Ways to Support Your Child's Learning at Home

1.  Count! Count anything! Some things that you can have your child count are:  spoons, forks in the drawer, number of flowers in the garden, number of kids at the party, number of cars in line, etc.

2.  Have your child count out groups of objects into little piles.  (pennies, buttons, paper clips)  "Can you put 15 fish crackers in your snack container for tomorrow?"

3.  Play with scrabble letters or magnetic fridge letters.  Think of a name, animal, plant, etc. that starts with that letter.

4.  Play Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Checkers, etc.

5.  Play simple cards games such as Crazy Eights, Old Maid, etc.

6.  Provide hands on experiences related to basic facts to 10.  For example, "If you have two crayons and I give you two more, then how many will you have?"

7.  Teach your child to dial the phone.  Make a phone book of Grandma and Grandpa and Cousin Fred's phone number.

8.  Teach your child to set the timer on the microwave.

9.  Discuss the numbers on a clock and start teaching time on the hour.

10.  Teach your child to do simple dot to dots.  Look in coloring books for easy dot to dots.

11.  Have your child memorize his/her phone number.  Any phone number can be sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

12.  Continue to provide experiences related to drawing, coloring, cutting and gluing in order to develop fine motor skills.  Also, continue to provide activities to strengthen hand muscles using Legos or Playdough.  (see Small Motor Exercise and Fun Things to Do Page in Parent Information)

13.  Have your child do the switching of the TV channels.   Use the remote control to point out the numerals and name.

14.  Find numbers and letters to discuss wherever you go!  Room numbers, elevator buttons, street numbers, road signs, price tags, business signs.

15.  Start teaching your child to write his last name and names of other family members.