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Preschool Winter Activities
Winter Educational Ideas for Preschoolers
Copyright (c) Deborah Taylor-Hough
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
http://brightkids.wordpress.com/
It's always fun to use things in our children's everyday lives to spark
discussion and easy educational activities. Since many of us are
currently in the midst of winter, this season can be a great topic of
"study" for our littlest ones. Study time with preschoolers
at home mainly consists of talking and laughing with them, helping them
notice the details of the world around them. No pressure. Just a fun
time spent in the company of a loving adult.
To introduce the topic of "Winter," ask your child what she knows about
the seasons. Is she aware of spring, summer, autumn and winter? Does she
know what the differences are between the seasons in your local area?
Don't lecture. Just make conversation and find out what she knows
already. Have her look out the window and tell you what she notices
about the trees, bushes, flowers and gardens. Are there leaves visible?
Buds? Flowers? Greenery? Bare branches? Brown stems?
Find a photo, or painting, or picture in a book of an obvious winter
scene. Ask your child if she knows what season it is in the picture.
What things tell her what time of year it is? If she doesn't
know, point things out to her that will give clues: bare branches, snow
on the ground, no flowers, people in warm clothes, etc. Hide the picture
from view and have the child describe to you in her own words what she
saw in the picture. Encourage as much detail as possible, but remember
to keep it low-key and fun. This process of orally telling back what
she's seen, helps cement the image in her memory.
To suplement your discussion, enjoy together a winter-time picture book
such as Ezra Jack Keat's 'The Snowy Day' or the Alaskan tale 'Momma, Do
You Love Me?' by Barbara M. Joosse. You can browse these books
online here:
The Snowy Day
Momma, Do You Love Me?
Ask your child how people stay warm in the winter (warm clothes,
mittens, fireplaces, warm houses, etc.). Let her brainstorm for awhile.
Then ask how she thinks animals stay warm in winter (thick fur, migrate
to warmer climates, hibernate in caves, etc.). Sometimes a
preschool child might say things like, "Baby squirrels snuggle up in a
tree with a soft blanket to stay warm." Ask her gently if she's ever
seen a real squirrel with a blanket. Does she think that's how they'll
really stay warm in those cold, winter months? The line between fantasy
and reality in preschoolers is sometimes thin ... don't harshly bring
your child into reality, just gently coax her into thinking about how
things really happen in nature. But just so you don't think
it all needs to be a serious dose of reality, have some fun and
brainstorm about "pretend" ways animals might stay warm. For fun, read
one of these wonderfully fun and beautifully illustrated winter-time
books by Jan Brett (one of my favorite children's illustrators):
The Mitten
The Hat
You can also visit Jan Brett's website to print out coloring sheets and
other fun projects based on Brett's lavishly illustrated children's
books:
http://www.janbrett.com/
For a fun activity, throw a collection of clothing and accessories into
a bag or suitcase. Without looking, have your child reach into the bag,
pull out a single clothing item and then tell you if the item they
grabbed is appropriate to wear in the winter. Have the child
explain to you why each item is -- or isn't -- seasonally appropriate.
Include a variety of things in the bag such as: a warm hat, a pair of
gloves or mittens, an open-toed sandal, a swimsuit, summer shorts, a
warm sweater, a snow boot, a woolen scarf, a sleeveless top, etc.
Have your child finish the sentence, "Winter is ..." For example: Winter
is ... "cold"; winter is ... "snowmen"; winter is ... "mittens"; winter
is ... "cocoa and marshmallows." Consider writing down your child's
responses (she'll feel so official seeing her words written down on
paper).
If you're feeling particularly creative, you can even print out little
"Winter is ..." booklets using clip-art found on your computer that
coincides with your child's winter responses. Or have your child
illustrate their own home-made "Winter is ... " book. Or let her cut out
winter photos from magazines and newspapers, pasting them onto a large
sheet of paper as a "Winter is ..." collage. Have a
wonderful time as you explore the glories of winter with your
preschooler!
About the Author:
Deborah Taylor-Hough (freelance writer and mother of three) is the
editor of the Bright-Kids and Simple Times e-newsletters. She's also the
author of 'A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide to Saving Your Time, Money
and Sanity,' 'Frugal Living For Dummies(r)' and 'Frozen Assets: How to
Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month.' Visit Debi online at:
http://brightkids.wordpress.com/
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