1. New Word of the Day
Introduce your preschooler to a new word each morning at breakfast and define it for him. Keep it simple by using synonyms for words he already knows. Example: vehicle can be another word for car, truck, van, etc. Make a game of using the word as many times as possible each day. This is a fun way to build your child's vocabulary.
2. Create a Reading Hide-Away
A large cardboard box can become anything your child wants it to be. Spend a fun-filled afternoon fashioning a reading hide-away with your child. A miniature house, a castle, or a cave are just a few possibilities. It need not be fancy to catch your preschoolers fancy! Large pieces of construction paper can be taped to the outside to represent stone or siding. Place a rug, some pillows or child-sized furniture and a few age-appropriate books inside. Be sure to design a skylight into the top of the box. Your child will spend many hours "reading" or playing in their special spot.
3. Her Very Own Scrapbook
Scrapbooking is a fun way for children to develop their fine motor and categorizing skills while creating neatly organized memories that parents can cherish for years to come. Scrapbooking supplies are readily available at specialty stores and craft shops. Let your child choose a topic for her scrapbook. If she needs ideas, suggest a birthday, a holiday or other special family event. Allow her to choose her own stickers, colors and accessories while explaining that certain symbols represent certain events. If she really insists upon using a cake with blazing candles in a Halloween scrapbook, let her! This is supposed to be fun, remember? Sort through your family photos together and help her choose ones that fit her theme.
4. Community Map
Show your child a map of your state or the U.S. Using a large piece of poster board, draw a map of your community and help your child mark your home, school, grocery store, and relative's and friend's houses. Children enjoy using colorful stickers to represent familiar landmarks. Help him create a simple key for your map. New landmarks can be added as your child further explores the community.
5. Personal Telephone Book
Buy or help your preschooler make a telephone book of her own. She can list emergency numbers, such as 911, and also the numbers of her friends and grandparents. Provide a toy telephone with realistic buttons so that she can practice dialing and proper phone etiquette. Her reading hide-away would make a nice quiet spot in which to do this.
6. Roleplay Bedtime Stories
Preschoolers feel secure with routines, and as a result parents often find themselves reading the same bedtime story night after night. Another result is that children often know the stories by heart, even if they can't yet read. Break up the monotony by having your child take over the speaking part of his favorite characters. This gives them early practice in dramatic interpretation and makes bedtime a little more fun!
About The Author
I am a homemaker and homeschooling mother of four. I live with my husband, two sons, two daughters, two flop-eared bunnies, and one sweet cat in southeastern Michigan.
affordable house cleaning Park Ridge ..If you're looking for toys that are both fun to... Read More
A parent writes in, ``We are having a hard time... Read More
Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it... Read More
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
Do you have a high maintenance child?"Thank goodness my second... Read More
What is the mystery of motherhood? I know that when... Read More
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More
"I could have helped you if I would have known,... Read More
"Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing... Read More
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
One of the most difficult parts of being a father... Read More
How can two or three children in the same family... Read More
The wonderful adaptability of children in dealing with the challenges... Read More
My kids ask me all the time to take them... Read More
Q. My daughter is a junior in high school and... Read More
Bi-Polar Disorder, or Manic Depression, is characterized by mood swings,... Read More
Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any... Read More
My name is Duncan and I'm 2 years old. I... Read More
We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More
Do you live with an ADD / ADHD child? If... Read More
Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More
Lets face it becoming a mum is a bit of... Read More
Uh oh.Your kids arrive home with their school reports and... Read More
There is a new stage of development for parents to... Read More
Would you hand a child calculus problems once she was... Read More
affordable house cleaning Mundelein ..Q. Things have been relatively calm and OK with our... Read More
There isn't a school day that goes by that I... Read More
How do we deal with our seriously distressed children and... Read More
Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made my way... Read More
Q: Whenever we tell my daughter "no," she just bugs... Read More
Every school year parents and students dutifully trudge through the... Read More
For the most positive daycare experience for your child, partner... Read More
Do you think you really know your child? I don't... Read More
Parents want their children to succeed in school. However, sometimes... Read More
Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it... Read More
The snow was getting heavier with each lift of the... Read More
Recently, a much-anticipated game of mini-golf with my children soon... Read More
It's the third time this week that Sam has complained... Read More
"Not another meeting!"That tends to be the reaction from many... Read More
All children will likely have many different health problems during... Read More
Just two days ago, another 15-year old child was added... Read More
How in the world do you get your child to... Read More
There are a few points about shyness in children which... Read More
You know that children can get into trouble. The older... Read More
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
1. Create... Read More
Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More
We know that you want your little guy or gal... Read More
What is Happening in the brain of children, teens, and... Read More
I never dreamed that I would be in a position... Read More
Parenting |