Category: Preschool

Cognitive development begins right after birth. Then, from basic actions such as grasping, looking, and listening, they start to think symbolically. Later on, they learn to use words and pictures as representations of objects. It’s a fascinating process that shapes the way children perceive and interact with their surroundings.

Many factors affect such a development, especially during the preoperational stage, which happens around two to seven years old. One intriguing aspect of it is its relationship with mathematics. Yes, you heard that right! No wonder scholars have introduced math coloring to help young minds develop more effectively.

Math coloring is simply coloring with a mathematical twist. Remember those sheets with pictures or illustrations that relate to math problems or concepts? Chances are you’ve encountered them in your younger years, too.

But how exactly does math coloring impact cognitive development in young minds? Let’s explore below.

Why is cognitive skills development in early childhood important?

Before we try to discover the cognitive benefits of math coloring, let’s first understand why cognitive skills development is crucial, especially in early childhood. Well, that’s because it’s a critical period. At this stage, minds undergo rapid growth, and it’s also when humans form the building blocks of their intellectual abilities.

That’s why there are online learning platforms, like DoodleLearning, specifically targeting this stage in human development. Most of them offer free materials for different learning activities, including math coloring.

Specific Cognitive Developments Taking Place During Early Childhood Years

It’s during early childhood that things begin to catch your attention and you start to memorize events. Not only that, but it also marks the emergence of your ability to solve problems through critical thinking. There are many things happening in the cognitive area of your brain during this time as well, and these lay the foundation for future academic success. You’re preparing yourself for future social interactions, too.

The Impact of Successful Early Childhood Cognitive Skills Development

A 2022 study mentions that college students related their academic success to the revolutionary-relevant experiences they had from preschool to kindergarten years. What are these experiences? One good example, according to the same study, is hands-on learning. It follows developmentally appropriate practices. The National Association for the Education of Young Children defines it as play-based, joyful learning.

And that’s why, as a parent or educator, you can never go wrong prioritizing the development of cognitive skills in a child. The best way to do that? Provide opportunities for young minds to engage in cognitive growth-stimulating activities that make learning fun.

How important is math in cognitive development?

Next, let’s talk about math’s role in cognitive development. Obviously, the understanding and application of mathematical concepts can sharpen essential cognitive abilities, such as critical thinking and problem-solving. The big question is how it does that.

Specific Ways Math Influences Cognitive Development

Remember when you studied math concepts yourself, you learned to analyze problems and tried to identify patterns to come up with strategies for solving them? That’s an analytical and systematic approach to overcoming challenges in action!

Of course, math also promotes higher-order thinking skills that extend even beyond the subject. You also think logically and flexibly when trying to make connections in problem-solving activities, right?

And since math concepts involve shapes, patterns, and measurements, mathematics also helps with spatial reasoning ability development. The result? Improved visualization skills in young minds – a crucial skill for various everyday tasks like arranging furniture at home.

Integrating Math and Art

A lot of students perceive math as hard and boring. So, the next step is to make it as interesting as possible. One effective way of doing just that is integrating math and art through math coloring.

There are physical and even digital math coloring worksheets that feature mathematical tasks or patterns that a child can fill in with colors. How they use the colors will, of course, be based on their calculations or understanding of a certain mathematical concept. Sounds interesting, right?

Playful learning like math coloring indeed piques the interest of young learners and even enhances important skills such as communication and decision-making, as per the Federation of American Scientists in a 2023 publication.

Specific cognitive benefits of math coloring

There are several specific ways math coloring benefits cognitive development. These include:

• Attention and focus enhancement: Working on a math coloring sheet means concentrating on the task at hand. A child’s attentional capacity improves as a result.

• Spatial reasoning skills improvement: As already mentioned, math coloring also enhances a child’s spatial reasoning skills. Coloring in geometric shapes and patterns means recognizing and manipulating spatial relationships.

• Fine motor skills strengthening: When coloring, children hold pencils. Not only that, but they also have to make intricate movements when filling in small spaces. Doing so exercises the muscles and builds dexterity.

• Increased mathematical comprehension and retention: Colors and visual cues serve as math information memorization and recall aids. They make math coloring a multisensory and interactive learning activity. The result? A deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

Whether you’re a parent or an educator, keep in mind that incorporating math coloring for cognitive development in children requires a supportive and positive environment. Allow a child to experiment. Celebrate their efforts even if they make mistakes along the way.

Conclusion

Math coloring makes learning mathematics enjoyable and effective. Beyond that, it has cognitive benefits that make a child more ready for the latter stages of life. It’s a valuable cognitive development tool any child is worth exposing to.

As your preschooler finishes their time in kindergarten and ventures off to ‘big school,’ there is bound be apprehension for any young child. Their new adventure will at the very least bring at least a bit of apprehension when starting all over again in a new environment with new faces, places, and activities.

The moment can also be met with a mixture of emotions for both you and your child. While there’s no need to buy their elementary graduation cap and gown sets just yet, there may still be a touch of sadness at how fast they are growing up. Some may embrace this new step with a sense of eagerness and enthusiasm, others, however, may feel overwhelmed at the prospect.

To make their first days easier, we have outlined some helpful tips to ease the anxiety and ensure the transition from kindergarten to elementary school is as smooth and as seamless as possible for your little one.

Engage Practically With Your Child

Take some time to sit with your child, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings about starting school. In addition to talking together, you can engage your child in this process through imaginative activities such as storytelling where they describe their first day at school or act it out with the help of some toys.

This can help your child to unburden any worries or concerns they may have and allow you to address these beforehand. By continuing to communicate in this way as your child begins school, you can offer them the reassurance and support they may need to get over any initial nerves and settle into their new routine.

Practice Makes Perfect

While kindergarten is often only for a few hours a week, starting elementary school will likely be the beginning of a new, and longer schedule. This can be difficult for any child to adapt to, so it is helpful to ease them into this.

Encourage them to wake up and dress themselves in time, by gradually shifting their bedtimes and wake-up times over the summer to align with the school schedule. You can also help them adjust to a more structured school environment by practicing scheduled activities at home such as an allocated play time, reading time, meal time, and quiet time.

It is also beneficial to familiarize your child with their daily journey to and from school by practicing the school run together. Whether this is by car or by foot, doing so can help them become comfortable with their routine and make their school run a more positive and enjoyable experience.

Create Excitement

Help your young one get excited about their big day by drawing their attention to the positive aspects such as learning new things,  taking part in different activities, and making new friends. You can also share happy stories about your own experiences at elementary school and encourage any younger siblings to join in and do the same.

Whether it’s a brand new lunch box, pencil case or backpack, shopping for school supplies together can also generate excitement in your child as they look forward to putting these things to good use.

By following these suggestions, you can help your child feel ready and relaxed as they take their first steps into elementary school.

Every new parent wishes to engrave the memories of childbirth and the next few milestones within their heart. After all, children grow up so fast, and all the sweet and innocent memories become blurry in a blink.  Some do it by making vlogs or clicking pictures on their smartphones. However, there are way better options to keep these memories close.

So, let’s know those here and explore ideas of how to preserve those fleeting moments with your newborn.

1. Make a keepsake box

Keepsake boxes store the little pieces of tangible memories from your baby and your time together. A few things to add to this box are:

• Your and your baby’s hairlocks
• Both of your hospital bands and hat
• Arrival cards from your loved ones for the baby
• Ultrasound photos and other photos post-birth

2. Sign up for a newborn photoshoot

Newborn baby portraits are one of the sweetest ways to keep memories of these precious moments. While you can take pictures with your camera, consider doing it with a professional. This ensures that you have great quality and aesthetic pictures.

If you’re in Canada, look up the best places for newborn photography. Before you get an appointment, ensure they are the best in the industry so you get the worth of your money!

Discuss what safety measures they take, their time limits, the props they’ll use, and whether they provide basic food and warm space for you and your baby.

You can hang these portraits at home, stick them in scrapbooks, or use the images for announcements and invitations.

3. Record video diaries

From pregnancy to a baby’s birth there are many new milestones, so record them as videos immediately. It can be your feelings and thoughts in the labor room, your emotions while first seeing and holding your child, or the first time you successfully fed your child.

It can also include the first time your baby says mama/papa, their first step, their first time meeting siblings and pets, their first art or writing, and so on.

Compile all of these records and create a full video out of it. Once your baby grows up, they’ll know how much you cherish them.

4. Send emails or letters to your baby

If you have a way with your words and are tech-savvy, carve your warm emotions into words and email your baby.

For this, create an email ID for the newborn. Make sure you save the password and other credentials safely.

Write about your life experience during the first week with them. Share how they were as a newborn, how you dealt with every setback, and add every memorable instance.

If you’re not good with technology, write letters and store them in a box.

5. Plan a time capsule

If you’re unfamiliar with a time capsule, it’s a box with memories and letters to a person that must be opened at a special future date.

In your baby’s time capsule, add all the little things like childhood family photos, letters, warm wishes from everyone, greeting cards, and clothing items that they can’t use anymore.

You can also add a detailed record of what happened on the day they were born. Some parents even add current events, like gas and food expenses, the weather, and their mood on the child’s birth date.

Lastly, talk to your partner and pick a day for your child to open the box. It can be middle or high school graduation or when they move out of home for a job or college.

6. Baby Scans

Before your baby is even born, you can get a baby scan at various stages throughout the pregnancy.

These scans are often done to offer peace of mind as your baby grows, but the images rendered are also yours to hold as treasured keepsakes.

Pregnancy scans can mark dates, show growth progress, reveal gender and even produce 3D and 4D images.

7. Get the details on wooden blocks

On wooden blocks, get these details about your baby carved or painted:

• Their name
• Their birth date and time
• Their weight and height after birth

This can be kept as a keepsake on your shelf. Or, you can let your baby play with these blocks as they grow.

8. Utilize outgrown clothes

You get so many cute clothes for your baby. But these little buggers outgrow them pretty fast.

Most people either give away clothes as hand-me-downs or donations. However, about 85% of donated outfits are dumped in landfills or incinerated.

So, you can instead make a cute blanket or stuffed animals out of them for your baby. Make the best out of every little thing you have!

Conclusion

Remember, these are only a few unique ways to make memories. So, don’t hesitate to come up with your unique idea or seek loved ones for it!

Imagine walking into a classroom full of energetic preschoolers. It can be such an overwhelming experience! This rings true whether you’re a teacher or a parent. But have you ever thought about how it can even be more challenging for a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whose mind and body struggle to focus and remain still?

So, just think about how crowded places and the sensory overload they entail affect them. Fortunately, there’s a solution: ADHD toys.

Studies have shown that ADHD toys offer numerous benefits to preschoolers. But what are these types of toys? How do they help ADHD and non-ADHD preschoolers exactly? Those are some of the things that we’ll talk about in this post. So, if you’re ready to learn more, please read on!

Understanding ADHD in preschoolers

Let’s try to understand ADHD more first. It’s a neurodevelopmental condition. And while it affects people of all ages, its symptoms first appear during childhood. In fact, the number of children that have been diagnosed with ADHD from the age of three to 17 has reached six million from 2016-2019.

So, if you want to know whether an individual has ADHD, observing them during their preschool years might help. Hyperactivity, difficulty sustaining attention, and impulsivity are some of the various symptoms you must keep an eye on.

Again, whether you’re a teacher or a parent, you understand how important preschool is. It’s a critical stage for acquiring language development, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and other fundamental skills. The problem is that with ADHD, these developmental milestones may become more challenging to achieve. What can you do if that’s the case? Utilize tools that can assist children as they develop during their preschool years, like the ADHD toys online or the ones you can find in toy stores.

The importance of play in preschool development

Children want to play. That’s just the way it is. What many people don’t realize, however, is that playing is more than just having fun, especially for a child. It holds immense significance in their growth and learning, particularly for preschoolers. By playing, young children get to explore and make sense of the world around them. Surely, it’s the same way you learned about the world around you as a toddler. That’s why experts recommend embracing and promoting play in order to create an environment that cultivates a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

Introduction to ADHD toys

As their name suggests, ADHD toys are specifically designed for children with ADHD. What’s great about them is that they address the unique needs and challenges associated with the condition. How do they do it? It’s by providing children with engaging and therapeutic experiences. The development of attention, focus, and self-regulation skills are what ADHD toys support.

As a teacher or parent who deals with children with ADHD, you’d be glad to know that you can find a wide range of these toys on the market. Fidget, sensory, and educational toys—you can choose based on what you think can best assist a child. Do you want something that can help children channel their excess energy and improve focus? A fidget spinner or stress ball would be a good idea.

It’s important to note, however, that while ADHD toys can be valuable in the development of children with ADHD, it’s still best to approach the condition holistically. It means that you shouldn’t make the mistake of ignoring other interventions, such as therapy and parental support.

Benefits of ADHD toys in preschool development

How do ADHD toys specifically impact the lives of preschoolers with ADHD?

Improved focus and attention span

Remember that children with ADHD find it challenging to focus and remain still? ADHD toys can engage and hold their attention. As a result, they can focus more, sustaining their attention span. Fidget spinners or stress balls, for instance, offer tactile stimulation, keeping a child’s restless hands busy and focused.

Enhanced fine and gross motor skills

In addition to improving focus and attention span, some ADHD toys enhance fine and gross motor skills by encouraging movement and coordination. Good examples are balance boards and therapy balls. A therapy putty can also be a good option in aiding motor skill development as it helps improve grip strength and hand-eye coordination. If you want to encourage movement, you can’t go wrong with resistance bands, too.

Facilitated sensory integration

Some ADHD toys offer different textures, sounds, and tactile experiences. They help stimulate and regulate sensory input by soothing sensory anxiety and regulating emotions. You can choose from sensory bottles and bins as well as textured balls and smooth wooden toys for this purpose.

Promoted social interactions and emotional regulation

Finally, but definitely not least, ADHD toys promote turn-taking, sharing, and collaborative play. And the result of that? Social skills encouragement. Not only that, but children will also learn conflict-resolution skills and build positive peer relationships.

Of course, positive peer relationships through collaborative play can help children with ADHD practice regulating their emotions. But does your child have a natural tendency to feel angry or distressed easily? ADHD toys such as stress balls, sensory pillows, and calm-down jars can also help. They can be an outlet for emotional release or a tool for children to learn self-regulation during moments of distress.

Do you want to enhance the overall well-being and development of a child with ADHD? If so, then you need the right toys incorporated into their play and learning environment.

Conclusion

ADHD toys are perfect for preschoolers with ADHD—there’s no doubt about that. Couple them with the right interventions, and they can help these kids reach their full potential, ensuring that they thrive despite the challenges their condition brings.