If you want your child to take an enrichment class in the core subjects essential for school early in life, classes are widely available. In fact, if you wanted to read through the course brochures available for your kindertot, you would have to set aside a few days.
Classes range from one-hourly to once a week, and all claim to help your child master different subjects like languages, creative thinking, math, logical thinking, science, and more.
But what do you if you just can't, or won't, travel around from centre to centre? What should you do if you want to save some of the hard-earned money for university instead of putting it into kindergarten programmes now?
Is there an alternative? One very effective way of teaching your child is to spend time working at home with him. This time shouldn't be spent doing assessment book after assessment book, but time spent talking, explaining, experimenting and pondering over different topics.
A great benefit to working with your child at home is that you can work with him when it is most effective for the both of you and not worry about class times clashing with naps or other engagements.
MASTERING MATHS * If you want to teach your child about maths - start counting, for instance. Start with familiar objects. Count the shoes on the shoe shelf, or the number of people at the bus stop. Once you get your child interested in numbers, half your battle is won.
Increase the numbers once the basics have been mastered and move on to adding and subtracting with the same objects.
And don't just limit maths to addition and subtraction. There are topics likes shapes, volumes, distances, amounts, money and patterns to be discovered. This is essentially the same as doing assessment books but with hands - on experience in real - life situations.
TIPS
* Don't berate your child for not knowing the answers right away.
* Don't rush to tell them the answer. Let them work it out on their own first.
* A positive reward like a hug or stickers can go a long way.
DISCOVERING SCIENCE * One way to interest your child in science is to start talking about the things that are happening around him. Science is the study of the world around us, so don't start with the theory of relativity, start with with things that can be seen, touched and felt everyday. Leaves, plants, and animals are start. Introduce them also to non-living objects in our world like water, rocks and crystals.
TIPS
Whatever topics you decide to explore, here are a few tips on managing the lessons.
* Have age-appropriate reference materials on hand. These are easily found at the library.
* Prepare a hands-on activity on the topic like an experiment or start a collection folder. If you're studying plants, you you can collect various kinds of leaves and label them in a folder. These activities make the subject interesting and more personal for your child. You can also find good science experiments at the library.
* Let children think about the topic after supplying them with information. Reject the desire to quiz your child constantly and persistently on the information.
* Be prepared to be asked questions that you dont know the answer to. Admit that you just don't know and show your child how to look for the answers to those questions. They will be more inelined to look up information themselves if it is something that they are used to doing.
LOVING LANGUAGE * Language is often made simple if it is taught through games and stories. Speaking with your child is the best way to teach him a language. However, talking with and talking at are two different things , so be careful that you are indeed talking with and not doing the latter with your child. The difference is that there is a lot more listening involved in talking with your child.
"During the first five years of life, children are involved in acquiring a vocabulary that helps them make sense of the world around them. Early vocabulary can be supported not just by talking and interacting with children, but also by reading to them. Books are full of words, and these words tend to be presented in lively and interesting contexts, with supporting pictures.Vocabulary instruction is an essential part of any good language programme. If a child has a wide vocabulary, he is much more likely to develop strong reading skills and enjoy academic success. The more conversation and reading experiences are a part of child's learning, the more their vocabulary and their interest in words will grow."
TIPS
* Read stories
* Talk with your child about anything and everything they are interested in.
* Do not correct everything they say.
Games like Boggle, Scrabble, Hangman and word search are priceless resources, so use them frequently.
Teaching your child at home can benefit both you and your child in many ways. You'll save money, spend quality time with your child and your little one will discover that learning isn't just something you do in a classroom.
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