Parents often face the challenge of finding ways to keep their toddler entertained and engaged while at home. The good news is getting them engaged in some fun learning activities would be a perfect way to do this! These activities will help your toddler to develop important skills such as problem-solving, fine motor, and cognitive skills. Additionally, doing these activities with your little one will promote bonding and attachment. According to experts, the early years are crucial for brain development, so it is essential to engage in activities that will stimulate your child’s brain. 

From doing simple crafts, to singing and dancing along to fun songs, to playing some cognitive games – there are plenty of fun learning activities that you can do at home with your toddler! 

Do simple crafts 

Crafting is a great way to encourage your toddler’s creativity and fine motor skills development. It also provides an excellent opportunity for you to bond with your child.

There are a number of simple crafts that you can do with your toddler. One option is to make homemade playdough. This is a great activity for younger toddlers, as it helps to develop their hand-eye coordination. For older toddlers, you can try making a collage or painting together. These activities will not only help to improve your child’s artistic skills, but they will also allow you to create lasting memories together.

Get moving with some fun songs and dances

Songs and dances are a great way to get your toddler moving while also promoting learning. There are a number of fun songs and dances that you can do with your little one. One of them is “Hokey Pokey.” This song is great for helping your child develop their gross motor skills. Additionally, it promotes cognitive development as your child has to follow the instructions in the song. Another fun option is the “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” This song helps promote fine motor skills development as your child has to make the spider crawl up the water spout.

Play cognitive games

Cognitive games are a great way to promote your child’s thinking and problem-solving skills. One fun game to play with your toddler is the “I Spy” game. This game requires your child to use their observational skills to find objects that you are looking for. Another fun option is the memory game. This game helps develop your child’s memory and concentration skills as they have to remember where certain objects are located.

Read some stories together

Reading stories together is a great way to promote your child’s language development. It is also a perfect opportunity for you to bond with your child. When reading stories with your toddler, it is crucial to make them interactive. Ask them questions about the story and encourage them to point out pictures they see. You can also try acting out the story together. This will help bring the story to life for your child and encourage them to use their imagination.

Play pretend games

Pretend games are a great way to encourage your child’s imagination and creativity. When playing pretend games with your toddler, it is important to let them take the lead. Encourage them to use their imagination and come up with new ideas. You can also try joining in on their fun by pretending to be another character in their game. This will help to further stimulate their imagination.

Do simple puzzles together

Puzzles are a great way to promote your child’s problem-solving skills. They are also a perfect opportunity for you to bond with your child. Start with simple puzzles that have large pieces. As your child becomes more proficient at solving puzzles, you can gradually move on to puzzles with smaller pieces.

Play matching games

Matching games can help promote a child’s cognitive development. They are also a lot of fun to play! There are several different matching games that you can play with your toddler. One option is to match pictures of animals with their corresponding names. Another fun option is to match colors with objects. For example, you can match a yellow color with a banana or a blue color with a balloon.

Use flashcards to teach new words

Flashcards are a great tool for teaching new words to your child. They are also a perfect way to bond with your child. When using flashcards with your toddler, it is important to make it fun and interactive. Try using different voices or funny faces when showing the flashcards to your child. You can also try playing games with the flashcards. For example, you can play a memory game where your child has to remember where certain cards are located.

These are just a few fun learning activities you can do at home with your toddler. By incorporating these activities into your daily routine, you can help to promote your child’s cognitive development and create lasting memories together.

Here at Young Scholars Academy, we aim to create an engaging learning environment, filled with meaningful fun activities that create such big memories, your kids will happily remember throughout the years! We pride ourselves in the quality of our establishment and maintain an environment that is clean, safe and loving for all. Our classrooms provide every child a place where they can explore, discover and enjoy learning through kinesthetic experiences.

 

There’s no need to wait until school to start teaching your child early math skills. Research has shown that math skills learned in early childhood can have a lasting impact on a child’s success in school and beyond. For preschoolers, some of the most important math skills include number recognition, counting, and sorting. These skills lay the foundation for more complex concepts like addition and subtraction. Therefore, parents and caregivers need to provide opportunities for children to practice these early math skills.  

Here are eight reasons why early math skills are so crucial for preschoolers:

Early math skills are predictive of later academic success

Studies have shown that children who have strong early math skills are more likely to excel in school than their peers who do not have such strong skills. The more they are exposed to math-oriented activities, the easier it will be for them to understand more complex math concepts later on.

Be sure to provide plenty of opportunities for your child to practice early math skills, such as counting, sorting, and identifying numbers. Introduce them to numbers in developmentally appropriate ways because it’s never too early to ignite a love for math!

They can strengthen problem-solving abilities

Preschoolers with strong early math skills are better equipped to handle problem-solving tasks than those who do not have the same level of skills. This is because early math skills take more than just learning how to count and add. It involves learning how to identify patterns and relationships, too.

For example, when children are sorting objects by color, they recognize a pattern. When counting, they identify a relationship between numbers and quantities. These skills will help them tremendously when encountering more complex problems later in life.

They can improve memory and concentration

Math also involves memorizing facts and information. Therefore, harnessing your little one’s early math skills can also help improve their memory and concentration.

When children count, they memorize the order of numbers. When they are sorting objects, they are committing specific attributes to memory. These early math skills help improve a child’s ability to remember things, which will be beneficial in school and beyond.

They can develop critical thinking skills

Many people believe that math is nothing more than a set of rules and procedures to be memorized. However, early math skills lay the foundation for critical thinking. For example, simple addition and subtraction problems require kids to learn how to break down complex problems into smaller steps. This ability to break down and solve complex problems is essential for success in school and the workplace. 

They can improve fine motor skills

Developing early math skills also involves a lot of fine motor skills. For example, when kids count objects, they often use their fingers to point to each object as they count. Or, when they sort objects, they use their hands to manipulate the objects.

All of these finger and hand movement helps improve fine motor skills, which are essential for tasks such as writing and drawing.

They can promote creativity

You might not think of math as a creative activity, but early math promotes creativity in young children. Early math is all about exploring, discovering, and trying new things. When children are given the opportunity to explore early math concepts, they often come up with creative solutions to problems.

Theycan foster a love for learning

When children are exposed to early math concepts in a fun and engaging way, it can help foster a love for learning. Math can be very intimidating for some, but if kids learn early on that math can be fun, they are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards the subject.

Consider introducing math concepts through play. There are tons of great math games and toys that your child will love. So bring on the math games! Not only will they be having fun, but they will also be developing the confidence they need to succeed in math.

They can lead to success in school and beyond

Early math skills lay the foundation for success in school and in life. Children who have strong early math skills are more likely to do well in math class and are more likely to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

It’s never too early to start developing your child’s early math skills. You can set your child up for a lifetime of success by starting now!

Here at Young Scholars Academy, we aim to create an engaging learning environment, filled with meaningful fun activities that create such big memories, your kids will happily remember throughout the years!

We pride ourselves in the quality of our establishment and maintain an environment that is clean, safe and loving for all. Our classrooms provide every child a place where they can explore, discover and enjoy learning through kinesthetic experiences.

 

The first few years of your baby’s life are a special time for you both to bond and get to know each other. However, you may need to return to work or resume your regular activities, which may mean transitioning your little one to a childcare setting. While we want them to be happy and safe and to have all the opportunities available to them for their growth and development, the decision to leave them in a childcare setting isn’t as easy as it sounds. But the good news is there are some things you can do to help ease the transition for both of you. 

Talk about it ahead of time

Being left in a new, unfamiliar environment can be daunting for your little one. Help your child get ready for the transition by talking about it ahead of time. Explain what will happen, who they will be with, and what they will be doing. Encourage them to ask questions, too. This will help them feel more comfortable and confident about the new situation. It will also help ease their anxiety and give them a better understanding of what to expect.

Schedule a visit

If possible, schedule a visit to the childcare facility a few weeks before sending your little one to a childcare center so your child can get familiar with the surroundings. This will help reduce any anxiety they may have about being in a new place.

Get to know the staff

It’s important that you feel comfortable and confident with the staff taking care of your child. If you can, get to know them ahead of time and learn about their qualifications and experience. Take time to ask more questions and learn more about their programs and activities. This will help you feel more comfortable leaving your child in their care. It will also help put your mind at ease knowing your child is in good hands.

Pack their favorite things

Pack your child’s favorite things, like a blanket or stuffed animal, to help them feel comfortable and secure in the new setting. These items will also give them a sense of familiarity and help ease any anxiety they may have about being in a new place.

Prepare for separation

When it’s time to say goodbye, do it with confidence and assurance. Let your child know that you will be back to pick them up soon and that they will be taken care of in the meantime. There’s no need to prolong your goodbye or make it overly emotional. Just a quick hug and kiss will do. This will help your child feel more confident and secure about being left in the childcare setting.

Be flexible

Be prepared to be flexible with your schedule, especially in the beginning. There may be days when your child will have difficulty adjusting to the new routine and needs some extra time to transition. If this happens, try not to get too frustrated or upset. Just be patient and understanding, and give them the time to adjust. Eventually, things will settle down, and they’ll be back to their usual self.

Stay positive

It’s important that you stay positive about the whole experience, both for your sake and your child’s. If you’re feeling anxious or stressed about the transition, your child will likely pick up and feel the same way. So try to stay calm and positive, and focus on the excitement of all the new things your child will experience in childcare.

Be involved

Last but not least, stay involved in your child’s life even when you are not with them. Find out how the staff is doing and what they are doing each day. You will feel more connected to your child and their experiences in childcare. Additionally, it will show your child that you care about them and are interested in what they do even when you are not with them.

Entrusting your little one to a childcare facility can be tough for any parent. But with these tips, you’ll both be ready for this new adventure!

Young Scholars Academy daycare has a wide and wonderful variety of programs to help you with all of your childcare needs! We have childcare programs for children age 6 weeks to 14 years! Visit us to learn more!