September 2, 2024

6 tips for creating a home learning environment for preschoolers

Early learning is important for a child’s development. Particularly in their preschool years, children pick up so many skills that become key to further growth. 

Focus, problem-solving, communication – these are just a few of the key parts of early child development. These are also skills that many preschools help to build. We certainly do at My Little Campus!

That being said, you can actually do your fair share to support acquisition of these skills too. The trick is to provide a learning-friendly environment, one that encourages your child’s continued learning at home. 

If you want to learn how to put together an environment that supports child development, read on. We’ll provide you tips that we’ve found to encourage child education in Singapore.

1. Create a child-friendly learning environment

Create a child-friendly environment that is welcoming and empowering for a little learner. Some parts of this may be more obvious than you expect. 

For example, make sure it has child-sized furniture and learning materials always placed within reach of your child. It should be well-lit to encourage visual stimulation, reading, and writing. 

Ensure that it’s spacious enough for movement and exploration. Stock it with ample learning materials like books, toys, and art supplies. 

As much as possible, establish a routine where your child is in this dedicated learning space regularly. This exposes your child to the stimuli he/she needs to thrive and grow, which is something we do at My Little Campus.

2. Take on activities that build literacy

Literacy is such a key part of every child’s development. Without it, children will struggle to move on to primary school and further formal education. That’s why we recommend working on it as soon as possible at My Little Campus. 

At our preschool, we do this in many ways, including by providing a corner for reading and storytelling. This cosy and inviting corner nurtures our children’s love for reading from an early age. 

At home, you can do something similar like creating a mini home library! You can even try daily reading sessions with your child and start letting him/her pick out his/her favourite books for that. 

As much as possible, focus on titles that you know will interest your child. If he/she likes cars, get books about them. If he/she likes animals, focus on those. Don’t forget to look for books that are age-appropriate and illustrated too!

3. Encourage creativity wherever possible

Creativity is another skill worth learning for little ones. It encourages lateral thinking, deeper problem-solving, and even artistic pursuits. And it’s fun to develop!

At My Little Campus, we often use art to bring out children’s creativity. We provide a bevy of art supplies, prompts, and areas where those in our care can flex their imaginations. 

It’s pretty easy to do the same thing at home. All you have to do is put together a nice arts and crafts desk with handy supplies. 

To make it more fun, you can collaborate on pieces with your child – try colouring the same page with him/her or creating animal statues out of clay together!

4. Invite exploration and discovery

Exploration is actually one of the main ways children discover things about the world. That’s why it’s so important to ensure your child knows the value of exploratory pursuits early on. 

To do this, consider introducing puzzles and hands-on activities to your child. Many of them benefit from others interacting with them during such activities, so you can even join your little one!

Take on the puzzles together. You can even ask questions to help and lead your child down the path to the answer. 

We do something similar at My Little Campus and even enter discussions with children about things that interest them. It lets them work their minds as they explore topics and ideas with others. This can lead to fresh discoveries for them!

5. Introduce your child to routines

Making peace with routines is another valuable thing for a child to learn. Life is about routines, from the routine of preparing for school in the morning to that of preparing for bed at night.

At My Little Campus, we introduce children to routines in different ways. We teach them the routine of cleaning up after meals, for example. Or we teach them how to tidy up toys after exploratory play. 

As you can see, these are things you can do at home as well. Showing your child basic routines like these can help him/her get better at taking on new ones later on. 

6. Support the growth of independence

Independence is another skill we can’t forget when it comes to child development. The sooner children learn how to care for themselves, the better. It means more free time for you and caregivers while also empowering the little ones. 

Our previous tip about building routines can actually help here. Teaching a child how to go through routines himself/herself can lay the foundations for his/her independence. 

We also recommend gradually showing children chores. Let your child help with washing up once you think he/she can, for instance. It can be something as simple as helping to dry plates. It can even be just setting the table for meals. 

This promotes independence and the beginnings of responsibility in your little one. Both will come in very handy once he/she gets older and has to do more things for himself/herself.

Make sure your child’s preschool environment is also a nurturing one

These are just a few of the ways you can tailor your child’s home environment to boost his/her development. If you want to learn more, you can follow our blog, where we often provide tips of this sort. 

You should also reach out to us if you want to make sure your child’s preschool is as developmentally encouraging as his/her home space. Our facilities and programmes at My Little Campus have been tailored for that, covering all crucial aspects of children’s growth.

Enquire now to learn more about what we can do for you and your little one!