I want to make learning fun for my 3 yr old, What can I do?

Question

I dont want her to learn her ABCs and numbers regimentaly but in a fun way.

Answer 1

Omg, have you heard of Word World, it's on PBS and it's amazing. It's all about words and learning to spell, my 2yr old loves it, you can buy the learning toys at Target.  Seriously check it out.....your lil one will love it too! And it's really cute and a fun way to learn!

Answer 2

Play games.  READ.  I like to find fun activities on line.  You can go to

http://www.abcteach.com/directory/basics...

http://preschoolprintables.com/

http://www.first-school.ws/

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/

Find ideas that match what you are thinking. Last year we did a preschool co-op with other mothers in the neighborhood.  It was fun for the kids and then they got to have playdates as well.  Good luck.

Answer 3

don't teach her to "write" her ABCs, teach her to "draw" them

if she likes drawing and copying she will love copying your letters

point out letters everywhere you go--on stop signs, at the mall, on the computer, and she will be delighted if she can recognize a few

Answer 4

Don't focus on ABCs and numbers with a three year old - just do interesting activities that she enjoys and show her how you use letters and numbers as part of your everyday life...she'll pick up on the bulk of it without being "taught" over time.  

Read her lots of books, let her see you reading (books, magazines, whatever)

Sing songs that have counting and letter sounds in them (that's what all those nursery rhymes are for, really.)

Let her see you writing (lists for the store, thank you notes) Let her send mail (postcards, pictures, etc.) to family and friends.

Let her see you using numbers - counting eggs for a recipe, measuring when you cook, finding a certain page in a book using page numbers, using a rule or tape measure to cut a picture for a frame or hang something on the wall, total your grocery bill...whatever you normally do.

I am sure she will want to "help"  or see what you are doing if she sees you doing it and knows it's something you value.

Letters and numbers are an important part of how the world works...so just show her how the world works and she will inadvertently learn - or at least learn they are important, which will motivate her to want to know more.  Don't worry if she doesn't do it "right" - praise her effort and model the correct way for her...she'll pick up on the difference between her version and yours over time.

Just have fun with your little one...the letters and numbers will come over time.  I think most kindergarten teachers would agree that kids don't need to arrive at school knowing everything - check in with your local school system to find out what they really expect of incoming kindergarten students...three is really young to be worrying about letters and numbers.

Answer 5

sesame street?

thats how i learned :)

~kitty

Answer 6

I am teaching my kids to read this summer using a program designed for three year olds that is sooo fun.

1)We have two puppets that my kids are "teaching" to read.  The puppets act silly and get giggles from my kids all the time.  One puppet thinks he knows it all, but doesn't.  The other one is a slow learner and the kids love to explain things to her over and over again.

2)We also have a sound monster (made out of a cereal box and a monster picture) who will only snack on things that start with the sound of the day.  The kids love finding things to feed him.

3)We hide the letters (I call them sounds because we are doing phonics and sometimes it isn't a single letter) all over the house and let the kids find them throughout the day.

4)We play with the leap frog fridge magnets, they are so fun.

5)We play a fun game called blocks that we learned in a book*.  They get little treats and without even realizing it practice making the sounds hundreds of times in just a few minutes each day.  This particular game was magic for my son who didn't seem to learn the letters any other way.

for counting, just count everything, count the stairs as you go up, count cookies, count everything, the repetition will help so much.