Activities with Numbers for Preschoolers are intended to teach preschoolers counting and basic math skills. But if they’re learning basic math, preschoolers need a system that teaches the basics first and then gives them more advanced concepts.
Preschoolers need both rich detail and activities that bring the various elements together. Good preschoolers learn from the richness of the subject matter as well as the real-world experiences, which we’ll discuss later in this article.
Rich details and activities that bring them all together are essential for good instruction. The lack of details and the absence of meaningful activities rob preschoolers of opportunities to learn and make progress.
When preschoolers are given activities that let them identify the different colors and shapes, such as pink and blue, the children get to choose what action they want to do. They have to decide how they want to move their hands or what color of lines they want to create to show what color or shape they’re trying to see.
In addition, children who are given rich details to work with have fewer excuses for not doing the activity as directed. If they run out of ink or paper, they don’t become frustrated or give up on the activity. Children have the freedom to make choices and do what they want to do – they just can’t expect someone else to accomplish it for them.
However, preschoolers also need more than an array of colorful pieces to discover their power to visualize. They need to see what colors are in relation to one another and what shapes look like together. An elementary school teacher might say that these things are easy to see with a close eye and easy to learn when they’re having fun.
Preschoolers have to be able to understand that even though they can see these elements visually, they have to learn them by working with them. Even if the more advanced concepts are within easy reach, if they’re not seen, they don’t get learned.
As a way to help preschoolers learn, it’s a good idea to use several activities at once. Teachers may use white boards with large print or a combination of both methods to make it easier for preschoolers to learn as well as be able to see the elements and colors that are being used.
Preschoolers who need to learn about the big picture should be able to see the board or have an opportunity to use it regularly. For older preschoolers, interactive CD’s are often available to allow them to try and see these elements using sounds and visual clues.
It’s important to be clear that preschoolers don’t have to actually “see” the elements or colors. They just have to be able to describe them and then choose the best action they want to do.
In this way, children can learn from watching adults learn. And while there are many adults who have similar abilities, it’s not necessary to copy the actions of others. While this is only one part of developing good numerical skills, these skills have a much better chance of developing well when the student has the opportunities to copy the actions of adults who already know how to do things.
Parents should find good resources and tools to use with their children to encourage good practices and allow children to have fun while learning. These kids can do well in their own classrooms and get the support they need to encourage skills that can improve their future education.