Stay-At-Home Learning Tips for your Toddler or preschooler
With schools closed and everyone staying home, parents' stress can build with their daily tasks blending together. Your children are home from school, and you are now working from home. You still have this nagging feeling reminding you to maintain organization, clean the house, and prepare meals throughout the day. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention you have been “voluntold” to be your child's at-home teacher?
First, take a minute and remind yourself that you have been teaching your child since the day they were born. And you can continue to prepare your young children for kindergarten during this time. Your child's daycare or preschool may be closed, but whether you have a daily routine or are just winging it, your child will still continue to learn throughout the day. Your new stay-at-home work mates are naturally inspired through play and you can build that inspiration by using it as a framework for daily learning. Whether you are a parent working from home or just looking for some reminders that learning happens every day, scroll down for some at-home learning tips geared toward children 5 and under.
Reading
Talking to your child throughout the day exposes them to different words, teaching them more and more each day. So don't hesitate to speak to your child while changing their diapers, dressing them, or during bath time. Even talking about the laundry, dishes, or when preparing a meal teaches children new words. It's your turn to add professor to your resume!
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Encouraging a love of books starts with reading to your child. And you don't have to focus on actually reading the words on the pages. Let your child explore the book as you point to pictures or words, and describe what is happening on the pages, perhaps making up your own story as you go. Infants love to explore books by holding or chewing on them. Cloth books (pictured above) provide another sensory experience, or maybe find a book that has different textures. As your child gets older, have them point to the pictures or words and allow them to turn the pages. Your child will begin to recognize images and letters, and will eventually start to talk about the pictures on the pages and describe what's happening. Don't focus on the amount of time spent looking at or reading books. Follow your child's lead and ask questions. Talk about the book or add a personal touch by incorporating stories about your home and family, and most importantly… have fun!
Math
Introduce your infant to numbers by simply saying them throughout the day. It can be as easy as counting the toes on their feet during playtime or counting their feet and arms as you pull them through shirts or pant legs.
Repeating numbers in order and pointing to objects each time you count aloud teaches your toddler that each number represents an object. Use this during block or stacking play to count each object, encouraging your toddler to count along with you.
During snack time, provide two bowls for your child and count the snacks as they are placed, one by one, into the second bowl. Ask your child to give you one or two crackers so that they can practice giving you the right amount.
When outside with your preschooler, count the number of trees you see or how many leaves you pick up. Heading back inside, count the number of steps or jumps it takes to get back inside. During play, introduce addition and subtraction by adding or removing objects and asking your child how many items they have. "If we add one more crayon, how many would we have?"
Science
Infants love to toss objects off of their highchair again and again. It's their way of testing their hypothesis. Will the toy land in the same spot on the ground or, will it make the same sound when it hits the ground? Teach them cause and effect when switching on lights, pushing buttons on toys, banging a wooden spoon against a pot, or tipping a tower of blocks over.
Play with a large container of water outside and watch your toddler learn what toys sink or float. Don't have a large container, conduct this experiment during bath time, allowing your child to learn cause and effect while splashing around! Friendly safety reminder - always supervise your child around water, never leaving them unattended.
Give your toddler foods and let them explore through touch, smell, and taste! Let them spread yogurt on a surface, feeling how smooth it is. And what does a banana sound and feel like when being squished between tiny fingers?
During outside play, give your preschooler a magnifying glass so they can look even closer to objects they've collected. No matter what the activity is, remember to describe what your child is doing. Make observations, make predictions, and ask open-ended questions. This encourages your child to talk about how smooth the rock they found feels, or that the dry leaf from the tree makes a crunch sound when squished. Foster your child's curiosity by exploring with them!
Extra Tip - Rotate Toys:
Hold off on bringing out all the toys and activities at once. A toy or activity will only keep your child's interest for so long. Try rotating items every week or so… so they become new and interesting again.
If you feel out of your element, it's okay. If you wanted to become a preschool teacher, you would have. Plus, I bet most teachers are at home, winging it just like you. They are just trying to get by like all other parents, so don't be too hard on yourself. Your children can continue to learn through everyday moments. And don’t forget about yourself! Self-care is key. Everyone needs it. Including parents. It's your way of recharging your batteries so you can be the best for your children once you've reached full capacity again.
Priscilla Avila
Priscilla has worked in the field of social services for ten years, working in programs focused on child welfare. Priscilla has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a bachelor's degree in Human Development with an emphasis in child development.
