Carolyn Jaynes is a Learning Designer for LeapFrog Enterprises, specializing in language and literacy development. She earned her doctorate in educational psychology at Michigan State University where she was a researcher and professional development consultant for the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA).
The great thing about Kindergartners is that they can find a way to have fun and learn from just about any toy. At the same time, children this age are growing in ways that can be reinforced with certain kinds of play. As a parent, you can use the acronym L.E.A.P.S. to remember how educational toys can encourage your child’s development in five important areas:
Language Development
Kindergartners are expanding their vocabularies every day and building their abilities to use and understand language. Anything that encourages your child to role-play or have fun with words can foster language development. This includes toys such as puppets, tea party sets, and pretend microphones, but it also includes items you may have around the house like dress-up clothes, voice recorders, and old phones or calculators—I remember spending hours playing merchant with my dad’s old adding machine and discarded memo pads. And don’t forget the books! No toy box is complete without a selection of books that spark the imagination and build word knowledge along the way.
Exploration
Kindergartners love to explore. As they head outside, children can learn to make observations, gather information, and recognize patterns in what they see. Providing children with child-friendly magnifying glasses, binoculars, or cameras can encourage them to make close observations, document their findings, and collect information that will help them understand the world around them.
Activity
Kindergartners are on the move. In fact, at this age, children can enjoy active play for longer periods of time. Of course, there are plenty of games and activities that get kids skipping and jumping without toys, but adding balls, jump ropes, and riding toys can add to the fun. And don’t forget old favorites like Twister and Hula Hoops.
Problem solving
Kindergartners are developing improved hand-eye coordination, learning about spatial relationships, and building patience. Toys that include puzzles or mazes prompt children to learn through trial and error. Interlocking manipulative toys and building sets encourage children to sort objects and consider multiple approaches to construction.
Self-expression
Finally, Kindergartners are discovering new forms of self-expression. As children learn to recognize changes in musical pitch and tempo, toys with keyboards and drums can foster creativity and build on their improving abilities to move smoothly and rhythmically to music. Providing an easel—or just plenty of paper and markers—encourages children this age to express themselves with art that is becoming increasingly creative and realistic.
Giveaway! Enter to win a LeapFrog Tag Reader!
REQUIRED: Leave a comment sharing your favorite hands on learning activity and be a subscriber to Untrained Housewife (via email or feedreader – icons in sidebar) and you’ll be entered to win a LeapFrog Tag Reader! Leave comment entry by 11:59pm October 1, 2010
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Dayngr says
We’re really big on self-expression through music here at our house. The kids have all sorts of instruments they dabble with and I find them making up songs all the time. They’re pretty good too!
I love the L.E.A.P.S. acronym. I’ve got to write that down. What a great way to remember each item. I might even share it with my children’s kindergarten teachers.
I’d love to win a LeapFrog Tag Reader. My kids love LeapFrog products!
AngEngland says
I love the LEAPS acronym too – we naturally incorporate a lot of those into our everyday life.
Dayngr says
Just subscribed!
alecia says
i have 3 boys and from day one tried to incorporated music, dance, reading, dress up etc. we go on daily walks to explore our world, and i am amazed at how much they learn from daily activities.
my guys are not in kindergarten yet but i think L.E.A.P.S applies to them.
Erica Mueller says
We love cooking together for hands-on learning! Lots of counting when we measure ingredients and lots of following directions, not to mention all the letters on the packaging.
Erica Mueller says
I ‘liked’ on FB!
Erica Mueller says
I follow LeapFrog on Twitter!
Erica Mueller says
I Subscribed to you RSS via Google Feed Reader!
Erica Mueller says
And, I ‘like’ LeapFrog on Facebook!
Erica Mueller says
http://twitter.com/EricaMueller/status/25048710494
Tweeted!
Brittney says
my almost 4 year old loves flashcards. We just got her a tag reader for her bday and we want to get another reader for our other daughter who will be 3 in november. Both of them are very much intrested in books so we are very excited. I’m also loving the maps book can’t wait til she opens it.
Katie says
I just subscribed to your feeds and added you to my Google Reader:) I really like making alphabet letters out of playdoh. My daughter enjoys it too and the making playdoh ropes is also good for fine motor.
Katie says
Following Leapfrog on Twitter, @KTnestingspot
Katie says
Here is my tweet link: http://twitter.com/KTnestingspot/status/25951547486
Katie says
I just “Liked” this on Facebook.
Heather R says
Sometimes we will take our daughter on little scavenger hunts in the backyard. We look for bugs, flowers & plants, etc with a magnifying glass and look up things if we don’t know what it is.
I am an email subscriber
Heather R says
I “Like” this post on Facebook
(Heather Ransom)
Heather R says
I follow LeapFrog on Twitter
(@THRansom)
Heather R says
I follow LeapFrog on Facebook
(Heather Ransom)
Heather R says
I tweeted about your giveaway
https://twitter.com/THRansom/status/25952244545
Krista says
Hmmm, that’s a tough question! My son is 3 1/2 and he loves to stamp and play with play dough. It’s fun to teach him how to make various things with the dough!
Krista says
I just followed LeapFrog on twitter!
Krista says
Just liked LeapFrog on Facebook too!
Momma Chaos says
My kindergartener loves to learn! She loves being read to, playing dress up, using her imaginiation! She also loves to point things out as we walk or drive past them and then demands we give her all the information we possess on said item 🙂
Momma Chaos says
I’m subscribed to your feeds 🙂
Patricia Alner says
Our favorite hands on activity is actually puzzles. My daughter is getting really good at them.
I subscribe to your feeds. Trisha71478 at gmail dot com
patricia alner says
I like this post facebook
trisha71478@gmail.com
patricia alner says
I Follow LeapFrog on Twitter
@trisha71478
Patricia Alner says
I follow on FB.
trisha71478 at gmail dot com
Patricia Alner says
http://twitter.com/trisha71478/status/25981299879
i tweeted
jamie says
I love giving the kids a camera to take pix with we get to see our events from their view it is really neat
So taking pictures would be my favorite for the kids
Email Subscriber
jamie says
Like this post on FB (jamiejudy)
jamie says
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/jjudy04/status/26082658152
jamie says
follow Leap Frog on twitter (jjudy04)
jamie says
follow Leapfrog on FB (jamiejudy)