10 Tips for Teaching Your Preschooler

How to Give Your Toddler a Head Start Before Kindergarten

1/ Let them see you reading and read to them often

If your preschooler sees you reading he will assume it is something all grown-ups do regularly and want to join in. Likewise if you spend time each day reading to him, he will view it as an everyday activity and look forward to the special attention. From an early age it is important to associate reading with pleasurable things.

2/ Teach him to count to 10

Repetition helps the brain develop so learning to count is important. You can count out loud when playing with your child, play number games in the bath, or point out numbers on objects when you are out and about with your little one.

3/ Help him learn basic motor skills

This will definitely give him a head start in kindergarten. It could include activities such as throwing a ball, coloring with crayons or pencils, or cutting out with scissors. Making cards for grandparents or friends is a great example of this as it could involve cutting, folding, coloring and gluing.

4/ Teach shapes and colors

Coordination skills are important, so games like putting the correct shapes in the right holes, are perfect to teach this skill. The shapes are usually different colors too, so you can develop both these skills at the same time.

5/ Teach spatial relationships

Meaning opposites, such as under and over, in and out etc. You could devise a game with cuddly toys and ask questions like: "Is teddy under the bed or on the bed?", "Is doggy inside the box or outside the box?" You get the idea!?

6/ Teach him to say the alphabet

A simple rhyming song is great for this. There are many to choose from, and if you can't think of one just make it up. My mother had a wonderful way of teaching my siblings and I to say and recognize the letters of the alphabet. Every day she would draw a letter on a piece of white card, and we would paint it or color it in. When it had dried she would help us to cut it out, and then it was hung on the kitchen wall.

7/ Teach him to recognize a few letters

Some useful ones like the letters in his name would be a great start. That way he can recognize things with his name on in school.

8/ Teach him to sort objects