Teaching Kids Anytime Anywhere

Name the Colors

Many young families are working in a little bit of reading and math teaching with children as they go about daily errands. They have great ideas to share. Here are a few....
Sneak in Reading
   While shopping, practice the alphabet and their sounds.  At the grocery store point out fruits and vegetables and ask for beginning sounds that are one consonant.  Ask children to find letters you name on signs or familiar words like in, out and checkout.
   A little of this goes a long way or you’ll never finish the shopping, but some teaching is a good habit anywhere. Soon young children will expect teaching while doing errands. 
  As soon as possible, teach children to read labels. One parent last week gave each of his three young children a box of cereal. They were expected to find the sugar, salt, and protein content in grams on the nutrition label. Then he skillfully guided the discussion to decide what cereal was best to keep them healthy. He also had the oldest child help write and read the grocery list. Impressive!
  Children can learn many words at the grocery. However, avoid saying, “Sound it out”

Lots to Learn Here!

for every word. Many English words cannot be sounded out. The individual sounds won’t blend together to make the word. “Through” is a good example. If children can sound out one or more syllables correctly and get stumped simply tell them the word and its meaning. They will learn that trying to figure out words is fun.
   Keep a variety of library books, a clipboard, drawing paper and colored pencils in a small plastic bin in your car so children can read and draw pictures. 
Stealth Math
  Family math teaching can also be done anywhere, any time. Back in the grocery store children can pick out fruits and vegetables based on characteristics you list for them. Picking out something based on certain traits and finding likenesses and differences are important math skills. Young children can choose ripe dark ripe purple plums and place six in a plastic bag, for example.
   They can also count out a nice bunch of five bananas based on your criteria. If you have time, place fruits and vegetables on the scale and

Count the Shapes!

have the kids read the numbers.
   Children can read the aisle numbers and simple money signs. They can count out small boxes or bags of goods for the cart.
  Help them understand what a gram looks like.  It weighs as much as a paper clip. If there are nine grams of sugar in a cereal serving show them a pile of nine in a spoon so they can picture and remember when they make food choices.  
photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos ; sketch: Mark Nowicki
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio, 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest