Teaching through play

My husband says the kids play all day and I should "teach" them more....I say like what? I teach 1st/2nd grade during the school year and am off for this summer, half of which is over....my goals were to get them off their bottles (done) and get them talking, my dd is but ds is not
Some moms have said do puzzles, books, songs etc.....any other advice? What do you do with your little ones all day?

 

Saw this in the "new posts" link.

I teach day care and in the 15m-6y centres the whole curriculum is learning thought play. In fact, its called "Play to Learn". The whole theory is that what a grown up sees as "just play" kids are learning. For example, when a child is playing with blocks they are working on developing their fine motor skills, gross motor skills, problem solving, geometry, math, architecture, patterns, colors, balance.

You can tell your husband that they are "learning". (All YMCA day cares across Canada must follow this curriculum now or not call themselves the YMCA any more)

Its a pain to plan for (the curriculum removed elements like circle, directed creatives, structured games) but its a whole lot of fun.

 

Thank you! I do remember that in my training a long time ago....but it helps to hear it again

 

We count, we say our alphabet, we go over colors and shapes.

This is what we did today. We have a book with polka dots. I asked them what shape it was, "circle", and used "circle" and "spot" interchangably. Then I asked them to find the red spot, the blue circle, the green spot. . .then we counted them. When they color, I only give them one crayon at a time and I try to get them to ask for a certain color. I say, "do you want the green crayon (show the green) or the blue one (show the blue).

I also have them clean a little. . .wipe the trays, wash their hands, pick up the toys. . .and with the toys, I constantly tell them what toys they have and which bin to put them in.

 

I definitely agree that children learn through play, absolutely. My DD will take a spoon and try to mix stuff in an empty bottle. We read, I point out words to them, have them point out colors and animals to me. We make animal sounds. When they are watching a TV show, I'll have them point colors out to me, shapes, etc. Tell your DH they are definitely learning!!!

 

I agree with all of the pp's. At this age, play is learning! I just keep talking to them about their world and show enthusiasm for what they are naturally drawn to. I find that when I try to push something, it doesn't happen nearly as quickly as when they initiate it. I give them exposure to a wide variety of things, but I only really focus on what they are interested in. Good luck and have fun! This is a tough age to see much progress, I believe. Now, at just over 2, my boys show that they are learning in much more tangible ways.

 

Couldn't have said it better. For them playing IS learning. As you're talking to them about what they are doing ("You've got a blue block, a green block, and two red blocks. One, two, three, four blocks in your tower. What a tall tower!") and things you see and do throughout the day ("Look, a bird! Can you see the bird? It's flying high up in the sky. Up over the trees and houses.") they will be learning plenty.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, and spend lots of time playing!

 

This is exactly what we do and my girls now know all their colors and LOVE to play I Spy, especially when we are driving in the car.

 

It sounds like you're doing a great job already Along the lines of what others have said, I try to talk about what they are doing as much as possible. Definitely we count things, we name colors and shapes (I would have thought this was beyond them but my DS already knows 2 colors and 1 shape), and I try to spend some time each day playing directly with them to model how you play with the various toys, because some of their toys they just run around with all day. When I'm feeling worn out I put a CD in so they're listening to music with or without words, and we'll "dance." We just went to a free class on toddler play and here are some of the things they recommended:

They said your taddler plays and learnes by exploring, discovering, and experimenting...figuring things out on his own, and also with you as partner....

Sensory Play--water tray (you can just put water in a tub with some scoops or water wheels or boats or whatever; sand box or tray (or go to park for this), shaving cream play (easiest in their high chairs, I haven't tried this at home but they had a blast playing with it on a mirror at the class-maybe outside?)

Fine motor--manipulating anything small, like putting simple puzzle shapes in, placing blocks with holes on pegs, holding wide crayon or chalk and scribbling

Gross motor--crawling activities (even for walkers-like through a tunnel or box or 'fort' you make), rolling ball back and forth, kicking ball, make obstacle courses at home like they walk across a path of pillows then jump inside the laundry basket (if its a low one obviously!), throwing beanbags or stuffed animals into laundry baskets, climbing, push toys, put toys inside jar and let them empty it with lid loosely on.

Other--bubbles (have them stomp or pop bubbles), songs with movements

ETA: PS I try to do one new/creative activity with them a day...it often doesn't happen but it's a goal

 

Thanks, maybe I am on the right track, we have done the boxes, bubbles, music, obstacle course, and have a tunnel and tent they use regularly.....

 

I try to compare animals in the various books we have. Here is a cow, and here is a cow too. I also took these books to the zoo when we went. We were at a restaurant (out doors) and the girl had a blast with a glass of half filled water -- go figure. We go to various mothers groups and that seems to expose them to different toys and different environments. Going to other people's house for a play date is good for mom and toddlers.