Daycare not only introduces your child to school, but also nurtures their minds. Daycare activities are designed to introduce children, often for the first time, to analytical thinking, spatial reasoning, creative thinking, and many other essential skills. Many children’s activities are intended to make children think, even if they don’t realize it. With these activities, children have fun and learn at the same time. Children enjoy these activities at daycare, but they can also be used during play dates or for an afternoon activity with the family.
Story time
Story time is great for children of all ages. For babies, stories familiarize children with words and sounds, which will help them understand and use speech faster. Stories are also soothing to babies, and can help calm a crying child. When reading to infants, it is best to show the words and read slowly, so they can begin to recognize the shapes of letters as well as the sounds. For children that are a bit older, story time will help them to recognize basic patterns and follow a sequence of events, which are the building blocks for critical and analytical thinking.
Blocks
Almost all children love playing with blocks, whether they are wooden, foam, plastic, or something else. There are many different kinds of blocks, and these rudimentary building elements can introduce children to more complex toys like Legos. Blocks teach small children about spatial reasoning, and they help train dexterity. Most block sets also teach children about shapes, colors and patterns.
Painting and Coloring
Whether it is finger painting, painting with brushes, coloring with markers or using crayons, these activities are ideal for nurturing creativity and helping children recognize colors, shapes, and patterns. This activity also helps children develop dexterity, which they will need to succeed in kindergarten and primary school. Whether children are painting and color animals and scenes, or they are making their own creations, they will also be developing invaluable skills.
Sculpture
When memories are linked to multiple senses, they are easier to remember and they last longer. This is why textures are so helpful to learning. When children making shapes, letters or objects out of cotton, cloth, glitter, pebbles, cotton swabs, or other unique materials, the activity is linked to multiple senses. This sensory learning experience is not only fun, but stimulates a child’s mind and makes them excited about learning.
When children are having fun, it doesn’t mean they aren’t learning. Though these activities may not look like studious challenges, they are the perfect, age-appropriate learning activities for babies, infants, and young children. To see what daycare activities we use and how we are nurturing children’s minds and souls each day, give us a call or pay us a visit.
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