Most children, I have found, love music. They do not tend to be shy about dancing or jumping about when a tune with a good beat is projected throughout the room. My own children have a long list of favorites to which they love to sing and dance. You may also have a collection of songs you can remember enjoying during your own childhood. There is probably a longer list stored in your memory from your teenage years when music is often a central topic. Can you remember the words to any of these songs? My guess is you can.
Since music is typically very enjoyable as well as memorable, it can serve as a terrific medium for teaching children (and adults, for that matter) new concepts. It is easy to include throughout your day at home or in the car. You don’t even have to come up with the songs on your own since there is a plethora of music available online or at your local library.
Another benefit is that you can find music on just about any topic relevant to preschool education. My three-year-old frequently confuses opposites. Instead of saying, “I’m hot” when it is 95 degrees outside, he will say, “I’m cold.” I was able to find a CD with nothing but songs about opposites. We have only listened to it a few times, but he is already starting to sing along.
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Written by Laura on July 26, 2010
Last evening, my husband and I were treated to dinner by two gentlemen from England who my husband knows from work. Given their heritage, it is immediately clear that they speak quite differently than any native to America. It also doesn’t take very long to realize that a person could easily pick up words or accents after being around them for awhile. These new habits may make you stand o
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Written by Laura on July 19, 2010
One of my favorite aspects of creating pictures with watercolors is the blending that occurs as the pigments touch each other on the paper. New colors are sometimes formed as the paints blend together. At other times, the paints simply swirl and form a beautiful rainbow effect. These are experiences I have had simply by engaging myself in the use of artistic materials. As a parent, you can pro
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Written by Laura on July 14, 2010
Stencils are a great way to encourage children to practice fine motor skills while creating a quick and easy piece of art. However, stencils require some practice and coordination so they can be frustrating at first. here are some tips for using stencils with your preschool child:
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Written by BRWI Staff on July 12, 2010
Last week we had good friends of ours staying as guests for the week. One of the many positive aspects of our relationship is that they have two little girls the same exact ages (within weeks of each other) as our two little boys. Corresponding friendships formed the first time they all met each other, and, although we, as the parents, think it is a bit early, our four-year-olds are already plan
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Written by Laura on July 9, 2010
Have you ever watched amusingly as a toddler holds a crayon or pencil? The death grip that is often applied is serves the purpose, but it does not result in a great deal of accuracy. Although this is fine as very young children develop the fine motor skills, particularly the pincer grip, which allows them to hold the implement firmly in place, teaching preschool children the correct way to hold
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Written by BRWI Staff on July 7, 2010
It would probably seem a little weird to sit your preschooler down at a desk and require her to write or even dictate definitions and sentences in order to learn new vocabulary words. However, you may also wonder if your child will learn enough vocabulary through simple conversation. I believe that children gain the most through an approach that is somewhere in between these two extremes.
As inf
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Written by Laura on July 5, 2010
Students often feel as though they should understand everything they read. Think back to your own school days. As the material became more intense, did you always understand everything you read? This overwhelming feeling of complete success can be intimidating to many children, and it often begins as very young children are learning to read.
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Written by BRWI Staff on June 30, 2010
There is a show on PBS that both of my boys really enjoy watching. “Sid the Science Kid” is a preschool and early elementary targeted television show that attempts to make an array of science topics simple enough for young learners to understand. Children seem to love the computer generated animation, and the subject matter allows me to feel comfortable letting my children watch tele
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Written by Laura on June 28, 2010
When teaching young children the sounds associated with each letter of the alphabet, it is fairly easy to practice with a child in almost any situation. For example, while traveling in the car, road signs can be used to identify letters. Once a letter is identified, parents can ask what sound the letter makes. Of course there numerous are games, flashcards, toys, etc. that also provide a good r
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Written by BRWI Staff on June 25, 2010
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