The special time in our little ones’ lives is approaching – the moment when the first day of school is near. This is not only a new stage in a child’s education but also in their personal development. To help our preschoolers prepare for school, it is worth introducing developmental tasks into their daily lives that will help them get accustomed to certain skills and strengthen their readiness to learn. In this article, we present a few enjoyable and helpful exercises that can become an integral part of the preparations for the school adventure.
Why is it worth using developmental tasks?
Developmental tasks are a fun way to enrich a child’s skills and prepare them for school demands. Such tasks help in developing logical thinking, communication skills, and focus. Additionally, through interaction with various tasks, the little one gains confidence and increases their independence.
Play as the foundation.
Let’s remember that for a small child, the world is primarily a place for play and discovery. Therefore, developmental tasks should not be associated with boring exercises. On the contrary, they should provide an engaging activity that involves all the senses. For example, while learning letters, we can create a spaceship from the letter “A” or a snake from the letter “S”. Our imagination is the only limit!
Developmental tasks – examples.
1. Math games: Let’s count together!
Prepare a set of colorful blocks, abacuses, or stickers in various shapes and colors. Suggest simple tasks to the child, such as: “Show me five red blocks” or “How many circles do you have on your abacus?”. This is a great fun that allows the child to learn to recognize shapes and count in an accessible and attractive way.
2. Graphomotor exercises: Paint and draw!
Develop your child’s manual skills by encouraging them to draw and paint. You can create various pictures together, combining shapes, lines, and colors. Such exercises will improve the precision of hand movements and prepare the little one for learning to write.
3. Building imagination: Tell me a story!
Encourage the child to tell their own stories. This is an excellent way to develop creativity and language skills. You can choose characters and places together, and then construct fantastic tales collaboratively. This is not only great fun but also effective training before learning to read and write.
4. Puzzles and jigsaws: Let’s assemble together!
Puzzles and games are a great way to develop logical thinking and patience. Choose a task suitable for the age of the child together – these can be simple picture puzzles or puzzles that develop spatial thinking skills.
5. Sensory Play: Discovering the World with My Senses!
Organize activities together that engage the various senses of the child. These can be activities with sand, water, paints, or even scents. Through such tasks, the little one discovers the world in an interactive way full of exciting experiences.
6. Language Exercises
Language is the foundation of communication and learning in school. To enable the child to navigate freely in a new environment, it is worth focusing on language exercises. Encourage the child to tell short stories, describe pictures, and ask questions. This is an excellent way to develop vocabulary, expression skills, and understanding of language.
7. Time and Space Travel
Use an atlas or map to discover different places in the world together. You can travel to countries, learn about their cultures and customs.
8. Reading, Reading, Reading
A daily moment for reading books is a true feast for the imagination. Together, embody characters, change voices, and encourage the child to predict what will happen next.
As we prepare the child for school, let’s not forget that the most important thing is the joy of learning and discovering the world. Developmental tasks are a great way to support this process. Remember that every child develops at their own pace, so let’s not compare their achievements with those of others. Give them space to express themselves creatively and enjoy learning.
