Continue education at home with these fun activities for preschoolers

Many young children are excited to go to preschool for the very first time. There they are exposed to a variety of amusing activities which educate as well as evoke children's imagination and creativity. When preschoolers get home from school the fun and learning does not have to end, it can continue. There are many fun and educational activities that parents can do with children right in the comfort of home. Here are some activities that will build children's educational and cognitive skills. They will not only instill children with valuable knowledge but also nurture their senses and creative expression.

1. Cooking- Children love to to concoct their very own recipes and dip their fingers into different textures. That is why many children enjoy playing with mud and feeling grains of sand roll between their fingers while in a sand box. Allowing children to help cook a special recipe will not only offer a sensory delight, it will also teach children important math and science skills. When children are measuring ingredients they will be learning how to use forms of measurement. They will also become familiar with the process of telling time when they are waiting for the food to be finished cooking. Children can witness science in action when they see how ingredients come together to create something completely new and also how the elements change when they are exposed to heat.

2. Plant a seed- What better way then to teach your young child about science and the way things grow than to let them plant their very own seed in a cup of soil. This will give children the opportunity to take care of the seed by watering it and making sure it gets plenty of light each day. They can examine and keep track of their seed’s growth with a journal that they can fill with their very own drawings of the seed's changes. Before you know it their little seed will turn into a sprout that they may later plant outside in a garden. Seeing their little seed's transformation will make them proud and spark an appreciation of nature.

3. Crafts & counting- Children and parents can clear the kitchen table and claim a “fantastic crafts day”! Make macaroni necklaces by stringing yarn through the holes of the dry pasta as if they were beads. Ask child to count the macaroni pieces before they string together their necklace. They will be so excited for the completion of the “new jewelry” that they may not realize they are being quizzed. This is the best way of learning, to have fun while doing it rather than being lectured. The children can paint on clue and then sprinkle on some sparkles to add a glamorous finishing touch. This macaroni craft will also strengthen children's hand and eye coordination.

4. Play games- Preschoolers often come home from school tired and yearning to relax. The last thing they may want is to feel that their home has been turned into yet another classroom, so let them play instead and learn with games! Children will enjoy spending quality time with their family playing educational games. Parents can create a reading game with flash cards and a marker. Using the marker they can write vocabulary words that the children are familiar with on each card and then lay out three of the words on a table. The parents can then ask children to find or “pick-up” a word. Eventually the children will have mastered all of these vocabulary words. They will be able to read the words without the assistance of any verbal prompts and recognize these words in books. This game will surely boost their confidence in themselves as well as in the classroom!

5. Music & art- Music and art themed activities will enable preschoolers with a creative and relaxing outlet. Research has been shown that music and art aids children with their ability to focus and can heighten their self esteem. Singing songs with children which include counting, memorizing, and rhyming helps to build math and reading skills. When painting children can learn about the color wheel by mixing the primary paint colors together to create secondary and tertiary colors. They will be amazed with how the colors change and enthusiastic about creating the many different possibilities of color combinations.

Incorporating these fun and educational activities into quality time with children at home will strengthen both the children's knowledge as well as their family bonds.