Family as primary teachers
You are your child’s first and most important teacher, and your home is a primary learning place. Your child’s ability to learn new skills will depend on their stage of development and their individual interests. Your child’s learning is impacted by the opportunities and support that you offer them at home and in their surroundings. Head Start is here to help.
Here are some Helpful Hints to get you started in an activity with your child:
- Use eye contact and bend down to eye level to speak with your child.
- Establish some rules with your child and be consistent about enforcing them.
- Give detailed explanations to questions and explain the meaning of new words when asked.
- When not sure, you could say “we will have to check on that one together.”
- Praise your child for positive behaviors and let them know that they are loved.
The Impact of Family roles in Learning
Did you know that studies have shown that children learn different skills from mothers, fathers, and grandparents? Each of these roles are important. Here is an article on how moms and dads bring different skills to parenting their children: https://buildinggreatdads.org/moms-and-dads-bring-different-skills-to-parenting/.
Helping your child with Emotions at Home
Emotions like anger, frustration, and disappointment can feel really big and overwhelming to young children. At Head Start, we help children learn how to manage their big feelings as part of supporting their Social Emotional development. One of the calming strategies we teach is how to take deep breaths. Children can also practice this skill at home with their grownup.
For more information about regulating emotions look at this tip sheet for more ideas.
Additional Resources for Learning at Home include the following:
With the growing impact of the COVID-19 virus, ReadyRosie is developing this free toolkit as a resource to support families with information and resources for supporting the children in their care.
On the link, you will find videos of learning activities that can be done at home as well as advice from a pediatrician and early childhood experts on how to talk to children about the pandemic and how to keep them safe. If you click on the “Learning at Home” tab and then select one of the “Explore the Activities” buttons, you will find a Modeled Moment video and links to related Mighty Minutes and Learning Games PDFs that can be printed.
Vroom is designed to meet families where they are. As you meet the new challenges that each day brings, supporting you is our primary focus. We’re all in this together. Vroom is here to share simple and fun ways to boost learning that don’t require more time or money. You already have what it takes! Even a few minutes count, and we’re here to help.
Download the Vroom App
Get the Vroom app for your phone to access Vroom Tips anytime. Discover ones that are right for you, like “fun with chores” and “practice patience”. The Vroom app is also available anytime right from your computer browser at vroom.org. Just click “Try Vroom” at the top of the page. The app is available in English and Spanish.
You can find free access to digital Kindermusik audio tracks, activities, and virtual field trips now through April 24th. Your families can use these materials (all offered in multiple languages)
We know that missing school isn’t easy for your kids— or for you. But we also know that there are simple ways to turn unexpected time at home into exciting opportunities for your students to learn, think, and grow. That is why we’ve created the free Scholastic’s Learn at Home website.
Preschoolers learn best through exploring, using all of their senses to understand their world. They are endlessly curious, and you may start to hear that classic question, “Why?” Their vocabulary is rapidly expanding, and they love to hear stories and use their imagination. While playing, they are better able to focus on what interests them — and they might surprise you with their creative problem-solving skills! But they still need lots of support from caring adults to help them develop the habits they need to thrive in school and beyond.
This site provides content and resources you can use with your family to offer comfort and spark playful learning activities. We hope the content and resources help you and your family breathe, laugh, and play together! And remember—they are not prescriptions you have to follow, but ideas you can use to spark other playful learning moments.
Community Events for Learning
Lane County has a number of community resources that are rich for learning opportunities. See some options below.