How much do you teach your preschoolers?

Question

Most parents teach letters and numbers. Just curious how many of you out there go much beyond that? If you do, do you find it difficult or overwhelming?

Answer 1

Little ones are like sponges for knowledge. As long as they are having fun, they will learn whatever you throw at them. When they start getting bored or not having fun, or when they sense that you are stressed about teaching or dealing with them, then they stop wanting to learn. Encourage their curiosity, there are no dumb questions and help them to understand the world around them.

Answer 2

When my children were small I too taught them their numbers and letters ( upper and lower case). I also taught them their shapes,and colors. I worked with them on how to do wooden puzzles. I think wooden puzzles are far better than they cardboard puzzles, mainly because they last forever!!!!!
I also got flash card for the letters, numbers, colors and shapes. We would work for about 20 to 30 minutes at a time (I believe) several times a day.
Many children can "say" the allphabet - but don't really recognize the actual letter.
When my olderst daughter was in kindergarten - the teacher had them writing everything - their name, address, phone number and the names of their pets, etc. The list is endless. We moved before the school year was up and she was MILES AHEAD OF THE OTHER CHILDREN IN HER CLASS - SO MUCH SO THAT THE TEACHER COMPLAINED. I TOLD HER THAT MY DAUGHTER NEEDED TO BE CHALLENGED.
Another thing to do with your young child is to get a coloring book (age appropiate) and let them color. Then nicely quiz them on their colors.
My sister, who taught first grade for 10 years used to have the kids write something at the beginning of the year. Later when the child was upset because they they thought they weren't making progress, she would take out the paper that they did at the beginning of the year and show them how much progress they had actually made.
Think of your child like a little sponge - they can absorb SO VERY MUCH. They don't have that built in mechanism that grown ups do - "I can't learn that."
This would probaply be an excellent time to learn a second language - be cause they have no learning barriers.
My oldest daughter did very well in high school and my son was in the gifted program from about third grade on through high school.

Answer 3

Well, I have to say that I fully intended to teach my babies everything..lol
It didn't quite turn out that way. What I ended up doing with my first daughter is let her go on her own and teach as she asked or if she seemed interested...ie; numbers, letters etc.
She went to Head Start, and was learning many things there just this past year, but at the end of year conference, I was told that she was being reccomended for another year of Head Start rather than Kindergarten. They said she was bright and was a quick learner, but apparently these days, you have to know most things I learned in Kindergarten when I was little...ie; all your letters, numbers up to 50 and be able to identify them, not just say them, all shapes need to be known *she gets triangle and rectangle mixed up*, all colors *not a problem* how to tie shoes etc...
I was offended because they insinuated I was not teaching her as I should have been.
Anyhow, she is going to Kindergarten this fall despite that...that is another story...lol
My almost three year old, though, I fear is going to be bored in Head Start as she already surpasses her older sister in all but the colors and shapes. I did nothing different with her, but she picked things up from her sister and kind of taught herself without my knowing.
I have a preschool workbook for writing letters, numbers, learning colors, shapes, and counting as well as a few other things. I have been making copies for the last several weeks and having both my soon to be five year old and my almost three year old doing them almost daily. They think it is "cool" and very grown up to be doing them.
I find that lately, their days are fuller and there are more things I can do with them because of the more involved approach I have been taking of late, and it is actually easier.
I don't know if this answers the question very well, but I have a tendency to write books for answers..lol

I will stop now, though.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

I find it fun actually! I always loved it when my kids learned new things. I did shapes, colors, some simple math, we learned about new animals, my oldest sons always asked plenty of questions and we had a blast answering them all! Try some different books or other craft activities that you can do together!

Answer 5

teaching preschool teachers? i think other than making them familiar with the numbers and letters, they shoul be able to learn also the different sounds of the letters of what they call soundings...

Answer 6

I teach my daughter everywhere! I am always pointing out colors, shapes, and I still remember a bit of German so I have been working with her on that too.

Answer 7

Its actually easy, but i have been working with my son since i found out i was pregnant. He learned to write his name on paper when he was three. I hope that he will be ahead of his class in school.