LEARNING AT HOME
Be Creative at Home for Early Childhood Learning
You can make children a part of this everyday task in ways that are fun for you and your child and help improve your child’s literacy.
Be curious about your own learning and about how your child learns. Parents and caregivers who are truly engaged and excited about learning are more likely to have children who do the same.
Have fun! Children and adults learn best when they are connected to others, when they’re learning about something they want or need to know, and when they’re having fun. So don’t make learning in everyday moments a chore, or something to strike off of your to-do list to give your child the best early start. Instead, make it something that you enjoy. The gift of joy in lifelong learning is a very important gift you can give your children.
WHILE DOING LAUNDRY
Children whose caring adults connect language to their everyday experiences learn to speak, communicate and read better. Look at your child to see what he or she is interested in. Is your baby curious about how the clothes feel? Does your toddler like to take clothes in and out of the laundry basket? Is your preschooler interested in sorting clothes by color?
AT MEALS
Studies show that meals are one of the most important times to be together as a family. It’s believed that families who interact with each other at meal time are more likely to have children with better literacy skills in the school-age years. Do your children listen to what you and others say? Do they have opportunities to talk, listen and take turns? Do they look forward to telling you about their day? What sounds and words do they try to say? What are they trying to communicate?
AT BEDTIME
Bedtime is time to wind down. Creating a schedule that your child comes to expect makes the transition from an active day to a quiet time easier. Many parents create “a special time” to be together at bedtime. Sometimes they read or tell stories. Other times, they let the child select what she or he wants to do. What helps your child get ready for bed in the most peaceful way, and what stirs up your child? Emphasize the calming activities and turn them into family traditions.
FOR YOUR BABY
WHILE DOING LAUNDRY
- Just because your baby doesn’t talk, doesn’t mean he or she isn’t learning language. Try to see this experience through his or her eyes.
- Follow your child’s gaze to see what interests him or her.
- Talk to your child about what they’re watching or what you’re doing. “Now I’m putting the clothes in the washing machine.” or “Here goes the soap.” or “Let’s watch the clothes spinning in the dryer.”
AT MEALS
- Give your baby ordinary kitchen objects to play with while you are fixing a meal (plastic cups, wooden spoon, etc).
- Name the foods you are eating and talk about foods your baby loves to eat.
AT BEDTIME
- Create a consistent bedtime schedule.
- Treat bedtime as a quiet time to be together (your attitude will help build a more positive attitude in your child).
FOR YOUR TODDLER
WHILE DOING LAUNDRY
- Let your toddler take clothes in and out of the laundry basket.
- Have him or her help you put the clothes into the washer and dryer.
- Ask questions…“Can you find the pants and put them in the dryer?”
- Name the colors of the clothes together.
- These activities can be fun and help build language and thinking skills.
AT MEALS
- Let your young child help make the meal: tear the lettuce for a salad, stir the spaghetti sauce, ut napkins on the table etc.
- Ask your toddler to name the foods you are preparing.
- Let him or her fix a pretend meal for their toy animal or doll while you fix dinner.
AT BEDTIME
- Create a routine. “First we take a bath and brush our teeth, then we read a story, put on the nightlight, give a kiss and go to sleep.” With practice, a consistent schedule will help children learn to go to sleep by themselves.
FOR YOUR PRESCHOOLER
WHILE DOING LAUNDRY
- Let him or her separate the light clothes and the dark clothes.
- Have them find matching pairs of socks or put all the shirts into a pile.
These activities can build math and teamwork skills. Feeling useful also helps children feel good, which encourages them to continue to want to be helpful.
AT MEALS
- Ask your child to tell you a story about his or her day.
- Tell a story about your day.
- Create family traditions at meal times, such as a song that you always sing or a game that you always play.
AT BEDTIME
- Let your preschooler plan bedtime traditions.
- Use this time for listening to stories.
- Make up stories about his or her stuffed animals.
- Talk about his or her day or tomorrow.