5 Simple Ways to Make Learning More Fun for Little Ones

Adulting can be a complicated process. Imagine our first years of life where there is so much to learn, which can easily become an overwhelming time in our lives. In early childhood educational settings there may numerous factors influencing child development in their learning environment. As a caregiver, you often work to enhance teachable moments at home without overstimulating or creating a burdensome task for either one of you. Ask for support or feedback from educators to find ways to best supplement learning paths from school. If you’re in need of reading, writing, or other resources, check in with a teacher or educational consultant    to help research activities for your child’s benefit. Learning is a lifelong process. With that thought in mind, here are 5 simple ways to make learning more fun for our little ones.

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5 Simple Ways to Make Learning More Fun for Little Ones

1. Creative Crafts

(Literacy and Fine Motor Skills Development)

Little ones often enjoy opportunities to get their hands messy, during activities such as finger painting or using modeling clay and this enthusiasm and curiosity leads to learning more about the world. At home, families can incorporate literacy level and fine motor skills skills into crafting projects involving age-appropriate, easy-to-find, and affordable supplies. 

For example, tracing exercises with little learners that are able to draw, yet aren’t ready for writing helps with mastering hand-object coordination. Build early-reading literacy skills by inviting children to create self-portraits with written or dictated descriptions of the illustration. Expand the project with open-ended conversations about their creation. These activities help support the advancement of speech and writing skill levels.

Consider setting up a project area on table or desk with paper and crayons, pencils, or markers. Take objects from around the area, like bowls, dolls, or wooden toys, for them to trace on sheets of paper. Allow your child to lay the objects down flat on the paper and outline their shapes. They can also get creative by tracing their (and your) hands. Encourage creative ways to fill in open spaces with a variety of shapes, patterns, and colors for an inspired work of art!

2. Nature's Best 

(Nature Exploration and Appreciation)

Do you have a green thumb? Spending time outdoors in nature might be a way to nurture a love of nature in children. Gardening together can be a rewarding opportunity to connect and motivate them to appreciate nature.

Whether you have an outdoor garden or indoor plants to care for (or both), young learners can help care for the science of nature. By helping to bury seeds, water, and maintain plants or flowers, curious minds become more appreciative of Mother Nature and the responsibility of caring for the planet. 

Encourage little ones to explore the soil. Add on the the process by also looking up different names of flowers and plants online to decide the best options and best times to plant. 

If there isn't excitement toward garden activities, consider sand, bubbles, or water play outdoors for them to enjoy. In time, a natural curiosity about nature is likely to take place.

3. Number Fun

(Math and Language Skills)

Understanding number concepts by using time helps little ones learn to count leading to being able to know how to tell time. Learning how to tell time for kids also builds on emerging math and language developmental skills, as well as pattern recognition. Beginning to understand how to tell time helps with boosting independence, as daily schedules encourage time management.

Making number activities more fun can seem challenging, however when learning becomes more like a game, children are more likely to gain interest. 

Have fun by creating an activity in which busy hands can play around by create clay hands for a clock face to printed on a piece of construction paper or draw (trace) the numbers 1-12 around a circle. Also, ask your child to move clock hands or show numbers to represent specific times such as 1 o'clock or 6 o'clock to encourage the use of time vocabulary, “AM” and “PM”, and understanding the concept of 24 hours in a day.

4. Imaginative Play

(Language, Literacy, and Creativity Skills Development)

The delight of being able to go out to eat a meal can be a fun experience for children as well as a learning experience. One way to spark your child's imagination is by creating your own restaurant vibe before, during, and after dinner. Start by creating a menu together, coming up with meal ideas, and then writing down the names of the meal options on a creative menu.

Suggest the idea of creating a name to design on a sign for your restaurant. Whether you're creating a food truck, sit-down or takeout restaurant, use food containers to pretend to serve orders. Colorful labels on each container can be used to include language, literacy, and creativity skills.

Creating a restaurant theme at home can also involve your child in helping out around the kitchen, by finding ingredients in the refrigerator or cabinets. Kids may also help with some age-appropriate cooking tasks while supervised and setting the table to learn more about safety and organization.

5. Music and Movement

(Language Development and Gross Motor Skills)

Streaming music or YouTube videos are a lively way to spend time dancing with the little ones! Music and movement activities will be great for fitness as they are jumping around to upbeat tunes. These moves are strengthening gross motor skills and coordination plus language development while singing along to songs. 

Working in time for some exercise during music time can build endurance in physical activities for kids. Fitness is important for helping build strong muscles and bones and putting excess energy to good use.

Invite family and friends over to join in on all of the fun and ask them to help you choose songs or even have a dance battle competition against one another. Keep plenty of water available to stay hydrated!

With little learners, the word “learning” should be in the same sentence as the word “fun.” With proper planning, as you ignite your child’s imagination, many activities become more interesting and also teach valuable skills for becoming well-rounded, competent adults in the future.

Early childhood includes physical and mental developmental years which are an important foundation for your child to grow into a healthy future.

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