Educational Resources for Under 5s
As parents we are our children's first teachers and there is so much we can do to kick start their education and give them the best start at school.
Here is where you will find some tips, links & files for educational resources for your preschoolers.
Here is where you will find some tips, links & files for educational resources for your preschoolers.
Fun educational activities on the Toddler in Tow Pinterest pinboard!
If you are not a member of pinterest and need an invitiation please feel free to email me and I will send you an invite! It is a great place to find educational activities and ideas for your little ones.
If you are a member of Pinterest click here to go to the Toddler in Tow 'Educate' pinboard.
There are links to a number of great websites and blogs with fantastic activities to help inspire your children's minds!
If you are a member of Pinterest click here to go to the Toddler in Tow 'Educate' pinboard.
There are links to a number of great websites and blogs with fantastic activities to help inspire your children's minds!
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Teaching HandwritingThe PDF on the left is the Ministry of Education publication for teaching handwriting in New Zealand. Originally downloaded from www.tki.org.nz
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Sesame Street
www.sesamestreet.org
The Sesame Street website is chock full of educationagames and videos for preschoolers. The games also have little discussiona dn art tips alongside them to help parents carry on the learning once the computer has been shut down!
The Sesame Street website is chock full of educationagames and videos for preschoolers. The games also have little discussiona dn art tips alongside them to help parents carry on the learning once the computer has been shut down!
Enchanted Learning
www.enchantedlearning.com/categories/preschool
Enchanted Learning has lots of printable resources for preschoolers including alphabet, handwriting, number, nursery rhyme and game print outs. You can also search for themes that your child is interested in such as dinosaurs.
What's the catch? You do need to join and pay a yearly fee (around $20 US)
Enchanted Learning has lots of printable resources for preschoolers including alphabet, handwriting, number, nursery rhyme and game print outs. You can also search for themes that your child is interested in such as dinosaurs.
What's the catch? You do need to join and pay a yearly fee (around $20 US)
Letterland
Letterland is a phonics programme taught in many New Zealand schools and early childhood centres. I think it is brilliant!
"The Letterland characters transform plain black letter shapes into child-friendly pictograms and they all live in an imaginary place called Letterland.
Simple stories about the Letterland characters, explain the full range of dry phonics facts so that children are motivated to listen, to think and to learn. These stories explain letter sounds & shapes, allowing children to progress quickly to word building, reading and writing.
One of the secrets of Letterland’s success is that this imaginary place makes it possible to teach all the difficult information about written language through stories. These stories entertain children as they carry home the information and there are no boring rules and exceptions. Instead, Letterland characters like Annie Apple, Bouncy Ben and Clever Cat make children aware of the sounds letters make, and show how letters interact with each other in predictable ways." - copied from letterland website
You might want to find out whether the school you intend to send your preschooler to uses the Letterland programme/resources before introducing them your child.
You can buy resources at http://www.letterland.co.nz/ or (cheaper!) on www.bookdepository.com
"The Letterland characters transform plain black letter shapes into child-friendly pictograms and they all live in an imaginary place called Letterland.
Simple stories about the Letterland characters, explain the full range of dry phonics facts so that children are motivated to listen, to think and to learn. These stories explain letter sounds & shapes, allowing children to progress quickly to word building, reading and writing.
One of the secrets of Letterland’s success is that this imaginary place makes it possible to teach all the difficult information about written language through stories. These stories entertain children as they carry home the information and there are no boring rules and exceptions. Instead, Letterland characters like Annie Apple, Bouncy Ben and Clever Cat make children aware of the sounds letters make, and show how letters interact with each other in predictable ways." - copied from letterland website
You might want to find out whether the school you intend to send your preschooler to uses the Letterland programme/resources before introducing them your child.
You can buy resources at http://www.letterland.co.nz/ or (cheaper!) on www.bookdepository.com
Kapi Mana Column July 2012 - Giving Kids a Great Start at School
Written by Kelly Eteveneaux
As a parent and teacher my children’s education is very important to me. I am sure it is the same for all parents. We want to give them the best start possible in life and their education plays a large role in that. I thought I would therefore focus this month on how we as parents can help nurture our children’s love of learning and do some research in to what skills and knowledge they would benefit from having when they first start school.
So what do they need to know?
I spoke to a number of teaching colleagues about this, not having spent much time in a junior classroom myself over the last couple of years, and they all had similar ideas on which skills children benefit from having when they start school. I also attended an open evening at Bailey’s childcare centre where their research among local schools had produced a list of desired skills for children entering their first year at school.
The most important of these skills include:
· Recognising the letters of the alphabet, but more importantly the sounds those letters make
· Recognising numbers and counting to at least 10
· Being able to recognise and write their name.
Some other skills deemed useful for children starting school include being able to use scissors to cut various lines and shapes, being responsible for themselves and their belongings, being able to wait and take turns and listening to (and following!) instructions. Oh how I wish that last one came naturally at home…
As parents, we are of course our children’s first teachers in life and can have such a huge impact on their early learning. There are so many small ways we can encourage and teach them at home and when out and about. We do many of these without conscious effort on a daily basis such as counting out apples at the supermarket and reading bedtime stories with them. The important thing, I believe, is to keep it fun and if they are not ready, leave it for a while. If we push too hard and try to force the learning we often turn children right off the subject/skill we are trying to teach. It is important to remember that not every child will start school with all of the knowledge or skills mentioned above and that is absolutely fine! Each child will learn at their own pace and in their own way.
My son Bailey is three and a half and has a very short attention span! He just wants to run, climb and be the best transformer he can be, so it can be hard at times to interest him in anything requiring sitting and concentrating. With him it is all about quick teaching moments grabbed here and there- 5 minutes while he is at the table before dinner is served, or while he is waiting for the bath to be run. We sound out words in the car on our way to daycare and count things we see while waiting at the lights. As long as it is seen as a game and entertains him he is keen! And he soon lets me know when he’s “had enough of this game Mum.” Then it’s back to who brought their Beyblade toy in to daycare yesterday and what snack he’ll have when he gets home
Some ideas for helping prepare your child for school:
· Teach them the alphabet, both lowercase and uppercase (but remember lowercase letters are used most often when writing).
· Immerse them in fun activities and experiences which encourage discussion and help extend their vocabulary. The activity could be as simple as planting seeds, making pikelets or visiting a pet shop. It is the language and learning that come from the experience that counts.
· Get them to illustrate their experiences through drawing and painting.
· Play board and card games with them that teach them to take turns and follow instructions.
· Make sure they can do practical things like undo and do up their clothing, open their lunchbox, etc on their own.
· Play bingo to practice and reinforce numbers, letters and colours recognition. You can buy these, print them off the net or make them yourself easily.
If you are looking for more ideas and resources to help kick start your children’s education I recommend visiting the Mana Education Centre, next to the post office on Serlby Place. It is chock full of fantastic resources and games, but more importantly some knowledgeable staff members who welcome the public, not just educators, and are more than happy to help you out.
Many thanks to all the educators who answered my questions and helped in my research. It is very much appreciated!
So what do they need to know?
I spoke to a number of teaching colleagues about this, not having spent much time in a junior classroom myself over the last couple of years, and they all had similar ideas on which skills children benefit from having when they start school. I also attended an open evening at Bailey’s childcare centre where their research among local schools had produced a list of desired skills for children entering their first year at school.
The most important of these skills include:
· Recognising the letters of the alphabet, but more importantly the sounds those letters make
· Recognising numbers and counting to at least 10
· Being able to recognise and write their name.
Some other skills deemed useful for children starting school include being able to use scissors to cut various lines and shapes, being responsible for themselves and their belongings, being able to wait and take turns and listening to (and following!) instructions. Oh how I wish that last one came naturally at home…
As parents, we are of course our children’s first teachers in life and can have such a huge impact on their early learning. There are so many small ways we can encourage and teach them at home and when out and about. We do many of these without conscious effort on a daily basis such as counting out apples at the supermarket and reading bedtime stories with them. The important thing, I believe, is to keep it fun and if they are not ready, leave it for a while. If we push too hard and try to force the learning we often turn children right off the subject/skill we are trying to teach. It is important to remember that not every child will start school with all of the knowledge or skills mentioned above and that is absolutely fine! Each child will learn at their own pace and in their own way.
My son Bailey is three and a half and has a very short attention span! He just wants to run, climb and be the best transformer he can be, so it can be hard at times to interest him in anything requiring sitting and concentrating. With him it is all about quick teaching moments grabbed here and there- 5 minutes while he is at the table before dinner is served, or while he is waiting for the bath to be run. We sound out words in the car on our way to daycare and count things we see while waiting at the lights. As long as it is seen as a game and entertains him he is keen! And he soon lets me know when he’s “had enough of this game Mum.” Then it’s back to who brought their Beyblade toy in to daycare yesterday and what snack he’ll have when he gets home
Some ideas for helping prepare your child for school:
· Teach them the alphabet, both lowercase and uppercase (but remember lowercase letters are used most often when writing).
· Immerse them in fun activities and experiences which encourage discussion and help extend their vocabulary. The activity could be as simple as planting seeds, making pikelets or visiting a pet shop. It is the language and learning that come from the experience that counts.
· Get them to illustrate their experiences through drawing and painting.
· Play board and card games with them that teach them to take turns and follow instructions.
· Make sure they can do practical things like undo and do up their clothing, open their lunchbox, etc on their own.
· Play bingo to practice and reinforce numbers, letters and colours recognition. You can buy these, print them off the net or make them yourself easily.
If you are looking for more ideas and resources to help kick start your children’s education I recommend visiting the Mana Education Centre, next to the post office on Serlby Place. It is chock full of fantastic resources and games, but more importantly some knowledgeable staff members who welcome the public, not just educators, and are more than happy to help you out.
Many thanks to all the educators who answered my questions and helped in my research. It is very much appreciated!