Entering preschool is such an essential part of your child’s early life – it’s where they take their first steps of independence and begin critical learning and developmental skills. Developmental milestones can be thought of as a checklist to ensure your child is on track for hitting critical learning steps for their age group.
In preschool, children learn life competencies necessary for their development, like social and communication skills, emotional intelligence, language development, and more. Another big part of a child’s development while in preschool includes learning and understanding numbers. Before we dive into how you can help your child learn numbers at home, let’s learn more about why developmental milestones are crucial.
The Importance of Developmental Milestones
Whether your child is practicing how to count or learning to share, they must stay on track to hit their developmental milestones. At The Breakie Bunch, we strive to create a safe and fun environment that is exceptional for children to learn, develop, and grow.
At preschool, children learn a variety of different skills:
- Language development
- Reading
- Social skills
- Emotional competencies
- Physical activity
Preschool also provides an environment that kids can interact with other children their age. The structure, routine, and curriculum of preschool better prepares kids for kindergarten, which is why picking the right preschool is so important. Learn more about all of the reasons that preschool helps children. Let’s break down the importance of understanding numbers, learning how to count, and helping your children practice at home to prepare them for preschool.
Understanding Numbers
Counting and numbers are a part of everyday life, even at a young age. Preschoolers need to understand numbers and begin to learn how to count. Recognizing numbers is the first step to counting and, eventually, mathematics.
Children will first experience numbers by hearing their parents count, usually up to three, but numbers can make their introduction into your children’s lives in several other ways:
- Books
- Games
- Puzzles
- Television
There are so many different ways kids can learn about numbers. Preschool hones in on counting, but there are so many ways to support number sense at home, too!
At-Home Practice of Numbers
You don’t have to be a teacher to introduce your children to numbers. Small tasks like counting food on their plate or toys out on the floor are a lively and easy way to get your children acquainted with small numbers. You can also familiarize your child with counting through games. Try playing matching games or counting cards with your kids to have fun while learning. If you’re interested in more ways to practice numbers at home, check out these awesome preschool counting activities.
Remember, teaching children requires patience and positivity! Home should be a comfortable and nurturing learning environment.
Development-Focused Preschool
We know how important it is for parents to find trusted daycare services that offer many social and educational benefits to children. At The Breakie Bunch, we offer infant care services and preschool classes with a curriculum focused on the critical objectives that matter so much in the early stages of child development. With locations in Goodrich and Waterford, our daycare services cater to busy parents and energetic children.