One of the most valuable forms of play you can do with your preschool-age children is one that teaches a skill, idea, or creativity. Preparing your child for school can also be an important part of daily life. Combining the two and teaching him or her to have fun while the child learns can be one of the most important life lessons you can share with your little one. Here are four activities you can play with your preschooler that will teach him or her while still having fun.
1. Blocks
Blocks can be used in several ways to teach your child about counting, colors, and building. Whether you use the time to build a 20-square tower that your child can knock over or teach him or her about sorting the blocks into different colors, the time spent together creating can be priceless.
2. Lightsabers
Rough and tumble little girls and boys love to play games that involve jumping, running, and spinning. Why not create a game with double bladed lightsabers that involves drawing letters in the air, fighting with the sabers until they count to a certain number, or spinning in a circle as they recite the alphabet? Your imagination can go wild as you teach them that learning is fun.
3. Books
Books can be an exciting adventure for your little one, whether you are reading or having your child help you read. Rather than telling your child a story, let the little one turn the pages and tell you what is happening. Being imaginative can enhance your child’s creativity as he or she uses the wildly original imagination most children were born with.
4. Music
One way to get children active and interested in a learning activity is through the use of music. By the time a child is two years old, they can begin to memorize lyrics to their favorite songs. If you teach him or her about movement during the song as they sing, you are activating dual centers in their little brains that can expand the firing neurons and help the brain grow. Teach them to dance with their double-bladed lightsabers and let the wild side of your child come out.
Enriching your child’s mind during their formative years can be a pleasure for both of you as you watch your little one’s world expand with possibilities. Use blocks, lightsabers, books, and music to help them invent a new and exciting world all their own.
