Parent Engagement in Early Learning: Preschool 1: Helping Parents Practice Preschool Learning Concepts at Home

Parent involvement has the single most important role in preparing a child for early literacy success and future academic achievement. This SHARE (School and Home are Engaged) educational resource is a practical tool for early learners, parents and teachers interested in building a foundation for success in school. Using Parent Engagement in Early Learning: Preschool 1, parents are equipped with an easy-to-follow curriculum using common household materials for hands-on activities full of learning. Children will have fun and gain confidence while learning the skills that will equip them for a great start in kindergarten and beyond.

In addition, each activity has built-in tools for documentation of progress that are invaluable to teachers. Based on current research in early childhood best practices, the activities are designed to extend the essential components of early childhood curriculum into the home and everyday life. The 20 activities in Parent Engagement in Early Learning: Preschool 1 content are most practical for children who are in the beginnings of preschool learning and development.

Caregivers practice cognitive, physical and social-emotional learning experiences with their child, enriched with positive affirmations for building confidence and a love of learning. Recognizing colors, sensory exploration, letter recognition, expanding vocabulary, sorting, spatial concepts, ordinality, neighborhood and community, recognizing sounds, rhyming, gross motor, fine motor and problem solving are some of the skill areas addressed using free or inexpensive materials.

Each activity comes with an explanation of how it addresses child development, easy-to-follow instructions, and parent-teacher communication built right in. Whether being used in conjunction with a school setting or independently, utilization of these hands-on activities will foster parent-child relationships and equip children with foundational building blocks for success!