3 Ways To Support Your Child's Learning At Preschool

If your child just started preschool this September, there are numerous steps that you can take to help support your child's learning. Your child will be learning a host of new skills throughout their child care journey, and you can help facilitate your child's learning and enthusiasm at home.

#1 Review Items Your Child Brings Home

When your child brings home drawing and projects, don't just put them up on the fridge. Instead, sit down with your child and talk to them about the drawing or project. Ask them what they drew or created. Ask them what it is about. Ask leading questions that encourage your child to talk, and avoid simple yes or no questions.

You can also ask your child's teacher what the project was about so you can help facilitate discussion with your child.

#2 Have Reading Time at Home

Reading is such an important skill that involves all types of learning. Take the time to sit down with your child and read every day. Keep in mind that young children often like to have the same story read to them more than once. Children like this repetition because it allows them to really become immersed in the story and take in all the details.

When you read with your child, model good reading behavior. Follow along the words with your fingers. Demonstrate sounding out words for your child's benefit. Point out features such as the front cover and page numbers on the book.

After you read a story a few times, start to ask your child questions about the book. Ask your child what they think will happen or why they think a character did a certain thing in the book. These kinds of questions will advance your child's critical thinking and reading comprehension skills.

#3 Read the Class Newsletters

Most preschools will send out a newsletter on a weekly or monthly basis. These newsletters are designed to let you know what your child is learning about. You may learn about the letters and numbers your child is learning about, as well as the math and reading concepts they are learning. You may also be able to learn about the theme that the class is focusing on, such as learning about pumpkins or learning about the plant life-cycle or how leaves change colors.

Use these letters to help facilitate an understanding of the items your child brings home. Use these newsletters to extend your child's learning at home. For example, if they are learning about pumpkins, maybe you take your child to pumpkin patch. Or if they are learning about falling leaves, perhaps you go on a leaf walk with your child and talk about all the different leaves you find together.