Every morning, more than 1.5 million American children make their way to an early learning program. Parents entrust teachers with their child’s early development and hope that the foundation laid will allow their children to thrive academically in the future.
The U.S. Government has prioritized early learning by designing programs that promote the development of cognitive, social, and emotional skills of children between the ages of 6 months and 8 years old. With the support of parents and experienced educators, these programs can prepare children for future success in their learning.
Recent studies have indicated that children learn best through play. Playing games that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles is an important part of a high-quality early learning program.
In this article, we share STEM-based developmental activities for infants and preschoolers to encourage early learning.
Development Activities For Infants
Research conducted by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has shown that the first 24 months of a child’s life are of great importance for cognitive development. During this time, babies absorb information from their surroundings like sponges.
Your baby learns best through sensory stimulation. Infant sensory activities that engage the five senses can improve your baby’s memory, curiosity, and attention span. It can also contribute to the development of your baby’s motor skills and nervous system.
Age-Appropriate Games For Infants
When playing with your baby, focus on playing games that encourage the development of creativity, imagination, and problem-solving. These include:
- Singing the alphabet – your voice, and the rhythm and repetition of the song, can help with your baby’s memory.
- Grasping and letting go – holding different objects like rings, blocks, or rattles, and then letting them go, can promote the development of your baby’s motor skills.
Development Activities For Preschoolers
Preschoolers are energetic and curious about the world around them. Research has suggested that the best way to teach preschoolers is by feeding their curiosity through structured play.
The Florida VPK program and preschool attendance are the first steps to preparing children for grade school. The activities they participate in at early learning programs will directly contribute to your child’s reading, writing, mathematics, and science skills.
An excellent preschool curriculum should have clear outcomes and a routine for your child to follow. At preschool, your child will learn cognitive skills like how to recognize shapes, colors, letters, and how to count. They will also learn social skills like manners, how to interact with peers appropriately, and how to share.
Age-Appropriate Games For Preschoolers
Taking learning outside of the classroom is an exciting way to get children to engage with the world around them. A leaf print activity can create an awareness of science and how it impacts their young lives.
Making leaf prints is easy! All you need is a leaf, crayon, and 2 sheets of white paper.
First, children must collect leaves and bring them to class. The leaves must then be placed between 2 pieces of paper. Using a crayon, children then color the top page to reveal the outline and details of the leaf.
Children can gain a basic understanding of mathematics naturally by playing games like “Frozen Penguins.”
Provide children with 2 dice, a crayon, and blank paper. The black dots on the dice represent penguins, and the white represents the ice. The penguins are frozen on the ice. Children need to free the penguins by redrawing them.
First, the dice should be rolled. Children must then count the number of frozen penguins. They then redraw the dice with the correct number of frozen penguins on the blank paper.
STEM Based Early Learning Program In Coconut Creek
At Providence Children’s Academy, we are committed to providing children with high-quality education. Our infant education program and preschool curriculum incorporate the principles of STEM in a fun and educational way.
Are you interested in learning more about Providence Children’s Academy? Give us a call today at 954-570-6914 so we can answer your questions or schedule a tour of our Coconut Creek campus.