The holiday break is an exciting time for preschoolers, filled with festivities and family gatherings. However, it’s important to ensure that the learning momentum doesn’t come to a halt during this period. In this blog, we will provide teachers with a quick guide to help parents retain their preschoolers’ learning during the holiday break. Let’s dive in!
1. Encourage Reading: Reading is a fantastic way to keep young minds engaged and learning. Encourage parents to set aside some time each day for reading with their preschoolers. This can be done through bedtime stories or by exploring new books together. Encourage parents to ask questions about the story and engage in discussions to enhance comprehension skills.
2. Fun Learning Activities: Suggest fun and educational activities that parents can do with their preschoolers during the break. This could include arts and crafts projects, science experiments, cooking or baking together, or even simple math games using Christmas objects. These activities not only reinforce learning but also create lasting memories.
3. Virtual Field Trips: While physical field trips may not be possible during the holiday break, virtual field trips provide an excellent alternative. Encourage parents to explore online resources that offer virtual tours of museums, zoos, and other educational sites. This way, preschoolers can continue to learn about the world from the comfort of their homes.
4. Keep a Journal: Encourage parents to help their preschoolers maintain a holiday journal. This can be a simple notebook where children can draw pictures or write about their daily experiences. It not only enhances their creativity but also helps develop writing and communication skills. Their journals will be a great resource for children to share with classmates when returning to school.
5. Learning Apps and Websites: Recommend educational apps and websites that parents can use to supplement their preschoolers’ learning. There are numerous interactive platforms available that offer age-appropriate games, puzzles, and educational content. Parents can set aside specific screen time for their children to engage with these resources.
6. Engage in Imaginative Play: Imaginative play is crucial for preschoolers’ cognitive and social development. Encourage parents to incorporate children’s gifts received during the holidays to ask questions, build items, or simply provide descriptions of their gifts. This type of play helps children develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and language development.
7. Build your own learning and play library by finding puzzles and games similar to the ones linked here. These activities can help keep your little one’s mind active, improve critical thinking skills, and sharpen fine motor and memory skills.
The holiday break doesn’t have to be a pause in your preschoolers’ learning journey. By following these simple tips, teachers can empower parents to continue fostering their children’s growth and development during this festive period. Remember, learning can happen in various forms, and with a little creativity, the holiday break can become an opportunity for both fun and educational experiences.