80+ screen-free activities to keep you entertained at home with small children 💪🏻💦📦🏃🏼♂️💃🏼🐈🐶
These are ideas from families in my classes – so many creative things
they’ve been coming up with. We are still allowed out of the house, so
simply adjust the list if you are in complete lockdown.
Playing with water
Hopscotch
Games with chalk on pavement
Lentil scooping with different jars, spoons and vessels
Drawing on cardboard boxes from delivery
Making cardboard houses – hang fabric to make a door
Making a mouse house
If you have tools at home, make a busy board with different locks, buttons and fastenings
Yoga – cards that you can buy OR follow online yoga (Cosmic Kids on Youtube seems to be a favourite)
Running trampoline inside
Getting fresh air each day
Puzzles
Painting
Drawing
Cooking together
Blowing bubbles
Kicking balls
Getting in the bakfiets for a ride
Climbing and chasing each other
Making obstacle courses – with tunnels and stepping stones
Scissors
99 pen set with large butchers paper to draw on
INDOOR CAMPING DAY – love this! Including eating snacks on the floor
Playdough – writing names with playdough, making playdough, mixing colours of playdough
Hang up some packing tape between 2 chairs and stick things to it, eg, balls, feathers, plastic fruit
Gardening – plant a veggie patch – can even work inside
Painting with water on wood or bricks
Baking
Moving a water table into the bathroom (look for a recirculating water pump for extra fun)
Make a balance beam
BLOW UP AN AIR MATTRESS in the living room for jumping on
Hanging rings to swing from
Move a slide inside
Football – with soft balls inside OR outside if you can find a quiet place
Stickers
Washi tape – roads, tearing, pulling off a tray
Making polaroids of the family at home
Balloons! – throwing them, hanging them, dancing with them, catching them
Make your own busy book – use cardboard
for the pages – can make faces with velcro, open and close zippers,
feel hand shapes of different textures, hide things in pockets – get
inspiration on Pinterest
Wear your bathing suit over your clothes for an inside beach day
Use a wool needle + wool string for threading penne pasta – easier than a shoelace
Dot markers – fun to use or just to take the lids on and off and put in and out of box
You can find screws in a Hema wooden toy truck – add a shoelace to front for the child to pull
Make your own marble run – use toilet rolls for the tracks (we’ll be making this together too in one of the classes)
Use cardboard boxes to make a world and let child paint it
Laying out a blanket at the park to wrestle (particularly if your child is getting too big for wrestling inside)
Make a fun jar – have slips of paper with fun things to do and choose one per day
Make a colour matching activity with an
egg carton and wooden pop sticks – colour the bottom of the egg carton
with a colour and make a slit for the pop stick with the same colour
Watering plants
Reading on the roof terrace
Mixing colours – with paint, playdough etc
½ hour grandparent time where they read a book, do puppet time, via Facetime/Whatsapp etc
Dancing
SWAPPING TOYS WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS – clean them and leave outside each other’s doors
Sending drawings to friends from playgroup
Felt art flowers or make your own felt board
Origami a day
Pouring coloured rice into different size containers
Make slime with glue, shaving cream foam, colouring and glitter, eye contact fluid
Make butterfly paintings – fold a piece
of paper, squeeze some paint in the fold; close along the fold; spread
out the paint and open to reveal your butterfly
Setting up art trays eg, fold paper, cut out shapes from folded paper, then open to make patterns
Grouping activities into trays or even zip lock bags to keep things together
Making forts out of blankets, chairs and cushions
Using pastry squares – make differnt shapes and cook them to eat
Making a phone or computer from Lego
Wobble board, pikler triangle, stepping stones
Painting and glitter on giant paper
Some sand or soil + water + cars in an IKEA box
Helping with making beds, cleaning, washing clothes, pairing socks, and folding clothes
Playing wth the dog/cat
A kiddie pool (empty) in the living room
Give the children the recyclables and
let them create – boxes, bottles, and old clothes were turned into
spaceships, race cars, and cities
Lots of children’s books read on https://www.storylineonline.net/
Stapler – around 3 years (with supervision) to make artwork into books
Add rainbows to your windows
Ideas from instagram like @play.hooray
Make a suitcase for them to go on holidays
Foam party
I spy game
Scavenger hunts (indoor and outdoors)
Sink and float experiments
Make a menu for your restaurant at home
Massage
Tracing around blocks with pencils
Opening the home toolkit and looking at the tools
Exploring your spice drawer collection
Trace around your child for a life size self portrait – let them decorate
It’s
fun to be back with this series about Montessori activities for
different ages. Today we’ll look particularly at Montessori activities
for 15 to 18 months.
What skills are they practising at this age?
When I am selecting activities for a child, I like to always ask “what skills are they practising at this age?”
15 to 18 month olds are often working on:
refining their grasp and eye-hand coordination
moving their body – many starting to
get steadier on their feet, to running, climbing, pushing a tricycle
with their feet, swinging, hanging from their arms, and carrying heavy
objects (maximum effort); plus dancing and making music (with
instruments)
language – continues to explode around
this age. Keep naming everything around you, use rich language, read
books, and play games with vocabulary baskets
some one step practical life activities
can begin to be offered – eg, drinking from a glass, pouring a glass of
water using a small jug/pitcher
self expression – we can begin to offer some simple but beautiful art materials for them to explore
social development – continuing to
observe other children, try interactions with other children, siblings
may be able to play together, and increasing interest in collaboration
on activities around the home with us
Some common questions about activities
Do we need every activity in our home?
Absolutely not. Please always observe
your child, what they are mastering right now, and as much as possible
use what you already have.
Use the ages give as a guideline only.
Some children will be working a lot with activities on their shelf, some
moving ahead with language, others busy with gross motor development
and real-life activities around the home (like helping with cleaning,
washing, cooking), and some showing some interest in arts and crafts.
So adjust the activities available based
on their interests. And I like to keep observing so I know when to
change out an activity – often if an activity is being ignored or being
“dumped”, it is not providing the right challenge to our child and can
be rotated for something else.
What if they don’t want to do any shelf activities?
That is totally fine! The young toddler is an explorer. They are touching and feeling and exploring the world around them.
First I always ask parents, what do they
like doing? Maybe right now all they are interested in is being outside,
or something to do with water, or talking all the time. Then that is
what they are telling you they want to be practising right now. And
provide more opportunities for these activities.
What if they don’t complete the activity?
They may not complete the activity. What
part of the activity interests them? We don’t need to push them to
finish the whole thing. It’s a process. Some children do this slowly,
day by day. Others seem only to remove all the pieces and then a month
later, they can magically do the whole activity. Follow the child. Help
as little as possible and as much as necessary.
Ask if they need help if they get stuck.
Give them a verbal cue like, “Turn, turn.” Ask them if they’d like to us
to show them. Or simply provide emotional support if they refuse all
help and are just frustrated it won’t work out.
What if they stand at the shelf to work and don’t bring it to the table?
With a young toddler from 15-18 months, I
find they often work standing or sitting by the shelf. If we interrupt
them to move the activity to a low table or mat, they often get
distracted and move onto the next thing.
So I prefer to preserve concentration and if they are already focussed on something on the shelf, I leave them there.
Sometimes there is a very small moment
before they get started, where we can invite them to take it to their
table. “Look, this is how we carry the tray to the table.” They will
copy how we carry it and their wrist strength is generally not yet
developed so much, so we use two hands to carry the tray or basket.
It is nice for them to eventually learn
to bring work from a shelf to a table or mat as it helps them to focus
on one activity at a time, they learn to take responsibility for putting
it back, it adds movement to the activity, and there are more steps
which is great for building executive functioning skills.
So with those questions answered, let’s see which are my favourite Montessori activities for 15 to 18 month olds.
How much should I show them and how much should I let them explore?
I like to have activities set out for
them to explore independently. I like to present them on a tray or in a
basket so it’s clear what the purpose is for. Often the activity is
“undone”, for example, with all the parts in a bowl to the left, so it’s
calling them to fit it together for themselves.
In this way, they are invited to make discoveries for themselves.
If they get stuck, then I like to step in
to ask if they’d like some help. Then step back to see how they get
further by themselves.
You may find that they use the activity in a way that we were not even expecting. And that’s ok too.
Or they may use their fingers, rather than a set of tongs we have set out. And will come to the tongs when they are ready.
Shelfie version 1
5 to 9 piece knobbed puzzle
– they first practice removing the pieces; around 18-months, some of
the pieces may be able to be replaced in the hole. Circles are the
easiest to replace as there are no corners. I like to look for realistic
(rather than cartoon) picturess, for example, of vehicles, animals or
tools, as they will recognise these easily from their daily life.
Coin box
– I love the coin box. They love to work out how to drop the coins in
the slot and then, once mastered, how to open the box with the key. You
can find these in stationery stores.
Stacking peg toy – I wish I had a link
for this peg board which has been used and loved for years in my
classroom. It’s called the Kobba peg board and I found it in Australia
but can no longer source it. This is the closest I can find here.
Opening and closing basket – I cannot
tell you how much I love this activity. I find it being used by the
15-month olds, right through to the 3 year olds. I look for old purses
with different openings (zipper, press stud, pull cord etc) and hide
something inside for them to find. Be careful of choking hazards.
Nesting box – this one was found at a market, similar to the more expensive Grimms Stacking boxes.
My tip here is to simplify to 3 to 5 pieces for our younger toddlers.
Try the smaller ones, the bigger ones, and see which ones provide the
right challenge for them.
Tray of construction vehicles – be
careful with small parts, but this tray is wonderful for using as a
vocabulary set. They can learn the names as they push, park and line
them up. I’ve collected mine over the years, but you can find similar here.
Shelfie version 2
Musical instruments to bang – I love this tone drum
from Plan Toys. The sound is lovely and the soft beater makes it
pleasant for adults too. (Always check the sound of children’s toy
instruments – some make some not so pleasant sounds even if made of
wood.)
Threading onto a stick – this is part
of a large educational set, but perhaps you can make your own from a
dowel and I just found this set from Melissa and Doug (you don’t need to use the matching cards yet – better once they are2.5+
years). I love starting with a straight stick before moving onto a
thread which they will need more assistance with. You might start by
holding the stick for them. But gradually they will be working with two
hands together. Be careful with small parts. Put out a limited number of
beads.
Rings onto coloured dowels
– this is often seen in Montessori classrooms as it is practicing
threading onto a stick and eventually to matching the colour. I never
correct them if they place the ring on the wrong colour. One day you
will notice them discover it all by themselves. It’s magical to see
their eyes light up. And you know they are now starting to become aware
of colours, although it will still be some time before they are able to
name the colours.
Scribbling – I love these chunky Stabilo 3-in-1 pencils
which give great colour. You’ll see toddlers using any grasp to hold
them and move from their whole shoulder. So sometimes the larger the
paper the better at this age. They are using the pencil for
self-expression, not to draw something, so we can simply describe the
colours rather than asking them what they have drawn.
Playdough – make some homemade playdough, find an airtight container they can open themselves (this one by Leifheit),
and provide some simple cookie cutters, a rolling pin, and possibly an
unserrated butter knife. Here’s a link to my playgroup website with my
favourite recipe here which I share with families.
Watercolour painting – this is a simple
activity for a young toddler that gives easy results for them. They dip
a paintbrush in the water, then on the watercolour tablet, then onto
the paper. Et voila. Very satisfying. Again I get the watercolour
tablets from an educational supplier but you could pop out one colour at
a time to stop them mixing them together to a lovely brown :). Look for
a small jam jar to put out just a small amount of water, include an
underlay to protect the table, and have a cloth at the ready for spills.
Montessori
education helps your child develop independence, a sense of empathy and
social justice, and a lifelong love of learning.
Choosing a Montessori environment for your child
has many benefits. Known for individually paced learning and fostering
independence, the Montessori Method also encourages empathy, a passion
for social justice, and a joy in lifelong learning.
Given the freedom and support to question, to probe deeply, and to
make connections, Montessori students become confident, enthusiastic,
self-directed learners. They are able to think critically, work
collaboratively, and act boldly—a skill set for the 21st century.
How does this happen?
Each child is valued as a unique individual.
Montessori education recognizes that children learn in different ways,
and accommodates all learning styles. Students are free to learn at
their own pace, each advancing as he is ready, guided by the teacher and
an individualized learning plan.
Beginning at an early age, Montessori nurtures order, concentration, and independence.
Intentional classroom design, materials, and daily routines support the
student’s emerging “self-regulation” (the ability to educate one’s
self, and to think about what one is learning), in toddlers through
adolescents.
Students are part of a close, caring community. The
multi-age classroom—typically spanning 3 years—re-creates a family
structure. Older students enjoy stature as mentors and role models;
younger children feel supported and gain confidence about the challenges
ahead. Teachers model respect, loving kindness, and a peaceful conflict
resolution.
Montessori students enjoy freedom within limits.
Working within parameters set by their teachers and the classroom
community, students are active participants in deciding what their focus
of learning will be.
Students are supported in becoming active seekers of knowledge.
Teachers provide environments where students have the freedom and the
tools to pursue answers to their own questions. Internal satisfaction
drives the child’s curiosity and interest and results in joyous learning
that is sustainable over a lifetime.
Self-correction and self-assessment are an integral part of the Montessori classroom approach.
As they mature, students learn to look critically at their work, and
become adept at recognizing, correcting, and learning from their errors.
Montessori supports social-emotional skills.
Contemporary research supports the 100-year-old Montessori Method's
effectiveness, indicating that children who learn in Montessori
classrooms demonstrate stronger social-emotional skills in many areas
than children in more traditional environments.
In Their Own Words
Parents share their thoughts on what makes Montessori special:
It’s an amazing feeling to see her go off to school every day, smiling and happy and knowing that she’s doing what she loves.
“I think that all children have an innate sense of wonder and curiosity…Montessori encourages and expands upon that.”
“All children are different. They have a different outlook, a different spirit. Montessori caters to those differences.”
“Students develop leadership skills, find their own way.”
“Montessori gave [my children] a foundation for all of their academic achievement.”
“Montessori is life preparation.”
It’s a pretty self-explanatory title. There’s so many great things
about the Montessori method, but here are some of the reasons why I love
Montessori. In no particular order…
Concrete to Abstract. I love that concepts start
with something concrete and move to abstract. Especially in math.
Throughout my schooling years even through high school, I struggled with
math. I hated it. After seeing the way math is taught in a Montessori
environment I was a bit jealous! To think so many of my struggles with
math would have been bypassed!
I love that Montessori teaches to learn quantity with things like
Cards & Counters and the golden beads. For example, with Cards &
Counters you have the numbers 1 to 10 laid out on a mat and they you
place the quantity of each number under the number of that card. Number 1
would have one counter, number 2 would have two, etc. Even more what I
love is that a beginning work like cards and counters introduces the
child to odd and even before even calling it that! Exploration & Discovery. Everything is something
to be discovered. I love that children aren’t just handed information
in a book and told to learn it, but are given a set of materials and
exercises that require them to use their senses. Montessori is very
hands on and tactile. I think that is what fosters the love for learning
is the freedom to explore without negative consequences. Love of Learning. The Montessori environment is just
so different that it doesn’t hold the same connotation of a traditional
school, meaning how school is often portrayed as boring, obligatory,
and stifling. I rarely heard a child complain about being at school!
They were always excited about what the were working on or what they
were working toward. I love that Montessori doesn’t just lecture, but
encourages children to delve deeper, ask questions, and examine for
themselves. Independence. I love that children are taught to be
independent and not in a way that is completely autonomous from others.
They’re taught how to interact in community, but also to be able to
contribute to that community. They’re taught skills that will allow them
to continue to grow into productive and contributing members of their
family and society. Control of Error. Bouncing off independence, I love
that Montessori incorporated ‘control of error’ into the materials,
since it allows the child to see their own mistakes and correct
themselves. Practical Life. Simply put: it’s practical. I love
it all…from the dressing frames to spooning and pouring. Practical life
is quite possibly my favorite part of the Montessori classroom. They’re
fun activities for the children that are developing skills that build
the foundation for later skills and life. The Child. I love the look on a child’s face when
they have conquered a task on their own or solved a problem with their
own skills. I love to see the determined look on their face when they’re
learning a new skill. Like how my son has such an intense focus as he’s
learning to turn the pages of a book by himself. It’s so much fun to
see the challenge and determination of a child. Age Integration. Even though my first opinion of
different ages being in the same class was unfavorable, I’ve come to see
just how beneficial it is for the children. The older children take
delight in teaching and helping the younger children with their tasks
and the younger children look up with such fond admiration and wonder at
the work of the older children. I’ve seen it as a starting point for
many children who were “wanderers” until they noticed an older child
doing a work that intrigued them and then asked the teacher if they
could do it as well.
There are just a few of the reasons why I love Montessori. I’m sure
there are more detailed reasons and things that have slipped my mind at
the moment, but these are definitely the top reasons why I think
Montessori is so great.
The love of learning is a powerful gift to give any child. And one of
the greatest benefits of enrolling your child in an authentic
Montessori classroom is the way it enriches your son or daughter’s
learning experience. The students who attend Primary Montessori Day
School come out of our classes with more than skills and knowledge; they
also develop a thirst for discovery that leads them to a lifetime of
growth and success. Our Montessori teachers use a rich curriculum
and an engaging range of activities in the classroom to bring out the
best in your son or daughter every day, in any area of study or interest
that appeals to them. Here’s a closer look at how the teaching style
and approach at Primary Montessori equips your child for a lifetime of achievement.
Sparking a Child’s Interests
A
key tenet of Montessori education is that we encourage every child to
pursue their interests. This helps them develop discipline and
self-awareness as well as allowing their natural gifts and interests to
rise to the surface.
While encouraging your child to choose their
own learning activities, we also pay close attention to their interests
and talents. We give them opportunities to do more of what they love,
such as inviting them to:
Write a song if they love music
Write a story or a play about a person or place that has caught their interest
As
appropriate, we guide your child to try out activities they may not
have chosen on their own—activities we believe will spark their love of
learning in a new way. For example:
We may introduce a student to a counting game they have not yet tried, making it fun so they learn to appreciate numbers.
Lower elementary students meet with teachers daily to confer on the activities they will do that day.
Students and teachers share a dialogue by writing back and forth on daily study plans.
Guiding toward Discovery
Teacher
guidance extends even to the materials and lessons available to
students in our classrooms. After all, it doesn’t serve your son or
daughter to study something if they don’t learn effectively. Our Montessori materials are designed to make errors obvious to a child as they work with the materials.
For
example: when a large peg can’t fit into small holes, a puzzle won’t be
complete until the child matches the right size peg to the right size
hole.
This type of “correction for error” makes it easy for
children to learn from mistakes and be guided to the right solution,
while still maintaining their sense of independence and self-direction.
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Practicing Independence
Children
love to tackle activities they can do on their own—and giving them
chances to do so helps them develop a sense of independence and
competence. At Primary Montessori, our teachers encourage students to:
Put away their own shoes, jackets, and book bags
Help prepare and serve snacks
Water classroom plants
Feed birds and fish
Use the copying machine
Put away learning materials when done with them
Developing Confidence and Enthusiasm
Joyful
learning and interacting with the world are the result of great
lessons. Our Montessori teachers know they play a key role in providing
the hook between our classroom environments and your child’s active
learning experience. To aid in this process, we’ll help spark joy in
your son and daughter in all kinds of everyday activities:
Young
children get to play with activities such as dusting and stacking
bowls, which encourages them to perform these activities joyfully at
home.
While studying math, students play stamp booklet games and are encouraged to write their own math problems.
Cultural studies are made fun to spark your son or daughter’s interest in learning more about a culture’s music, art, and food.
When your child expresses such interests, our teachers encourage them—letting them know exploration and growth are valuable.
Taking on Leadership Roles
The
earlier that children step into leadership roles, the earlier they
learn how to work effectively in groups and appreciate their own inner
voice. With teacher guidance, your son or daughter enjoys many
leadership opportunities in our classrooms:
Older children assist younger children during arrival, dismissal, lunch, and other transition times.
Children work independently and in groups to prepare and share snacks and lunches.
Students are invited to help teachers by gathering supplies and caring for the classroom.
Our students run the pizza club and assist with the uniform table.
Leadership activities are rotated from child to child so everyone can participate.
Kind Conversations and Gracious Interactions
As
your child moves toward successes in the greater world, having the
ability to be kind, considerate and gracious is essential. In our
classes, our Montessori teachers model positive interactions and promote
active practice in positive teamwork.
Teacher-student interactions—Montessori teachers provide positive, encouraging comments and invite self-evaluation, such as:
“I noticed you working hard on that math activity.”
“Which part would you like my help with?”
“What do you think about your work?”
Student-student interactions—To
encourage social graces and collaboration, children receive teacher
guidance in how to approach teamwork and resolve conflicts. We:
Invite
students early in the school year to discuss and share what they want
the class to be like—“I want friends,” “I want to share my ideas,”
etc.—and then use this discussion to guide the year’s activities.
Remind everyone to use their inside voices when talking.
Point out what works, such as, “Look how fun that activity is when everyone listens to each other.”
Have a “compliment circle” every afternoon so children can share what they enjoy about each other.
Encourage students to take the “talking stick” before talking so they actively practice sharing the conversation.
Equip Your Child for the Joys of Discovery
You
care about your child’s achievements and successes in life — and it all
begins with equipping your son or daughter to love learning. At Primary
Montessori Day School, our teachers are passionate about guiding
children into a lifetime love of learning, social graces, and leadership
skills they can use anywhere they go.
Discover how your child’s learning experience can be a wonderful, fulfilling, productive entry into lifelong success. See our extensive program and calendar options and schedule a tour today to experience our school first hand.
Para el desarrollo de los niños y las niñas en su etapa de crecimiento es de vital importancia saber cómo adentrarlos en el hábito de la lectura.
Transformar el hábito de leer en un interesante pasatiempo en lugar de
una obligación ayudará con creces a mejorar una serie de capacidades
cognitivas y a prepararlos para su vida adulta. Cómo hacer que guste es
el quid de la cuestión. Coincidiendo con abril, el mes de la
lectura (que incluye el Día Internacional del Libro Infantil y el Día
Internacional del Libro), te invitamos a descubrir las pautas que mejor
te pueden ayudar a que los niños sean buenos lectores.
La importancia de descubrir la lectura desde la infancia
Los libros son un pilar fundamental en el desarrollo cognitivo y emocional de los más pequeños. Embarcarse en la lectura desde la infancia
no solo proporciona deleite y placer, sino que aporta una magnífica
herencia cultural, científica y literaria. Es un transporte de lo más
efectivo, que nos acerca a nuevos e interesantes mundos. La lectura es un maravilloso proceso
interactivo en el que se establece una importante relación entre el
texto y el lector que contribuye al desarrollo de las áreas cognitivas
del cerebro y el desarrollo emocional. La importancia de adquirir este
hábito desde edades tempranas se basa en sus beneficios a la hora de
estudiar, adquirir conocimientos y la posibilidad de que los niños/as
experimenten sensaciones y sentimientos con los que disfruten, maduren y
aprenden, ríen y sueñen. El problema es que hoy en día la
digitalización ha influido en muchas ocasiones de forma negativa en la
lectura, no solo para los niños. A menudo es frecuente ver a los niños
entretenerse con tablets o smartphones desde una edad muy temprana,
antes incluso de que aprendan a leer o a escribir. Independientemente de
la conveniencia o no de este hábito, es importante aprovechar esta
etapa en la que están ávidos de recibir información para despertarles esa curiosidad innata mediante la lectura de un libro. Por ejemplo, leyéndolo para ellos.
La lectura en el desarrollo de los niños: Principales beneficios
Entonces, ¿cuáles son los beneficios de la lectura desde la infancia? El primero, y más evidente, es favorecer que los niños sean buenos lectores en el futuro. En todas las edades la lectura es un vehículo de comunicación que implica una serie de ventajas en el desarrollo del menor, incluso antes de que aprendan a hablar, la lectura se puede presentar mediante dibujos e ilustraciones. La lectura ayuda a expandir la
capacidad de atención de los niños/as y a mejorar su capacidad de pensar
con claridad, ya que las historias y su estructura de “principio, nudo y
desenlace” ayudan a sus cerebros a pensar en orden y a vincular causas,
efectos y significados. Asimismo, disfrutar de un libro desde pequeños favorece
el aprendizaje de palabras – complejas y no complejas- con mayor
rapidez, mejora su comprensión, la ortografía, la expresión, la
redacción, ejercitan su cerebro y estimulan enormemente su creatividad e
imaginación. Esto les permite leer en voz alta con mayor seguridad y
tener un excelente desempeño escolar. Igualmente, si un niño/a se adentra
en las aventuras que un libro le proporciona, aumenta, sin duda, los
niveles de atención, de memoria y concentración, adquiriendo la
capacidad de escuchar y entender lo que se les dice con mayor eficacia. Además, es evidente que la lectura
permite dejar volar la imaginación, transportar al pequeño a nuevos
mundos, escalando evolutivamente en la capacidad creativa, haciéndolo,
al mismo tiempo, más consciente de sus propias emociones y mejorando la
empatía hacia los demás. Cuando los peques leen bien,
incrementan su aprendizaje activo y surge un potencial bastante grande
en el futuro de su desarrollo, consiguiendo que se fomente su autonomía y
su implicación en su propio proceso de aprendizaje. La lectura incentiva en ellos/as el
interés por diferentes áreas, como naturaleza, historia o arte,
ayudándoles a descubrir su vocación en una edad temprana.
¿Cómo podemos actuar los padres, tutores, monitores y educandos para fomentar la lectura en la etapa infantil?
En muchas ocasiones, tanto niños/as
como adolescentes suelen asociar la lectura con el trabajo, generando
fuertes deficiencias lectoras y en el dominio de la lengua. Está en
nuestras manos la importante labor de enseñarles su vital importancia y
de que conozcan sus ventajas. A pesar de que antiguamente eran las escuelas las encargadas de fomentar la lectura en la etapa infantil, hoy en día este rol involucra a más agentes del entorno del niño para incrementar los efectos de esta gran labor.
Consejos para fomentar la lectura en los niños
Antes de que lo mande la escuela como obligación, trata de que el contacto con el libro sea algo más natural.
Predicando con el ejemplo: Los niños aprenden por imitación y viendo a los adultos leyendo puede alimentar su curiosidad.
Incluir en sus regalos de navidad o cumpleaños al menos un libro.
Establecer un momento para compartir una lectura con ellos/as.Basta con leer unos 15 minutos al día.
Crea un ambiente propicio.
Es recomendable adaptar un rinconcito especialmente destinado a la
lectura, por ejemplo, en el sofá junto a una lamparita, sobre una manta o
incluso algo que ellos mismos elijan.
Presentar la lectura como una acción divertida y no por obligación.
Trata de que el niño y la niña participe en la lectura
para animarles a prestar atención: hazle preguntas sobre qué le parece
cierta parte de la historia o sobre cómo podría haber terminado. Es
importante que nos den su opinión respecto a las cuestiones más
complejas que involucran a los personajes de las historias, de sus
decisiones y sobre cómo deberían actuar en función de propios los
valores que le inculcamos en casa.
Descubre con ellos/ellas el tipo de libros que más les atraen.
Es conveniente que, conforme vayan creciendo y avanzando en la lectura,
vayan experimentando los diferentes géneros literarios para que tengan
una mejor perspectiva de lo que les gusta leer.
Por otra parte, si el pequeño ha
comprendido correctamente la lectura podemos recompensarle proponiéndole
juegos tras la lectura o hacer que dibuje lo que ha asimilado de la
historia.
Abril, mes del libro
Abril es el mes del libro. El Día Internacional del Libro Infantil
se celebra cada año desde 1967 los primeros días de abril, el 2 para
ser más exactos, con el objetivo de generar hábitos de lectura en
niños/as y adolescentes. En esta fecha nació el escritor danés Hans
Christian Andersen. Reconocido
fundamentalmente por sus cuentos para niños, son creaciones suyas
relatos como El Soldadito de plomo, El Patito Feo, La Sirenita,
Pulgarcita o El Sastrecillo valiente. A finales del abril, continuamos con esta hermosa celebración con el Día Internacional del Libro,
que se remonta al 23 de abril de 1616, día en el que fallecieron
destacados autores literarios como Cervantes, Shakespeare y Garcilaso de
la Vega, personajes que sin duda nos dejaron una magnífica herencia
cultural en la literatura a nivel internacional.
Children at their earliest ages should learn and realize the
importance of education in their lives. Some kids, however, may resist
your efforts and insist on doing things their way. As a parent, your
best teaching tool is your attitude. Having a positive attitude about
reading and a curiosity about learning new things instills similar
beliefs in your children. Show them that education is the ticket to
fulfilling their dreams and having a productive life.
Teach the value of education early in a child's life. Children are
naturally curious and observant. If they see you reading books and
newspapers, they may be wondering why this activity holds such interest.
Tell them that they need to learn to read to be able to also share such
enjoyment. Read to them often help them develop their language skills.
Impress on children the importance of school. This means getting them
to school on time and modeling the importance of punctuality. Take an
interest in all their homework and make sure the required assignments
are completed before the due dates.
Take your children to educational yet fun parks. Instead of taking
them to the malls, take them to a museum, science center or zoo. Explain
to them that continuing their education will allow them to understand
more about the world around them. This strategy will certainly make them
more motivated to learn and study.
Introduce the computer to children. Computers never fail to amaze
people, especially young children. Let them play grade-level software
games that will provide fun and entertainment. Emphasize to children
that learning about computer use, videos and education go hand in hand.
Teach the importance of education daily. You could incorporate
mathematics into daily tasks and situations. Have them help you count
the number of cookies on a cookie pan. Their love for learning could
start if you rely on them to do specific tasks. Incorporate counting,
reading and writing within those simple tasks. For example, you could
take them to the market and have them pick out a certain number items
(like five apples or four oranges).
Enroll your children in schools. If you want them to love education,
make sure to place them in an environment that fosters comfort, fun and
learning at the same time. In addition, attend all the parent teacher
conferences and become active in other school activities. Your child
will notice and grow to respect the time you put into her education.
How to Explain the Importance of Education to a Child
Explaining the importance of education to a child is not as easy as
it may seem. Kids often lack the life experience to grasp the importance
of education to their lives and future, which makes it harder for them
to understand and for you to explain.
How do you explain the importance of education to a child? The
best way to explain the importance of education to a child is to model
the desired behavior, expose them to resources that communicate the
importance of education, develop an atmosphere of learning in the home,
talk to them about why education is important, give them opportunities
to show what they have learned.
When used together, each of the above strategies works in tandem to
send a consistent message about the importance of education to the
child.
Children learn most not by hearing, but by seeing and experiencing. It helps when the message is thoughtfully repeated.
As the adult, you set the tone to make sure they know they are
expected to make something of themselves and that education will be the
vehicle to get them there. Your actions and expectations are your best
tools.
Your words will reinforce those efforts.
Importance of Education for Children
Education is important to children because education helps children
learn how to think critically, it enhances their creativity and
imagination, it will expose them to new ideas, and it helps the child
find the path to a career that they wish to pursue as an adult.
Make sure you know these reasons and know why you believe they are important.
Over time you are going to be repeating yourself a lot so consistency
will give you more credibility as you continue to share your message
with your child.
Know that this is a long term goal and probably not something your
child will fully understand even after a few discussions with them.
Consequently, instead of pushing for understanding right away, it will be better to expose them to an environment that values learning so they experience its importance for themselves.
Then you can begin a conversation with them that they will be able to connect to through the meaning they have constructed.
Here are some strategies to create that environment and communicate education’s importance:
Model the Desired Behavior
As the parent, you are the child’s greatest teacher and role model.
Kids know when their parents really value something because they see
them doing it frequently.
So, when you want to explain
to a child why education is important the first thing you should do is
make sure they see you modeling the behavior.
This will make a conversation much easier to have later because they
will see you putting in the time and effort to improve yourself.
There are many ways you can show them how much you care about your own intellectual growth.
Perhaps you spend one hour every night at home with devices off while everyone is reading in the living room together.
Maybe you set weekly library trips with them where they can see you reading and picking out books while they read their own.
After they check the books out you encourage them to read in the car
and in their room for some quiet time. Over time, this will grow into a
routine that they enjoy.
You could also have them plan the next project around the house with
you. Think and discuss what could go into painting a bedroom or creating
a family picture area on the wall.
Include them in the pre-planning process so they see the critical
thinking skills needed to create a budget allocation and plan a
project’s course to completion, so they learn how math is used in the
real world.
Then keep them involved throughout the project so they can see all the steps involved in making an idea become reality.
You could also try learning something completely new together like gardening.
Collaborate with them to decide what plants you want to grow for your home.
Learn about the environment and care they need to thrive. Work
together to plant them and care for them. As mistakes are made use them
as learning opportunities so you can grow together.
Expose them to Activities and Resources that Communicate the Importance of Education
This strategy may take some time to get right, so be prepared to be
patient. Think about what your child’s interests are and what they are
good at.
Keep these ideas in mind as you have a conversation with them about some new activities they may want to try.
This conversation may go on for a few sessions as they think it over. That’s OK.
Try having them give you a list of 3-5 things that they want to learn
about. After they do, ask yourself which of these choices align with
their skills and guide them towards those interests.
This is key to being an aware parent because you don’t want to guide
your child into an activity that is completely out of their comfort zone
or not in line with their skill set.
Are they creative and love to write about topics that interest them?
Help them find out. Perhaps puzzles really interest them. Maybe they
enjoy building and so a lego set is the way to go.
Whatever the activity, help them discuss the necessary skills they
need to complete these activities so they understand the requirements of
the commitment they are making.
This is another key point and one that I practice with my own child.
Before we signed her up for piano lessons, we told her that it would
require she also practice outside of her lesson 4-5 days a week.
We didn’t even buy the books until she knew for sure it was what she wanted.
Your guidance will be important in helping them make the right
choice. If you are unsure, then frame your conversation as an experiment
to figure out what they enjoy doing.
Try one thing at a time, but keep an ongoing list of what they like,
what they don’t, and where they show potential to be good. Solicit their
opinion and consider your judgment as you guide them to a decision.
Long term, your goal here is to get them into a rhythm where they are working on a few things a year that they enjoy.
You could set up a schedule so they spend a certain amount of time on their new hobby.
I’ll give an example of how we do it in our house. Because of
budgetary constraints, we can only have one thing going on at a time for
each child.
So, from May to September my oldest takes swimming lessons and from October to April, she takes piano lessons.
Each of these activities is associated with brain development, which
is why we guided her toward them. For piano, she goes to her lessons
once a week and then practices another 4-5 days at home.
For swimming, she goes to her practice twice a week and has a swim meet once a week.
Behind the scenes, we work with her instructors to target potential long-term goals for the season.
Then we include her in the planning process so she can choose from
this curated list of choices. Last year she worked on improving her
freestyle stroke.
She began by working on her form to make sure she was reaching to the
wall each time she brought her arm around. As she got her form down
then we had her work on her speed.
Along the way, she built up her confidence in herself and her trust in us and her instructor.
As she works on her craft, we talk to her about how she is doing. We
keep her focused on what she is working toward and remind her
periodically about her next goal.
She makes gains because she is doing something she likes to do and has a goal in mind that she is working to accomplish.
In addition to these activities, we are careful with the camps that we choose for our kidWe focus only on camps that have an enriching purpose, usually
educational or athletic. We like camps where they can learn robotics,
sports, or drama.
We are choosy about our camps because we don’t want our kids to be in a place that is just trying to keep them busy all day.
We want them to be learning something that they like so they develop a deeper love of learning.
For instance, my oldest also likes gymnastics, but since we cannot
fit it into the school year, we let her take a week of gymnastics camp
during the summer which she loves.
While it can be hard to find quality camps and you may have to drive further, I think it is more than worth it.
My wife still has memories of her and her sister getting dropped off
at a summer camp they despised so it’s not something we take lightly in
our household!
If you make sure your kids spend a lot of time learning in a fun
environment, it will be a lot easier to explain why education is
important because they will pick up on its importance through their own
intuition.
Not to mention, it could help bridge the gap during the summer months when kids usually aren’t learning.
During this time regression takes place and they have a harder time getting back into a routine for the new school year.
Develop an Atmosphere of Learning
Use your resources and creativity to create an environment in your
home where learning is valued and required. Give them expectations for
learning that they must meet.
Establish routines so they can meet your expectations, and set up a schedule around those routines.
When they get home every day what do they do? Do they have activities, that could be reduced or eliminated like TV or devices?
Filling that time with the pursuit of their interests and practicing
the skills associated with those interests will help them make progress
toward their goals.
Progress will be a valued asset in explaining the importance of education.
We require our oldest to practice 15 minutes of piano and 30 minutes of math at least 5 days a week.
We try to do homework on the weekends so it doesn’t get in the way of our weekly routine.
That still leaves her a lot of downtime and ensures she is being
challenged as she explores her interests. Kids want to do what’s right.
When you set high expectations for them you are giving them something for which they can reach.
Talk to them About Why Education is Important
Talking to your child is actually not the first thing you should do
if you are trying to communicate the importance of education.
If you first model the desired behavior and then expose them to
resources that send a message about the importance of education, you
will have cultivated their sense of education’s importance so that your
conversation with them will be easier for you and more meaningful to
them.
When you think the time is right, tell them about your own experiences.
Make connections to your past and current educational pursuits and
explain how your dedication and hard work have helped you achieve your
goals and find fulfillment.
Authenticity is key here. Be as honest as is appropriate about the struggles along the way.
Kids know when a story is real or when it is watered down for them.
Maybe you didn’t pursue a degree right out of high school and so it was
much harder to do so later in life with adult responsibilities.
Or maybe you are highly educated and can speak to the sacrifices you
made in your earlier years in order to get to where you are now.
The point is to express how important education is to you while
modeling that behavior and connecting with your child throughout the
process.
This is an opportunity to build a stronger connection with them so
they will continue to want to talk to you about other topics in the
future.
Be prepared to share a message that you are willing to repeat. These
stories will become the ones that you repeat over the years to guide
them in the right direction.
In turn, they will become the stories that your kids remember.
When there is another opportunity, have a conversation about the activities and resources you have been exposing them to.
Let’s say you decided to send them to a robotics class. Periodically,
check-in with them to see how they are doing. Have short conversations
with them about how they like it and how it’s going. Engage with them.
Ask clarifying questions. Later, sit down when the time is right and
see if they can explain to you what they have been learning about. As
they talk, just listen. Don’t guide them or probe them. Let them express
themselves.
Are they building more complicated structures? Do they have a better understanding of which blocks to use and when?
Have they become more patient and more focused? Use their success as a
mirror to show them the progress they have made. That can go much
further than words that don’t have experiences behind them as support.
As they are speaking you may be able to tell how much they are
learning. If they are taking well to the activity this could be a
milestone for both of you.
Use their own words to show them that they are learning on their own. Help them develop a belief in themselves.
Show them that they are achieving and growing. Success will generate chances for more success.
Give Them Opportunities to Show What They Learned
Kids love to be recognized by their parents. As they settle into
their new routines be sure to check in on them and “catch them doing the
right thing”.
Let them know how proud of them you are that they are working on learning something new.
I consistently praise my kids when they make a kind gesture or help
out and the same for making progress in an activity or their school
work.
Give them the opportunity to explain to you what they are doing, how
they are doing it, the mistakes they have made along the way, and what
they have learned from those mistakes.
A good education is all about learning from your experiences and getting better as you go.
By giving your child the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and
then explaining how they have, you are showing them that it’s OK to
experiment and you support their learning.
Over time the child will process their learning and develop a deeper understanding of their new interest.
“The true worth of
an experimenter consists in his pursuing not only what he seeks in his
experiment, but also what he did not seek.”
– Claude Bernard
Limit Device Use
Devices can take away from a child’s ability to learn and to practice
delayed gratification. Some apps promote a short attention span which
reduces a child’s ability to be successful academically and socially.
Consider that both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates strictly regulated the use of devices in their homes with their kids.
Often in life, it is beneficial to follow those who know the most about a topic, and few knew more than these guys.
Instead of tech, they emphasized reading books. They had home
libraries with hundreds of books in them that their kids could ready
anytime they wanted to.
Emphasizing a low tech environment in your home could translate into a
high imagination environment. Some helpful limits on devices include:
Restrict cell phone until at least age 14
Limit or eliminate device use during the week (including TV)
Restrict use in bedrooms
Set a time well before bed (at least 1 hour before) to turn off devices
Restrict devices at the table or during discussions
Moving Forward
Helping your child understand the importance of education is more challenging than it sounds.
As adults, it seems like common sense, but kids may not see it that way. That’s OK. That’s what they have their parents for.
We have to help them live and breathe the reason so it becomes intuitive.
Develop a plan so that the events in their life are communicating the importance of education to them.
Embed education deep within your family culture. Work with them to
pursue their interests so their creative energies are used on something
constructive that helps them build their capacity to learn and their
appreciation for learning.
Keep them around other kids whose parents are dedicated to promoting education as much as you are.
Most importantly, connect with them and let them know you care about who they will become.
Related Questions
Why is early childhood education so important?
Early childhood education is important because its effects can last a lifetime. As they say, their brains are like sponges.
Between the ages of 0-3, a child’s brain grows to 80% of its adult
size. During this time it will also be twice as active as an adult’s.
They are building connections that will influence their perception of the world for their whole lives.
The skills they learn can also stay with them for life. If they are
taught to be kind, loving, and empathetic to others they are more likely
to become compassionate adults than those children who were not taught
these skills.
Those who demonstrate these traits as adults are more likely to be
professionally successful and maintain fulfilling relationships.
How do you identify your child’s interests?
Observe them when they are being themselves and ask yourself these questions:
What do they spend the most time doing?
What are they willing to work hard at?
What brings out their creativity?
What do they choose to do most of the time?
What keeps them focused?
What do you hear them talking about?
Use the answers to these questions to help identify their interests
so you can guide them to constructive hobbies that will cultivate their
skillset and ignite their passion.
Then, use the steps in the above article to create a plan that will help them learn and grow as they pursue their new interest.
With
this overview, learn why reading aloud to children from an early age is
so important, and how to make it a motivating and meaningful
experience.
There
is no more important activity for preparing your child to succeed as a
reader than reading aloud together. Fill your story times with a variety
of books. Be consistent, be patient, and watch the magic work.
It's
no secret that activities at home are an important supplement to the
classroom, but there's more to it than that. There are things that
parents can give children at home that the classrooms cannot give.
Start young and stay with it
At
just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to
your voice, and point to objects on cardboard pages. Guide your child by
pointing to the pictures, and say the names of the various objects. By
drawing attention to pictures and associating the words with both
pictures and the real-world objects, your child will learn the
importance of language.
Children learn to love the sound of
language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a
page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and
expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language
and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word.
When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child's life,
learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.
Even
after children learn to read by themselves, it's still important for
you to read aloud together. By reading stories that are on their
interest level, but beyond their reading level, you can stretch young
readers' understanding and motivate them to improve their skills.
It's part of life
Although
the life of a parent is often hectic, you should try to read with your
child at least once a day at a regularly scheduled time. But don't be
discouraged if you skip a day or don't always keep to your schedule.
Just read to your child as often as you possibly can.
If you have
more than one child, try to spend some time reading alone with each
child, especially if they're more than 2 years apart. However, it's also
fine to read to children at different stages and ages at the same time.
Most children enjoy listening to many types of stories. When stories
are complex, children can still get the idea and can be encouraged to
ask questions. When stories are easy or familiar, youngsters enjoy these
"old friends" and may even help in the reading.
Taking the time to read with your children on a regular basis sends an important message: Reading is worthwhile.
One more time
You
may go through a period when your child favors one book and wants it
read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a
particular story, and this can be boring for parents. Keep in mind,
however, that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or
emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a
wealth of books and eventually they will be ready for more stories.
Talking about stories
It's
often a good idea to talk about a story you are reading, but you need
not feel compelled to talk about every story. Good stories will
encourage a love for reading, with or without conversation. And
sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. A
day or so later, don't be surprised if your child mentions something
from a story you've read together.
Remember when you were very young
It
will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things adult readers
tend to take for granted. It's easier to be patient when we remember how
much children do not know. Here are a few concepts we adults know so
well we forget sometimes we ever learned them.
There's a difference between words and pictures. Point to the print as you read aloud.
Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to read.
Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with your finger as you read.
Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated by a space.
Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital letters and and one for small letters.
These are examples of hieroglyphics. Imagine
how you would feel if you were trying to interpret a book full of such
symbols. That's how young readers feel. But, a little patience (maybe by
turning it into a puzzle you can solve together) is certain to build
confidence.
Advertise the joy of reading!
Our goal is to
motivate children to want to read so they will practice reading
independently and, thus, become fluent readers. That happens when
children enjoy reading. We parents can do for reading what fast food
chains do for hamburgers? ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great
stories and poems to children.
We can help our children find the
tools they need to succeed in life. Having access to information through
the printed word is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power, and
books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical tool.
Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax and enjoy some
precious leisure moments.
With your help, your children can begin a
lifelong relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults
who read easily and frequently whether for business, knowledge, or
pleasure.
A mi hijo no le gusta la fruta
El hábito de comer frutas debe desarrollarse a edad temprana, sin
embargo, nunca es tarde para comenzar, vale la pena insistir pues es un
hábito no solo es bueno para evitar enfermedades cardiovasculares y la
diabetes, sino también para evitar la obesidad infantil.
Aunque comer fruta es un hábito que debe ser adquirido desde que son muy pequeños en las papillas,
éste se tiende a perder cuando los niños son un poco mayores, pues hay
muchos más alimentos que compiten y suelen ser más atractivos a la vista
de ellos.
Una de formas de estimular al niño a que coma fruta es tenerla
siempre a la vista, encima de la mesa del comedor, del mesón de la
cocina o en el refrigerador, y si posible cortada en trocitos, para que
los niños puedan comérsela a todas horas. Es aconsejable tener frutas de
la época, pues son más económicas y tienen mejor sabor y calidad. Si
vas a comprar fruta ya cortada y envasada, elige la que no tenga azúcar
añadida. La fruta hay que comérsela tal cual, sin azúcar. 5 estrategias para motivar a los niños a comer fruta
No se trata de convencer a los niños que las frutas son importantes
en su alimentación y para su salud, se trata de convencerles a probar un
trocito de fruta. Pero, ¿cómo conseguirlo? Los expertos en alimentación
infantil coinciden en aplicar algunas estrategias:
Lo primero es el ejemplo. Si los padres o los
hermanos mayores (si los hay) no comen frutas, el niño no va a querer
probarla. El ejemplo es una motivación para los niños.
Insiste.
Aunque el niño se niegue a comer un trocito de fruta hoy, no dejes de
intentarlo. Día tras día, lo sigues intentando, con diferentes frutas.
Muchos casos acaban convenciendo al niño a probar la fruta pasados los
20 días.
Compartir una misma fruta. Es decir,
si vas a dar una manzana a tu hijo, pártela en la cantidad de gente que
hay en su alrededor. SI está tu hijo y tú, solos, parte la manzana en
dos, de manera que él se sienta en el compromiso de comer por lo menos
su mitad de manzana. Puede que funcione.
Invita a tu hijo a cocinar y a participar en la elaboración de una receta con fruta.
Pídele que pruebe la fruta en cuestión para saber si su gusto está
bien. Esa es una forma medio ‘tramposa’ pero los niños se sentirán más
motivados.
Cuando tu hijo se decida por fin comer alguna fruta, no les dé un premio por ello. Felicita su decisión y haz una receta con su ayuda usando las frutas que más le gusten.
Ensalada o macedonia de fruta (para 4 personas)
Una de las recetas muy prácticas y ricas para estimular el consumo de
frutas es tener siempre preparada una ensalada de frutas para los niños
en la nevera. Si te apetece introducir la fruta en la dieta de tus
hijos, sea en el desayuno, en el postre o en la merienda, esta ensalada
de frutas puede representar un gran paso:
Para esta deliciosa receta necesitarás:
3 naranjas
2 manzanas
2 peras
2 plátanos
3 kiwis
2 cucharadas de miel (solo si tiene más de 2 años por riesgo de botulismo)
También podrás añadir trozos de otras frutas como sandía, uvas, fresas, mango, etc.
Para
empezar, se pela y se corta cada fruta en trocitos, disponiéndolos en
una fuente. Se reserva una naranja para que sea exprimida sobre las
frutas cuando estén cortadas, junto con la miel. Esta es una forma muy
sencilla para sorprender a los niños de la casa. Las ensaladas de frutas
también pueden ser acompañadas con un poco de yogurt o granola como
postre.
Actividad:
Invita a tu hijo/a a participar junto a ti de la
actividad. Utiliza la música seleccionada e invítalo (a) a participar del
baile. Realiza las acciones que van apareciendo en la canción junto a él/ella.
Haz un breve cierre de la actividad recordando lo que realizaron. ¿Qué aprenden?
Fortalece los músculos y potencia la conciencia corporal. Acciones del
adulto:
Invítalos a participar de la actividad junto a
ti. Utiliza verbalizaciones como: “¿Descubramos de qué se
trata la canción?”, “¿te parece que bailemos juntos?”
Escuchen juntos la canción “El tren de la
alegría”, y bailen juntos al ritmo de ella.
Para los niños más pequeños, puedes invitarlo a
seguir el ritmo con las palmas o instrumentos musicales, modelando la acción.
Es
importante realizar gestos/acciones/ mímicas mientras se canta esto aporta
información que impacta significativamente en él/ella.
Para
los niños más grandes, puedes dejar que se expresen libremente con la canción,
si así lo desean.
Todos los días estamos pensando en nuevas actividades para que puedas
entretener a tus hijos en casa y que al mismo tiempo les aportan en
conocimientos. Jugar y aprender van de la mano y en Vitamina eso lo sabemos.
Descubre las siguientes actividades divididas por edad y por material a continuación.
Actividades infantiles por material de 0 a 3 años
El foco para los más pequeños es la exploración libre de los
materiales, en los cuales deben tener precaución en que no sean tóxicos y
los niños no presenten alergias con la manipulación de los elementos.
Es recomendable que los niños menores a 2 años utilicen pinturas de
dedos o colorante de cocina para este tipo de actividades, sin embargo,
bajo la supervisión de un adulto la tempera puede ser utilizada con las
precauciones que les mencione en un principio.
Para trabajar con tempera
Crear pintura con yogurt
Qué aprenden los niños:
Con esta actividad los niños mejoran la coordinación y la
concentración, desarrollan el pensamiento lógico, la creatividad y la
imaginación.
Pintar con los pies
Qué aprenden los niños: Con esta actividad se favorece la creatividad, el equilibrio, los sentidos del tacto y vista.
Pintando con sellos de esponja:
Qué aprenden los niños: potencia los sentidos del tacto y vista, discriminar texturas, conocer colores.
Para trabajar con masa
Masa sensorial
Puedes ver cómo hacer la masa en este video o en este post. Qué aprenden los niños: a desarrollar la coordinación mano – ojo y potenciar la psimotricidad fina.
Jugar con masa y moldes de galletas
Qué aprenden los niños: a potenciar el sentido del tacto, reconocer texturas, temperatura, psicomotricidad fina, favorece el asombro y la curiosidad.
Explorar masa dentro de una bolsa
Si pones la masita dentro de una bolsa hermética y escondes algún juguete pequeño tendrás horas de diversión. Qué aprenden los niños: se favorece la creatividad, la imaginación, la motricidad fina y a conocer colores.
Actividades infantiles por material de 3 a 6 años
El foco de estas actividades es lograr la expresión por medio del
arte, fomentar la musculatura de la mano para la escritura. Comienzan
con trazos simples hasta llegar a representaciones reales.
Es importante que el adulto se centre en el proceso del trabajo y no en el resultado. Preguntar ¿cómo lo hicieron?
Para trabajar con temperas
Dibujar con pintura y sal
Qué aprenden los niños: favorece la coordinación, la concentración, la creatividad y la imaginación.
Pintar la silueta de una figura
Qué aprenden con esta actividad: fomenta la creatividad, la imaginación, la concentración y motricidad fina.
Estampar una polera
Busca
una polera de color claro, crea timbres y si tienes usa pintura
especial para tela, de lo contrario con tempera funcionará igual. Qué aprenden los niños: favorece la creatividad, la imaginación, concentración, desarrolla habilidades motrices, a reconocer colores y formas.
Para trabajar con masas
Jugar con masa y rodillos
Qué aprenden los niños: a potenciar la coordinación mano – ojo, la psicomotricidad fina, reconocer texturas y el modelado.
Jugar a ser escultores
Pongan un tema para hacer esculturas, por ejemplo, la naturaleza o la figura humana! Qué aprenden los niño: a expresarse por medio del arte y a desarrollar la capacidad creativa.
Manualidades
Construyamos un telar con palitos de helados
Junten muchos palitos de helado y con la ayuda de lana y pegamento creen coloridos telares. Qué aprenden los niños: favorece la coordinación, la concentración, la creatividad y la imaginación.
Escultura de cartón
A reciclar esos restos de cartón de la toalla nova que es momento de ponerse creativos! Qué aprenden los niños: favorece la creatividad, la imaginación y la motricidad fina.
Creando una máscara o antifaz
El
fin de semana es el momento perfecto para disfrazarse y qué mejor que
con máscaras hechas por los niños. Las puedes forrar con plumas, pegarle
fideos o lentejas. No hay límites! Qué aprenden los niños: favorece la creatividad, la imaginación, concentración, desarrolla habilidades motrices.
The love of learning is a powerful gift to give any child. And one of
the greatest benefits of enrolling your child in an authentic
Montessori classroom is the way it enriches your son or daughter’s
learning experience. The students who attend Primary Montessori Day
School come out of our classes with more than skills and knowledge; they
also develop a thirst for discovery that leads them to a lifetime of
growth and success.
Imagine
how you would feel if you were trying to interpret a book full of such
symbols. That's how young readers feel. But, a little patience (maybe by
turning it into a puzzle you can solve together) is certain to build
confidence.
