Learning Fun!

[TAT191]

I was wondering what everyday things you use for learning fun? We do alot with Legos (counting, sorting ...) & UNO is a great game to play (colors, numbers & matching). What are you doing with your preschooler? I just love new ideas!

[Shawn]

With the baby we count body parts and do basic math, (2 hands times 5 fingers = 10 fingers.) His big brother sings him the ABC's. I hope he is absorbing some of this knowledge :eusa_thin

With our oldest we have had puzzles in his hands since he was old enough to sit up. We found some bright plastic disney puzzles, the pieces were big and molded in curved (3d ish) shapes. They were 6 or 8 piece puzzles. Then came the alphabet puzzles, number puzzles, animal puzzles. When he was 3, I bought him a 100 piece USA map puzzle, a big 2 foot by 3 foot deal. He was able to put it together alone by the time he was 4. His favorite state is Texas :biggrin2: .

We also have had books in front of him since before he had teeth, I remember this because of the "gummed" board books. We also started collecting Dr Seuss books when he was a baby, and we are up to 70 something (Used Book Stores). We started teaching him to read with phonics, and he really took off after watching the Leap Frog videos.

The Letter Factory.
The Talking Word Factory
The Code Word Caper.

I never would have believed a video would teach someone to read, but these are great.

He has had legos since a baby as well, first those big fat ones. He now has a good collection of the little ones, and that is what he wants for his birthday and Christmas. I love the picture intruction books that come with these, teaches attention to detail and sequence of events. Also found him a lego board game at the Goodwill (missing one piece which we replaced), it has instruction cards for different projects. The first one who finishes his project wins the game, but we alway finish our projects at the end.

Is there a size limit to posting :rolleyes2

Then there is PlayDough, hours of fun. Playing a matching game with old maid cards, turn them all face down and take turns trying to remember where the right cards are to make matches.

My wife tells me that I wanted kids so I would have someone to play with :lol: , she is probably right.

[Dianna]

I'm on my way out the door to eat a watermellon with my in-laws (yum!), but quickly... my recently-turned-3yo daughter loves Lego blocks, Babybug magazine, and any toy that belongs to her three older brothers (sigh...). She learns so much by just playing. I'll write more later. :smile2:

Dianna

[TAT191]

Dianna,
That made me laugh. My now 3 yr. old has never wanted to play with his toys. He always wanted big bro's toys. What ever my 4 yr. old is into is what he asks for when x-mas or b-days come along. It makes it pretty hard to figure out what to get him. Nice to know that I am not the only "toy war" peice maker out there. :rolleyes2

[TAT191]

.... oh yeah. Shawn, it is nice to see a Dad out there! It will be good to hear the male perspective on things. :wave:

[jacki]

We do a variety of learning stuff, but I think when he plays on his own and uses his imagination he learns so much about the world around him. It's fun to watch. Out of 4 kids, he's really the only one who loves toys and really uses his imagination (other 3 kids same age-older and he's on his own which probably makes a difference). anyhow, more formally we use Brighter Vision and Mother Goose Preschool...informally we have lots of legos, blocks, free art (just cutting, pasting, coloring on own), playdough, cooking (mixing, playing), TONS of reading, Zoobooks, and I personally like the leappad and learning toys. Those aren't his favorites but I think its because he doesn't get to use his imagination with them. He also likes music and singing and the occasional videos (loves baby einstein)....We also play some games and puzzles. When its nice, we're outside a bit (he loves picnics and the sandbox)