HOW WE DO (HOME) SCHOOL

A lot of us are finding ourselves and our kids home unexpectedly this year, and it’s new territory for us all. There are a million ways to educate children in a pandemic, and I truly believe there is no one “right” way that’s going to work for every family. Some of our friends’ kids are zooming with their districts, some are doing homeschool, some a combo of both, some traveling or doing something entirely different. For our family, both our kids are home this year. At first I panicked, thinking I had to now take on teaching pre-k. There is a lot of pressure on parents right now to also educate their kids while simultaneously parenting/working/doing everything we had our plates pre-pandemic, and that’s just not humanly possible. I am taking a much more relaxed approach (and I get that because my kids are young enough I can do that), but overall I have come down in panic level over my children’s formal education this year.

In my back pocket I have the added benefit of being an early intervention provider, so I’m acutely aware of developmental milestones and skills and abilities for this age. My priorities are on play, language, and social/emotional skills, and developing a love for learning and trying hard. Ironically, my focus is not on the ABCs even though this list seems to lean more academic. I know that the real developmental gold is always within the context of play.

That said, these are some items I added to my pre-k toolbox this year. We don’t do these at a set time each day, they’re just part of our available activities. The more fun a child has with learning, the more the concept is likely to stick. Pick and choose what works best for you and your child. You don’t need to have it all. Quality over quantity.

By Educational Insights

Playfoam. Anyone who grew up in the 80s/90s remember this? I had Playfoam as a child and loved it. It never dries out, even outside the container, and this one comes with letter formation cards.

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game. Check out those reviews! Games are a goldmine for teaching so many skills to kids of all ages, especially targeting language/cognitive/social skills. This one includes fine motor work with the squirrel “tongs.” It’s an award winner and crowd pleaser. (Other preschool games we like: Zingo and other classics like Candy Land, Go Fish, War, Uno, Dominos.)

Magnetic Alphabet and Numbers. There are so many sets of these out there, but what I like about this set is that the vowels are color coded in red, which is a great visual for teaching early phonics and pre-reading skills. So many uses for these, hidden in sensory bins, on the fridge or a cookie sheet, with magnetic wands, etc.

Hot Dots Kinder. This comes with a little “talking dog” that says the correct answer. We are usually a no-batteries kind of toy family, but this is an exception because of how rewarding this is for Trey. He calls it is his “homework” and he asks for it and surprises me with how much he knows.

By Learning Resources

Letter Construction Activity Kit. So fun! I really like these for a tactile way of teaching letter formation. The letters are really big and snap together.

Math Link Cubes Activity Set. Another one I remember having at home as a child and really liking them. These are great for teaching early math concepts using manipulatives, making abstract math concepts more hands-on.

Counting Bears. Lots of open ended teachable concepts and uses for these, including patterns, counting, sorting, pretend play, etc. Trey said he recognized them from his preschool last year.

Create A Space Storage Container. I keep all our art supplies in here and really like it. It’s helpful to be able to just take out one container at a time, and while storing it all together to save on space.

Smart Snacks Alpha Pops. These are a big hit around here for playing pretend popsicle stand. They are softer and more pliable than they seem, and they pop together to teach upper and lower case letters.

FOR PLAY

ABC Schoolhouse Magna-Tile Set by CreateOn This is a new set out by CreateOn in the shape of a schoolhouse, with alphabet tiles on the reverse. They work with the classic Magna-Tiles sets as well. Magna-Tiles are a well-loved, open ended STEAM toy and a great platform for pretend play.

Plus-Plus Big and Learn to Build Set. Another popular open-ended toy around here. What’s extra unique about them is the shapes can bend, unlike regular blocks. The big size is perfect for all ages, and the smaller size after about age 4. These would also make great Christmas presents.

And the real takeaway: no one has parented in a pandemic before. You’re doing a great job. However you choose to teach your kids this year is the right way for YOU and your kids and your unique family.

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