Teaching a 4 yr old...?

Question

what would be some creative ways to teach my daughter her numbers and letters. I have one system but I dont want her to get bored with it...any ideas?

Answer 1

Go to your local school supply store,and read DR Seuss to her.

Answer 2

We have been using the Leap Frog system.  Especially the videos.  Ever since we started them 6 months ago, my 4 year old can now identify letters by site AND sound, is reading & writing 3 letter word, can spell is 6 letter name by himself, knows all his numbers up to 20 and can count to 37 with out missing, and is adding & subtracting single didgit problems.  We used the videos with the Leap Pad, but he recieved a Leapster for Christmas from a grandparent and I am finding they have much better games.  Hope this helps.

Answer 3

just keep reading to her

Answer 4

First - no pressure to learn.

Make it a game.  Letters & numbers and symbols  have to have meaning before they can be learned.

The best way to teach the letters is through reading to the child as often as you can.   If you pick simple books with few words & good clear pictures, your child will gradually realise that a certain combination of letter shapes alway means a certain word and they'll start reading with you.  Then they see that a certain combination of letters always makes the same sound in different words & you're well on the way to knowing letters as well as reading.  Also you can point out signs when you're out & about.  The clear ones with only a few words will also help reading skills.  also there are numerous games that include reading skills.

Relate numbers to objects then the symbol will have meaning.  Cooking is a big help with that.  You can get some good children's recipe books.   As you go you can also teach the child fractions - 1/2 an apple etc.  Also there are a lot of good games that involve numbers.

Answer 5

I didn't read the other answers so hopefully I am not repeating any....

I found the best way to teach letters is to teach there sound. After all the end purpose is to teach them to read and they read by knowing what the letter says, not what it is called. We sang the alphabet phonetically when my kids were young. I taught my four year old to read in only a few weeks. Now he is 10 and reading at age 17 level.

I made letter cards that you could match up into words. They didn't have to be real words, they were funny as made up words too. But the point was that it made it fun to read.

Another hint is to make it big and bold. It is easier for them to process.

Now, the numbers are good to know, but again they are meaningless without value. One book I read insists on fabulous results with dots. You make cards with big red dots on them, show them the card and tell them the value. Apparently children have learned this to values of 100 and can easily determine between a card of 72 and 75 for example.

I did do this with my kids, but not enough to see miraculous results. I do think it helped them though. If you have the time. You can teach them adding etc. Then teach them the symbol for the amount.

Most four year olds will learn to read easily. I realize now I could have done it much earlier.

Make it fun, make it a reward. Post words on to objects around the house. This is great for them to remember words.

Some people make videos of themselves holding up big letter cards etc. She would love to be a part of her own teaching video!

Answer 6

make differnt voices and use colorful letters and numbers also use references to things in the house even label them with her together. Ch-Ch-Chair thne you put a piece of papers ont he chair with the word and picture. And repeate this until she can place them on her own.

Answer 7

hey! use videos you know the ones where they teach children useful things, my 5 year old cousin learned allot that way and he knows three languages already.

Answer 8

I purchased some alphabet bean bags and we have used them in a variety of ways.  You can find them at teacher supply stores or online.  One side of the bean bag, had the upper case letter, the backside had the lower case.  I used to toss them in her room, like 5-10 at a time.. and ask her to pick up a "letter A', etc.  She could bring them to me, or place them in a bag, or put the "B" on her head, shoulder, etc.

Another idea is magetic letters.  We used them on the dishwasher, refridgerator, and even in the bathtub at bathtime!! Use an old measuring cup for a scoop and ask him/her to scoop up certain letters, etc. Be creative!! Once letter recognition is coming easy for him/her, then you can begin introducing sounds.  I started with the vowels.  I have a great vowel song..

To the tune of Are you Sleeping??

A says AAAHH  AAAHHH

E says EEEHH EEEHH

I says IIIHH IIIHH IIIIH IIIHHH

O says OOHHH OOOHH

U says UUUHHH UUUHH

I know my vowels, A E I O U!

Again, be creative.  You can do it! Good luck