphabet and the numbers to 20 with him, and count things. And get a lot of reading matter from the library- ask the librarian what's helpful if it's not obvious.
2006-09-15 15:51:33 · answer #7 · answered by chilixa 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read read read to him. Eric Carle books are awsome. Teach him nursery rymes. You could start teaching him some simple sight words, like "and" "I" "the". Count everything you can, 1 to 1 correspondence having him touch things as he is counting.
2006-09-15 16:36:17 · answer #8 · answered by jr272004slady 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Try workbooks that you can get at the dollar store, or drugstore, you can also get him books from the library. Educational toys (ones with letters and numbers) are always great too.
2006-09-15 16:46:24 · answer #9 · answered by daryavaush 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Leave him alone. He is only three years old. Or else, just play while counting the toys, and give him books his age. Don't count on making him a genius. He/she will be what he has to be on time no matter how much you want to push NOW.
2006-09-15 17:41:17 · answer #10 · answered by marysylvie 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋