I’m not a teacher; not by a long shot. In fact, I’ve had a lot of trouble making sure my 3 year old stays up to par academically. I feel as though my teaching strategy (or non teaching strategy) isn’t helping her much at all. And with her school still closed, a lot of the time I feel as if she’d fall way behind – and I just can’t let that happen. So here are a few things I do keep her on point…
Make EVERYTHING a Learning Experience
One of the most important things I’ve learned to do, is make everyday experiences something to learn from. Kenzie (my baby girl) is already very smart, but I’m still careful to make sure she enhances her knowledge and grows daily.
When Kenzie asks me a question, such as “Can I have some juice” my response would be something like, “Yes, you can have some juice, but only if you can tell me what color it is.” Then let’s say the juice is red, I’ll then ask her what letter red starts with. Another example would be, when cleaning up her toys, I’d ask her to pick up the big toys first, then the small ones. Or maybe Even have her put them away according to their colors. This can be done with pretty much anything, at home or outside. For me, this method is fun, it keeps her thinking and it gets the job done.
We also made up a cute little song to teach her how to spell her name. If your child has a hard time memorizing how to spell their name (or difficulties with anything else) try putting it into a rhyme, if you can. Kids love that!
Stay in Touch With Your Child’s Teacher, If Possible
Although Kenzie is still being homeschooled until Sept., her school has been pretty good with keeping up with our progress at home. Her teacher will send daily activities for us to go over, meet up with us via zoom once a week and she even has a computer based program for us to practice lessons on. This has been great for me! Without her guidance, I don’t where we’d be. So if you have access to your child’s teacher, use them! You can also get your own workbooks appropriate for your child’s age or learning level, from places like Walgreens, Five Below and Amazon.
And since most toddlers love being on their tablets so much, make sure they’re using it to their benefit. Kenzie is only allowed to play or watch educational games and shows. Don’t let them sit around for hours a day watching things that’ll turn their brains to mush.
Use Bigger Vocabulary
I know, your kid is sooo cute and you just love to talk to them like a baby. But stop it! Speaking to them using more advanced words helps them tremendously. I’m not saying to go all “Einstein” on them, but speak as if you were having a regular, intelligent, adult conversation. I notice that Kenzie picks up on everything we say and do. It surprises me sometimes how mature she, and other children, speak just by mimicking the conversations around them (so be careful what comes out of your mouth! 🤭). A heightened vocabulary does wonders for reading.
YOUTUBE IT!
If all else fails, YouTube it! I get so many great ideas from YouTube and Pinterest in regards to playtime ideas and craft activities. It’s amazing how creative and knowledgeable people are. Don’t be afraid to look for help if you need it! We’re not perfect, we’re just parents!
How do you keep your child academically in line without being in school? What tips could you give other parents? Let’s talk! Leave a comment below!
And don’t forget to head on over to HeadSlay for some cool accessories and Dad Caps!
TTYL,
Lexi 💋
