Bathtub time can often be a stressful time in our house. It drives me crazy when water is being splashed onto the floor in quantities large enough to sink a small boat. I tend to lose my patience when I am required to change my own clothes when I had not intended to take a shower while fully dressed.
However, I have also realized that this free-play time in the water is loaded with opportunities for learning and discovery. They may not even realize they are doing it, but simple bathtub toys allow them to explore many different concepts in science. The next time your child is bathing in the tub, conduct an informal experiment where your child will learn about sinking and floating.
Before allowing your child in the water, begin by gathering various items from around your home that are water safe and either sink or float. Items could include some of the bathtub toys you already have, such as a plastic boat or a rubber duckie, along with items from other areas of your home such as a metal spoon, wooden spoon, or a colander.
As you place each item in the water discuss what happens. Then, have your child predict what will happen with other items before you put them in the tub. Ask why she chose her prediction? Discuss shape, weight (in terms of light and heavy), and even the holes in the colander.
This can be repeated as many times as you wish using different items. You may even draw her attention enough that she will stop trying to sink your bathroom. And, if not, at least she will understand why it happened!
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Written by Laura on October 6, 2010
I always chuckle a bit to myself when my three-year-old, Elliot, mistakes his own baby pictures for his brother. It is especially cute since my two boys have never looked anything alike. Although interesting to notice, most of Elliot’s other relatives have not changed as much as he and his brother have over the past few years.
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Written by Laura on September 6, 2010
Although you may not present your preschooler with in depth details about the inner workings of quantum physics, there are science concepts that they are able to understand. The key is to present the ideas at their level. The concepts of solids, liquids, and gases are great concepts to present to preschoolers because they are everywhere, and children can concretely experience them everyday. G
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Written by BRWI Staff on August 16, 2010
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 fr
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Written by Laura on July 26, 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
When children are learning new information, making connections to knowledge they already have helps them to better remember the new information. These connections can be made by simply asking questions and by using any of a large variety of graphic organizers. Here is an example of how you can help your child recall what he already knows about a topic using a picture to organize thoughts.
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Written by BRWI Staff on June 2, 2010
Imagine listening to a speech where every sentence had one word in it that was spoken in a language you did not know. Although you may be able to use context clues to figure out the meaning behind some of the words, overall the speech would be difficult to comprehend. This is precisely what happens when young children are read a story about which they have little background knowledge.
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Written by BRWI Staff on April 21, 2010
As a teacher, I have been taught to provide activities that engage prior knowledge before continuing with a lesson. The purpose being to make sure students have the background knowledge necessary so that they can relate to the new concepts being presented. It may seem as though providing prior knowledge activities would be more complex at the high school or college level. However, the opposite
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Written by Laura on March 15, 2010
Making the transition from books that simply label objects on a page to books that tell a story can sometimes be a difficult transition for both the child and the parent. Young children tend to have very short attention spans and interest is often lost quickly. Making connections to real-world experiences can help, however, to keep your child’s attention because he will be thoroughly engag
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Written by BRWI Staff on February 24, 2010
Not many people have studied and are able to speak or understand the Greek language. This is what makes the phrase, “It’s all Greek to me” so appropriate when we don’t understand a topic, especially when referring to a set of terms which apply to a certain field. For example, as an early childhood educator, I easily understand the meaning behind words and acronyms includi
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Written by Laura on January 27, 2010
Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence to teach your preschooler the joy of reading and writing.
Sponsored by Bridges Reading & Writing Institute -- teaching the JOY of reading and writing to students in preschool through 12th grade.
