Teach at Home
Homeschooling Ideas
Before we begin I would like to state, that because many children have been forced to stay home from school due to this COVID19 pandemic, I hope to give a bit of advice of what can be done for your children to stay engaged in school work. I am a mother of two, and my oldest is supposed to start kindergarten this year. But because of this pandemic I am forced to look into the homeschool option. Thankfully I am studying Early childhood development/Education/Adminstration, and have knowledge about early childhood education (ECED). There are many subjects/categories that children can learn. I will explain each, and maybe attach a link to an activity that you can purchase for your child.
Writing/Literacy:
Literacy is very important to a child's verbal and written communication skills. Parents, I encourage you to read to your child. Pick up your favorite book that you read as a child, or have them pick a book. and Read it to them, it can encourage their love for literacy as well as encourage their verbal communication. You can start as early as infancy!
Writing begins as early as they learn to hold a crayon or writing utensil. Allowing children to scribble, doodle helps not only their small motor skills, but hand eye coordination. Allowing them to scribble and tell you what they drew is what we consider their dictation. However, that's a topic in itself. Let me know if you want to learn more about that. What I really like to do to encourage writing development, is teach my child tracing. You can easily create work sheets yourself by making dotted letters and having them trace them or you can look into this workbook I found on Amazon that not only has great reviews but is very effective for teaching your child how to write!
(Links will be below the photo)
My First Learn to Write Workbook: Practice for Kids with Pen Control, Line Tracing, Letters, and More! (Kids coloring activity books)
Also sight words are a way to encourage reading and literacy. Words like Cat, Ball, Dog etc. You can create sight words out of construction paper, and for durability you can laminate it. Below I can link a laminator that I use along with the laminating sleeves. If you are one to not make them I can link cheap sight word cards from amazon that you can use for your child.
(I apologize if links do not work as they should. But feel free to copy and past until I get it all figured out)
Scotch Thermal Laminator, 2 Roller System for a Professional Finish, Use for Home, Office or School, Suitable for use with Photos (TL901X)
AmazonBasics Letter Size Sheets Laminating Pouches 9 x 11.5in, 100-pack
ThinkFun Zingo Sight Words Award Winning Early Reading Game for Pre-K to 2nd Grade - Toy of the Year Finalist, A Fun and Educational Game Developed by Educators for Boys and Girls
Math and Manipulatives
One of my favorite subjects! Math does not have to be boring. In this category you can teach your child to count, shapes, addition, subtraction, measuring, and small motor! Making flash cards with numbers, counting with them daily. Teaching them to count as high as they can etc. One of the activities I love doing is counting cubes. You can use counting cubes to encourage small motor muscle movement, by connecting them and teaching them to count as they connect. Also, you can use these counting cubes to teach them how to measure! For example, laying a banana down and asking the child "how many counting cubes do we need to put together to measure the same size as the banana?"
Learning Resources Mathlink Cubes Activity Set
SHAPES AND COLORS
Another thing to teach your child is shapes and colors! What better way to do so by using flash cards. Another good thing about it is that this is something you create yourself as long as you have paper and a writing utensil! Like mentioned previously, laminating it would give durability and make it last longer You can draw a shape in a different color, and write the name of the shape underneath it, so the child can link the shape with the word! Or if you are not at all the artistic type, or do not have the patience you can always try these flash cards I found on amazon. (Sorry amazon is my favorite place to get these things).
Carson Dellosa | Colors and Shapes Flash Cards | Preschool, 54ct
SCIENCE!
Kids can learn science too? The answer is yes! Not necessarily chemistry experiments but things as simple as learning weather, seasons, about bugs, etc. Taking the child for a walk in the park and doing a scavenger hunt is a great activity that will not only be educational but fun! Example of a scavenger hunt, you can write a list of things you can find outside, pine cone , spider web, dandelion etc. Below is a great link that will make the insect or scavenger hunt that much more fun!
Outdoor Explorer Kit & Bug Catcher Kit with Binoculars, Flashlight, Compass, Magnifying Glass, Critter Case and Butterfly Net Great Toys Kids Gift for Boys & Girls Age 3-12 Year Old Camping Hiking
Physical/Gross Motor Activities
Physical and Gross motor activities are probably the best activities to burn the child's energy and still be fun at the same time. Play is probably the best way to engage the child in learning all the while having fun. Things such as RED LIGHT/GREEN LIGHT, or MOTHER MAY I? are games that promote Gross motor muscle movement. You can create Gross motor activities that coincide with the theme you are teaching your child. For example, today we are learning about community officers such as police officers; I can create an activity that coincides with that theme like mentioned previous RED LIGHT/GREEN LIGHT is a great game to play. Another item you can use is this book with ideas you can utilize with your children outdoors!
The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book: 100+ Fun Early Learning Activities for Outside Play
Social/Emotional
Teaching children the importance of emotions and how to handle them are very crucial. Children sometimes do no understand how to handle certain emotions. I can probably relate to many moms when I say, have you ever been to a store and your toddler sees something they really want, and you told them "no you cannot have that" and they bring the loudest to the tantrum. What if I told you, that that tantrum is not necessarily "bratty children" (as some would say) .. Children may not fully understand how to handle their emotion at the moment. Teaching children social/emotional skills can be as easy as asking them how they are feeling, pointing to a sad face on a poster can give you the answer. I will share with you a link that will have a social/emotional activity that you can purchase that is also ASD friendly as well! Take a look!
Feelings & Choices Flip Book | Teach 28 Emotions to Kids & Toddlers | Early Learning Feelings Chart & Book Flash Card Alternative | Autism (ASD) Friendly Teaching Toy | Parents Teachers & Therapist
Autism Activities
Since I brought up Autism (ASD) Being inclusive in my blog is very important to me. All children are unique and have their unique ways of learning. So being inclusive where I can include all children is very important to what I believe in. Children with autism can learn at their own pace. If you have a child with autism, you know that they may need a bit more help to learn, but rest assured there are activities that can encourage their development as well! Here is an example of one! This is a book for the parents/caregivers/teachers that is offered in audio form or even hard copy, to give you ideas of activities that help these kids connect, communicate and learn!
An Early Start for Your Child with Autism: Using Everyday Activities to Help Kids Connect, Communicate, and Learn
Bilingual Activities
This world is diverse as can be. The beauty about it is the different cultures we get to learn from. So whether you are a teacher, or a parent teaching the child the importance of multiculturalism is important and rewarding at the same time. Ways you can teach your child about different cultures is utilizing different cultural events or holidays. Teach your child the importance of Cinco De Mayo and why it is celebrated. Teach your child about the deaf community and how to sign the alphabet in ASL etc. We can do our part to teach our children that the world is made up of different cultures, languages and people. Here is an example of an activity that you can utilize to teach your child Spanish, or if you are trying to teach your child English. This is a wipe clean bilingual workbook. Teaches the child writing as well as the word in English and in Spanish.
Wipe Clean: Bilingual Workbook Ready for School (Wipe Clean Activity Books) (Spanish Edition)
Regardless if you are a parent/teacher/caregiver you can and will benefit from my blog. I hope you received helpful tips and advice, along with fun activities that you can use to help make a successful learning environment for your child!
Thank you so much for sticking it out through my first lengthy BLOG!
-Lily Sasso
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