WHAT, WHEN AND HOW TO TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN ( PART - 2)

Play-way method of teaching and learning

As already discussed, if you force a child to start writing ABCs from the very first day, he/she will lose interest and develop fear for studies as well as the teacher/school. In order not to have school phobia, some very interesting activities may be introduced to them gradually. 

Interesting activities:

Holding objects:

For example, first you have to build on the strength of the child's holding capacity. Just encourage the child to hold an object with hand. At first you the child may be given a big size soft toy to hold by itself. The child will feel secured and quite relate to it. Gradually, smaller objects can be given to hold. 

Jigsaw puzzle: 

It would be better if you can arrange for some sets of attractive pieces. You can, demonstrate at first once or twice by removing all the pieces from the board and try to act like fixing the puzzles set. Then give the child an opportunity to do the same. Initially, concepts of picture identification, parts of a whole thing etc. will strengthen. Children enjoy doing this activity a lot.

Also, his/her finer muscle and eye hand coordination will improve greatly.

After pictures, gradually you can introduce alphabets and numbers also. In this way, they will enjoy the activity and side by side start recognizing letters and numbers. Also the child will learn how to count numbers (at first only 1 to 10 should be introduced to them).





Scribbling:

You can demonstrate how to hold a piece of chalk or crayon and then ask the child to try to hold in the same way and start scribbling on a slate or a paper.

Free hand drawing/crayon:

Before a child is given an ordinary pencil formally for writing purposes, it's better to use colorful crayons. Because, kids are more attracted towards colors. So they may be allowed to color freely, anyway they like. Then gradually, you can teach them to color inside a shape or some outline of pictures.





Similarly, children can be introduced water play activities and also water color activities.
                                           

If it's affordable, you can purchase teaching learning materials and arrange them in separate trays or racks/shelves. If you're dealing with toddlers, it's better to arrange (fixing toys or manipulative toys) them in trays, well sorted out, for their easy access.  

And if anyone of you feel, it's too expensive to spend on such things, there are several alternate sources also available. We can explore them at low cost or no cost at all. I may share about some of those later. Please give your feedback in the comment section below. It will motivate me to write more of my experiences. Thank you.