What to do in the Early Years
The years prior to starting formal primary education are referred to as the Early Years. You may hear terms such as pre-school, but we believe that every day is a day for education, so we just say the early years. During these years, which start as soon as your baby is born, you are the master of all things -- you are equipping your child with the skills needed to read, write, and understand the world.
The Early Years are critical for a young child because they lay the foundation for the rest of their education (and lives!). During these years, children learn to read, write, speak, and do basic math. In fact, you shouldn't start your children on Year One until they can read basic words, write a little, and do simple math operations.
The Early Years are critical for a young child because they lay the foundation for the rest of their education (and lives!). During these years, children learn to read, write, speak, and do basic math. In fact, you shouldn't start your children on Year One until they can read basic words, write a little, and do simple math operations.
From Birth to Two
The first two years of your child's life, the primary focus will be on what you do.
Speaking
During this time, you need to be talking to your child every day for as much time as possible. Talk about anything and everything, even when it seems silly to you. By doing so, you are fostering excellent communication and literacy skills. Many studies show that children pick up grammar and usage skills by listening to adults talk. Be sure to ask questions, point things out.
It is highly recommended that you do not give your child a device. Educational shows and distractions are the worst possible things you can give your child during (and after) the formative years) -- they delay development in social skills, literacy skills, and attention spans. No television. No computers. No phones. Your child needs to chance to explore the world and he can't do that if you are always distracting him. The only thing that should be teaching your child is you and your family, and that should be with words, activities, etc.
It is also highly recommended that if you have a smart phone, you never use it in front of your child. Get rid of it -- smart phones were intended for increased productivity, but what most adults use it for is mindless distraction that interferes with daily living. In fact, if you must keep it, treat it like a phone and not a distraction device. If you are not actually speaking to somebody, it should be put away. Many studies have been done by professionals that show parents who have smart phones are more likely to ignore their child, thus young children do not get the social interaction time needed to properly develop listening, speaking, and learning skills.
Reading
If you don't have a lot of books, get a library card because you are going to need it. Read morning, noon, and night to your children. You can read whatever you want, grown up books, kid books -- it doesn't matter. Just read. Children love books and they love stories. Get used to reading aloud....everything out loud.
The youngest years are not so much about content, but about developing a love for learning. Something about being read to pleases little kids. And if you do it often enough and treat it as something enjoyable, then your children will always see it as a positive activity.
Writing
Most little kids aren't introduced to the idea of holding a pencil until they are almost four, but that is a mistake. You can, and should, introduce holding pencils (just make sure they aren't super sharp) and crayons as early as 18 months old. The key to teaching a child to write and hold a writing tool is to do it with the child.
Carve out time every day where you sit down with your tot to color and write. Get a stack of paper and sit next to the child. Put writing supplies in front of the child. You just start writing and coloring. The child will naturally mimic your actions.
When you start writing with a pencil, watch to see how the child is holding it. If it is full-fisted, stop and show them how you are doing it -- ask the child to hold it like you. Correct it, but don't say, "You're doing it wrong." Just correct once each day you sit down. If the child reverts, don't do anything just yet. Just remember to consistently remind them to look at how you are holding your tool.
Do this consistently and by the time your child enter Year One, you shouldn't have a problem. But the key is to write all the time next to your child.
It would also be okay to draw shapes and lines with your child at this stage. They may not be able to draw squares, but they will try if you make it seem like it's important :)
Math Skills
Nobody is expecting your baby to add, but you can introduce number sense and basic arithmetic very early. Math in everything we do from cutting a sandwich in half (fractions) to deciding how many carrots you put into a lunchbox. When you feed your little child, count out how you give of each thing. You can also aside some time to write the numbers out as you say them.
Logic Skills
You can start teaching early logic concepts by having a few wooden puzzles on hand. Sit with your child and help them master puzzles.
Manners and Directions
The best way to teach manners is to lead by example. Teach your kid to say please, thank you, I'm sorry, excuse me by doing those things yourself. And not just with interactions with the child, but with everybody around you.
Patience can be taught by playing "stop and go" games.
You can teach your children to follow directions by playing primitive scavenger hunts, asking them to do something simple (like get a towel out of the bathroom).
Speaking
During this time, you need to be talking to your child every day for as much time as possible. Talk about anything and everything, even when it seems silly to you. By doing so, you are fostering excellent communication and literacy skills. Many studies show that children pick up grammar and usage skills by listening to adults talk. Be sure to ask questions, point things out.
It is highly recommended that you do not give your child a device. Educational shows and distractions are the worst possible things you can give your child during (and after) the formative years) -- they delay development in social skills, literacy skills, and attention spans. No television. No computers. No phones. Your child needs to chance to explore the world and he can't do that if you are always distracting him. The only thing that should be teaching your child is you and your family, and that should be with words, activities, etc.
It is also highly recommended that if you have a smart phone, you never use it in front of your child. Get rid of it -- smart phones were intended for increased productivity, but what most adults use it for is mindless distraction that interferes with daily living. In fact, if you must keep it, treat it like a phone and not a distraction device. If you are not actually speaking to somebody, it should be put away. Many studies have been done by professionals that show parents who have smart phones are more likely to ignore their child, thus young children do not get the social interaction time needed to properly develop listening, speaking, and learning skills.
Reading
If you don't have a lot of books, get a library card because you are going to need it. Read morning, noon, and night to your children. You can read whatever you want, grown up books, kid books -- it doesn't matter. Just read. Children love books and they love stories. Get used to reading aloud....everything out loud.
The youngest years are not so much about content, but about developing a love for learning. Something about being read to pleases little kids. And if you do it often enough and treat it as something enjoyable, then your children will always see it as a positive activity.
Writing
Most little kids aren't introduced to the idea of holding a pencil until they are almost four, but that is a mistake. You can, and should, introduce holding pencils (just make sure they aren't super sharp) and crayons as early as 18 months old. The key to teaching a child to write and hold a writing tool is to do it with the child.
Carve out time every day where you sit down with your tot to color and write. Get a stack of paper and sit next to the child. Put writing supplies in front of the child. You just start writing and coloring. The child will naturally mimic your actions.
When you start writing with a pencil, watch to see how the child is holding it. If it is full-fisted, stop and show them how you are doing it -- ask the child to hold it like you. Correct it, but don't say, "You're doing it wrong." Just correct once each day you sit down. If the child reverts, don't do anything just yet. Just remember to consistently remind them to look at how you are holding your tool.
Do this consistently and by the time your child enter Year One, you shouldn't have a problem. But the key is to write all the time next to your child.
It would also be okay to draw shapes and lines with your child at this stage. They may not be able to draw squares, but they will try if you make it seem like it's important :)
Math Skills
Nobody is expecting your baby to add, but you can introduce number sense and basic arithmetic very early. Math in everything we do from cutting a sandwich in half (fractions) to deciding how many carrots you put into a lunchbox. When you feed your little child, count out how you give of each thing. You can also aside some time to write the numbers out as you say them.
Logic Skills
You can start teaching early logic concepts by having a few wooden puzzles on hand. Sit with your child and help them master puzzles.
Manners and Directions
The best way to teach manners is to lead by example. Teach your kid to say please, thank you, I'm sorry, excuse me by doing those things yourself. And not just with interactions with the child, but with everybody around you.
Patience can be taught by playing "stop and go" games.
You can teach your children to follow directions by playing primitive scavenger hunts, asking them to do something simple (like get a towel out of the bathroom).
From Three to Fifth Birthday
From three to five, you will continue to do all of the above, but you need to schedule time for reading, writing, and simple math lessons. These lessons shouldn't take more than an hour total. They should also be daily and done at the same time of day. For kids, morning seems to be best as they are energized and receptive.
To help you get started, here are the main steps for each area of study.
Reading
During these years, you child should progress from recognizing the alphabet to reading simple one-syllable words. This can be accomplished in the following steps (remember to keep up with your reading schedule and all habits you've already established):
Writing
If you are lucky enough to have a Dollar Tree in your town, head down there and pick up as many handwriting practice workbooks as possible. Seriously. By several copies of anything they have in terms of writing. Actually, just buy any preschool stuff...shapes, numbers...you get the point.
Every day, you should spend time writing with your child. Only this time, writing is going to be about learning to write the letters and the numbers, and then moving onto writing short words. Follow these steps:
Math, Shapes, Time
Math during this time moves from recognizing the numerals to doing simple addition, subtraction, and fractions. Shapes and time are incorporated into math here:
Logic Skills
Continue teaching logic with more complicated puzzles, word problems, and other creative activities.
To help you get started, here are the main steps for each area of study.
Reading
During these years, you child should progress from recognizing the alphabet to reading simple one-syllable words. This can be accomplished in the following steps (remember to keep up with your reading schedule and all habits you've already established):
- Sing the ABC song constantly until the child can do it by heart without you.
- Introduce the physical letters with flashcards. Since you've already been reading to your child daily, she has seen the letters, so now it's about isolating each one. Go over the flashcards twice a day for 2-4 weeks.
- Start doing two rounds of ABCs during the flashcard sessions, once where you do it together, and once where the child tries to do it without you. When a letter proves to be an issue, don't hesitate to say it. Move on quickly and eventually, it will happen. Continue this until your child can say every letter in and out of order on his own.
- Once your child knows the alphabet, buy Learn to Read with EP. Use it. We all swear by it here. It is broken up into lessons and you can do the lesson two or three times per day. The instructions are easy to follow. You can complete this book in less than a year. For kids who take longer to grasp it, just be sure to complete each lesson before moving on.
- After you've completed Learn to Read with EP, your child is ready for more complex information. Transition to The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (you can almost always find this at the library). This book is built on lessons and is repetitive (we always skip the flashcard exercises and just do the reading portions of each lesson), so you may find that you need to tailor it to your needs, but don't skip lessons. This book, if used daily will take you through to Year One and your students will be reading.
- As your child starts to figure out how to read, start giving your child beginning readers (books can be checked out at the library). At first, you will read these books to the child with your finger moving under every word. Eventually, you will read it, and then the child will read it to you. The best thing about these readers is that you child will feel confident in reading because they are simple. Better yet, kids love to play teacher, so letting them read to you is an important step. When your child reads and makes a mistake be sure to go correct the child in a kind way.
- Continue with the readers, moving up levels as your child's abilities strengthen. Many young children who are interested in reading from an early age will step into chapter books around 5-7. Just remember that you must treating reading as a super fun activity, not a chore.
Writing
If you are lucky enough to have a Dollar Tree in your town, head down there and pick up as many handwriting practice workbooks as possible. Seriously. By several copies of anything they have in terms of writing. Actually, just buy any preschool stuff...shapes, numbers...you get the point.
Every day, you should spend time writing with your child. Only this time, writing is going to be about learning to write the letters and the numbers, and then moving onto writing short words. Follow these steps:
- Spend the first year (Age 3) learning to write the letters and numbers. Set up a 26-week schedule to learn the alphabet (this is a modified Letter A Week plan). During week one, you teach your child to write the letter A, week two you teach the letter B....but instead of forgetting the letter A, you have your child write three As every day as well. As the child progresses, she will be learning a new letter and writing the previously learned letters three times each daily. Use these worksheets to help you.
- At the same time that you are teaching your child to write the ABCs, you start teaching her how to write numbers. Start with ZERO and work your way up. With numbers, you need to make a physical association with the numeral. When you child learns to write the number 1, you should also ask him to show the number one on his hand AND he should bring you ONE item. Having a box of "things" nearby is helpful. We use a bucket of crayons -- this tool will later help with arithmetic.
- Once your child has learned to write all of the letters, both upper- and lowercase, move on to small words. Many of the Dollar Tree workbooks have short, one-syllable words that can be traced and written repeatedly.
- NOTE: Be sure to correct your child if she is holding the pencil in a full fist or other "incorrect" way. It may help to request that she put the pencil down, and then you pick up a pencil and ask her to pick hers up the way you did it. Some kids pick this up quickly, others take longer. Just don't give up, and more importantly, don't freak out. The child will get it.
Math, Shapes, Time
Math during this time moves from recognizing the numerals to doing simple addition, subtraction, and fractions. Shapes and time are incorporated into math here:
- During the first year, your child is learning to write the numbers. so you don't need to worry about your child writing down math problems just yet. For now, math must remain physical. It must make sense in the tangible world. Get yourself some crayons, blocks, etc. to teach with. Start with addition and move to subtraction. Go "1+0", "1+1" and so on for each number through 12. This takes time and you have plenty so don't rush. Simply get your tools and show the math, say, "If I grab one block and I add one more block to my pile, how many block do I have?" If they child answers correctly, say, "Yes, 1+1 = 2". If the child struggles, do it for him. Just always repeat the equation after you've shown it no matter what. Move onto subtraction after the child understands addition. And feel free to get creative.
- If you are comfortable with doing basic arithmetic with other concepts like shapes and time, go for it. Otherwise, master arithmetic, and then move onto shapes and time.
- For shapes, simply go over the basic shapes. The child should know them by sight and be able to draw them.
- For time, the child needs to know what a clock is and read time to the hour.
Logic Skills
Continue teaching logic with more complicated puzzles, word problems, and other creative activities.
Ready to Move On? Or not?
Some kids are ready to progress to Year One at the age of five, but that isn't always the case. If you feel that your child needs another year to master reading, writing, and math basics, take it! It's important that the concepts are known. Rushing will only cause the deficiencies to surface later (and are almost always harder to correct).
Year One is sort of equivalent to First Grade (a little more advanced than public or private schools). We don't do Kindergarten. That's why the Early Years are important...it's like several long years of preparation.
Year One is sort of equivalent to First Grade (a little more advanced than public or private schools). We don't do Kindergarten. That's why the Early Years are important...it's like several long years of preparation.
What About Art, History, and Science?
Art, history, and science should be regular parts of your days. Most likely you will discover that the early readers and the books you are reading are science or history. But structured art, history, and science are not necessary at this stage. Instead, aim for free exploration. Here are ways you can incorporate these subjects into the Early Years without making it academic.
Art
Science
History
Art
- Create a workspace in the house that is built for art. You will need a table, art supplies, paper, etc. Allow it to be a 'come and go' area that isn't structured. You can find an easel for pretty cheap too. Make sure to have paint, glitter, tape, glue...the important thing is not to interfere with the artistic process.
- Develop a project for each week. It can be as simple as drawing circles or more complicated like drawing a self-portrait with chalk. Sometimes kids like to have an idea as to what they are doing, but at this age it's more important to let the child explore.
- Get a one of those loom squares and let your child wrap the bands all over it.
- Check out the Dollar Tree. They have simple arts and crafts throughout the year.
- Go to museums.
Science
- Create a sensory station with sand and monster trucks and mermaids. Let them play in the sand.
- Go hiking and pick plants. Bring a plant guide and look for things together. Even the littlest kids can find an interest in this because it's a scavenger hunt to them.
- Grow a garden. By growing a garden, not only do you teach your child about the cycle of plants, but they learn patience, strategy, and the importance of being self-sufficient.
- Go to science museums.
- Build Popsicle bridges.
- Learn about the seasons by doing a craft for each one.
History
- Go to history museums.
- Pick a topic each month and do a project (draw a picture...something simple) related to the topic.
- Use holidays to do a history-based craft.
