How to teach my 3 year old at home?

Question

I am temporarily pulling my daughter out of daycare since I will be out of work on leave for a few months (better financially)..how can I continue her development? Are there workbooks and other things that I can use to teach her while we have mommy/daughter time together? Thanks..

Answer 1

Workbooks are overrated.  =D

The suggestions for reading are spot on. Spend lots of time at the library. Go for toddler story hour, etc.

But, I will say, in terms of workbook-related things, I do admit I'm fond of the Leappad. I never thought I would, but I think they connect concepts about reading and phonics for my daughter that I just wouldn't have been able to figure out on my own.

Do things you both enjoy. Art? Growing plants? Cooking? Playdoh? Swimming? Dancing? There are so many things to teach her outside of what we think should be important. My three year old loves coming up with stories, for instance. We make little books out of paper, and I write down the story and she illustrates each page . We do a lot of little things like that.

I'm a SAHM, and my daughter knows her alphabet and numbers and shapes and colors better than her older cousins, who go to daycare and preschool. And she learned it indirectly from our daily activities.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is ... well, I have no idea what I'm trying to say. But have fun and enjoy your time with her! Don't feel pressured to continue a curriculum. You can learn a lot about shapes from rolling & cutting out cookies together, or going outside and picking up different leaves.

Answer 2

There are workbooks that you can get for toddlers, however I would not push them.  Young children learn best hands on, and at her age learning should be fun.  So get the workbooks, but also try other things (I have one child who loved workbooks and another who despised them-both are smart, they just have different learning styles).

There is a book called Ready For Kindergarten, I believe the author is Sharon Wilcox but I am not sure.  It has different activities for preschool aged children to teach them different skills.  It is wonderful, and I highly recommend it.

The "What Your ___ Grader Needs To Know" series now has a new version for Preschoolers.  I saw it on the shelf at the book store last week, but did not look at it as my older two are well past that stage and it is still a while before the baby gets there.  The series is great, though, so I am sure that book will be no different.

Buy cookie cutters and bake cookies.  She can spell her name using the cookies, etc.  You can also use the cutters for sandwhiches and other things, such as making little decorations in arts and crafts.

Refrigerator magnets!  Letter and number skills can be practiced while you cook.

Check your local library for titles such as "More than Magnets" and "Story Stretchers".  Story Stretchers gives you ideas of incorporating children's literature into math, etc.  

Go on nature walks, blow bubbles, do arts and crafts activities.  Measuring ingredients while cooking introduces math skills, blending chalk colors on the side walk is also a science lesson.  

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

Many educators/child psychologists, etc., state that a by the time a child is 5 he/she has learned 1/4th of everything he/she will ever learn.  Imagine the tremendous amount of learning that involves!  During this time a parent 'can' push  a child to learn a specific thing, i.e., the states and their capitals, how to play a piano, how to play golf, how to spell, etc., BUT in doing that the parent is robbing the child of so much.  The child that is pushed to 'learn' facts, figures, etc., is in reality learning an emotional/social behavior---mommy is happy when I can spell a big word, mommy is not happy when I can't.  Is that really how you want your child to precieve you?  

A 3 year old girl is a little child.  She is FORTUNATE that you are going to be home with her.  For the entire time you are home, she will have YOU to emulate, to follow.  She will learn so much by the time you spend with her--looking at flowers, singing a silly song, taking long walks, being kind to people and animals, putting work before play -- all of the things that are a part of daily life that will give her the firm moral foundation you want her to have for her life.  Don't rob her of all of this learning to try to get her to learn things that are best left until 6, 7 8 etc.

We have pushed our children to the point that today there is a higher suicide rate among children than ever before.  Teach her by your love, by your example, and you greatly increase the probability your child will grow to a well adjusted, intelligent perosn because she was allowed to be a child when she was a child.

Answer 4

she's 3 -let her act her age.  continue doing what you've always done.  there's plenty of time for a formal education later.  read daily and get rid of the TV.

Answer 5

I think the best thing to do is not make it "learning time", don't push anything.  Make everything a game or fun.  If you happen to be playing with play doe, make some letters, or shapes.  If she asks you to do more do more, if she isn't interested she isn't interested.  

When she does go to school you don't want her to be bored, because she knows everything.  It is a very hard balance to do, because I know my little guy seemed like a sponge, just ready to learn stuff, and he is very smart, but I am also worried about will he know too much stuff, and be bored in school and act out.  

Being with your daughter, and just teaching her that you love her, and love being with her no matter what is the most imporant thing.   Reading is huge.  Reading does so many things, time together, let her ask questions, stop and ask her questions about what the pictures.  I agree with the TV though, no TV, or limited amounts.  Go out doors.  Fresh air is so important.  Play dates, or groups.  Do things she likes to do.  My son likes those workbooks, and I let him pick which ones he wants. They have ones on mazes, or dot to dots.  Sticker ones are fun for my daughter.  I don't force him to do the books.  He can pick anything, coloring books, blank sheets, painting,.....same with my daughter.  

You are already doing a great job, researching, and looking for answers.  You sound like a smart mom, who will just naturally have a smart daughter.  I think you should just trust your parenting skills.

Answer 6

One of the best things you can do for her and with her is read to her.  You might get color books and color with her.  Go to the library if possible and get books with different animals and things and say the names with her.  Make learning the alphabet and the sounds of each letter a game.(ex   buh, buh, ball,etc) Show the letter when you are saying it. Mention colors, like "get the red book" so she learns colors.  You do not have to buy materials as most of them are "busy work." Time with her is the very best and limit the TV.

Answer 7

I found the book, You are your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin really useful. It has a lot of ideas. At this age, children learn best through play, not through workbooks. You can learn more by looking into Waldorf and Montessori. There are many things you can do at home. You might have seen in your search for preschools some that say they are "play-based."  This is the idea that the brain is developing the parts that are affected by the senses and through physical doing.