Children learn best from discoveries they make when they playfully explore
and interact with their world. When block towers tumble, they learn about stability
and gravity. They begin to understand volume as they pour sand from cup to cup.
They learn about properties of liquids through water play. Children construct
knowledge by drawing conclusions from their experimentation. Unlike rote learning,
their own discoveries stay within them, ready to apply to new situations. Creative
play is the work of children. This summer, allow your child to explore. Be creative!!
It doesn't have to be a toy!
Some suggestions follow:
- Laundry - Give your child that basket of laundry. Model how you sort items (shirts,
socks, underwear, towels), by color, by size. Clothespins and a clothesline
are great fine motor activities.
- Bucket of water, sponges, squirt bottles of water, paint brushes, rollers:
Great for hot days.
- Backpack, flashlight, old blanket, small dishes - create a pretend camping trip.
- Have a picnic!! Talk about all the things you need to take on your picnic. The
next time, let your child pack the picnic.
- Use imagination and pretend!! Developing the ability to pretend will provide
your child with a solid base for reading and written language skills.
- Use all your senses!! Hearing, vision, touch, taste, smell. Providing kinesthetic
activities for your child will sharpen the use of all of their "information receivers".
- Most of all, use language in everything you do. Talk about what you are doing,
describe objects, compare objects. Language is the basis for learning. It is the
foundation for the development of critical thinking, reading, problem solving,
writing, speaking and understanding. READ, READ, READ!! The more you read to your
child, the more they will focus on the world around them.
And most of all - enjoy being with your child. Each child is an open book with
pages ready to fill! Have a great summer!
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