Play is the first step a child takes towards learning. Watch a very young child, and you will be surprised to see how he invents new games every day. In fact, each act of naughtiness, and each prank the child acts out is exposing him to new ’lessons’ about the world around him. It is often said that home is the first ‘school ’a child ever attends, and that parents are the first ever teachers he encounters.
As parents, you can make this home-school most effective by trying out various games that promote your child’s mental growth. For example with a child who has already learning to distinguish you could colours, you can try this task in the form of a game. “Find all the yellow thing in this room!”presented “as a playful challenge, this would instantly trigger the child’s enthusiasm to exhibit his newly acquired skill. also try games with letter, even before the child has begun to learn letter .
For example , spread a newspaper in front of the child show him the letter. ‘ A’ and then ask him to locan the other similar- shaped letters on the page. After 5-6 times, the child would begin to identify the shape of the letter. Gradually, the shapes and names of letters will get imprinted in the child’s memory and he will start showing you the familiar letter- shapes whenever he sees them on public hoardings, posters etc.
It is just a play for the child, who has no idea that he has just turned the magic key to the world of letters! Games with sounds are useful too . try making the sounds of familiar animals and birds, and ask your child to identify them. Of course, all such games have much more significance than being merely a prelude to classroom learning. They actually promote the growth of their intellectual skills, and also bring a tremendous amount of happiness to children.
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