The countdown to the new school year is on.
Most kids head back to class right after Labor Day; however, the back-to-school prep is already well underway in most households, especially in families that have first time students.
The transition from home to school can be a huge challenge for preschoolers. One solution to reduce the anxiety associated with a new environment and schedule is to cover some basic lessons at home.
For example, you might introduce a “letter of the day” lesson leading up to the start of school. Repetition plays a big role in a preschooler’s world, so to make learning fun and effective, consider posting the selected letter throughout your home. Enlarge the letter on your computer, print it out using different fonts, and then post it on the refrigerator, your child’s bedroom door, the bathroom mirror and the front window. Next, ask your child to bring you three items that starts with the letter of the day. For instance, if the letter is “D,” he/she could bring you a stuffed dog, doll or dump truck. Another way to reinforce letter recognition is to print out coloring pages that focus on items that begin with the letter of the day. You could also have your child write the letter with a crayon, pencil or chalk.
The same technique could also be used for numbers and colors. However, since numbers can be confusing for young children, you might want to so stick with the basics. Concentrate on one through ten, rather than randomly selecting numbers in the 20s or 30s. Fun number activities include counting items found throughout your home, such as “one refrigerator”, “two windows”, “three juice boxes.” You could also have your son or daughter count items he or she is wearing, such as “four buttons”, “two socks”, or “one hair clip.” Continue to count items throughout the day, including when you run errands. Play a game counting blue cars, red fire hydrants or black dogs.
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