How to Help Your Preschool Child Learn Shapes, ABC's or Numbers

Does your preschool child learn by "hands-on" experience? Use this simple, homemade game to help your preschool child learn shapes, numbers, and ABC's.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brown paper bags (lunch sack size)
• Crayons or markers
• Yarn or string
• Paper
• Scissors
• Glue or tape
• Hole punch
• Index cards

1. 
    

   Decide on what you're going to "study". Let's say you want to reinforce shapes with your preschool child. Using construction paper, draw each shape (square, rectangle, triangle, circle, hexagon, oval, etc.) and cut out each one. If you want to make the shapes a bit more sturdy, use index cards or cardstock.

2. 
    

   Glue or tape one shape to the front of a brown paper bag (the ones used for lunch sacks are the perfect size). Depending on how technical you want to get, you can also write the name of the shape on the corresponding bag.

3. Punch holes in the top of each brown paper sack and string yarn or string through, so the bag can be hung on a door knob.

4. 
    

   As your child hides, hang the bags around the house everywhere. Next, give your child a brown paper bag (decorated if you like) with the stack of random shapes you have colored and cut from paper or index cards.

5. The child's job is to go around, find the bags and put the correct shape into each bag. My daughter used to say she was a "mail-girl" and was delivering the shapes. Once the child is finished, go around to each bag and see if they put the correct shapes into the corresponding bags. Your preschool child will learn shapes via hands-on experience. (C)Susan H. Pardoe 2008

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using this preschool game for learning math facts, it can be done several ways. On the bag, you could put the sum and then give the child index cards with addition facts on it. Ask them to place the addition fact into the bag that has the correct sum. The same could be done with subtraction, multiplication and division facts.
• For a phonics game - put on the outside of each bag the blends or sound the child is currently learning or reviewing. Then, give the child printed words (on index cards). Tell them to place the word into the bag that has the correct phonics sound. This one of course would work for a child who is reading.
• Cut out several sizes of the shapes - small, medium, large. That way, you can sit with your child and discuss sizes too.
• Have fun! One of our favorite aspects of homeschooling is that our children can learn "outside the box". We can tailor games, activities, etc. to each individual child and help them to learn in a way that makes sense to just them.
• This preschool game may become so popular with your preschoolers, you'll have to make several sets!

Resources

• Design Your Own Preschool Curriculum by Susan Franklin
• How To Create an ABC Scrapbook Photo Album for Children
• How To Recycle Crayola Crayons
• How To: Popsicle Puzzles for Children
• How To Show Your Children They Are Loved
• More Articles by Susan

[BrendasHotBuys]

on 12/12/2008 Excellent tips and strategies, Susan!

[flor2729]

on 10/17/2008 Great creative game to help preschoolers. Thanks.