Even babies can recognize the difference between a circle and square, using their sight and sense of touch to distinguish between them. However, learning the names of the different shapes is not an inborn ability, but it is a necessary step in your preschooler's education. Children need to learn the names of shapes so that they can identify them verbally and in writing and compare the various shapes and how they are used. These are basic skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.
Learning shapes helps your child identify objects as well as letters. Letters are made up of circles, triangles and lines - think of the circles in b, d, g, p, q, or the parts of a triangle found in k, v and w. Drawing the curved lines of a circle or oval shape helps your child to write letters such as f, u, m, n, j, and the lines in squares helps your child to write i, l, k, p, q and so on. Often, recognizing the shapes in the letters helps a child to recognize the letter too, important for developing reading skills.
Drawing shapes is also the first step in learning how to draw. Almost anything can be broken 幼稚園 down into shapes, such as a house, a cat, a book, a ball - they can all be drawn with simple shapes. This makes it easier for your child to progress from stick drawings to more detailed artworks - and if they have talent, they will use shapes to draw and paint in the future as well.
Shapes are extremely important in basic and more advanced math. Most adults will immediately think of geometry, but shape patterns and spatial perception help your child to develop sequencing and logic skills that they will use later in their school career in subjects like calculus.
We use shapes every day as adults, although we may not realize it. Think about rearranging the lounge furniture, cleaning out the kitchen cupboards or the refrigerator - all done according to the shape of the items in them, and how they will relate to each other. Road signs and markings make extensive use of different shapes, helping us to recognize them before we can actually read them.
Learning about shapes includes learning about 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional shapes. A sphere, or ball, is a 3D circle, and has specific properties, such as the ability to roll, that some other shapes do not have. This is true of all shapes, and your child will be able to make this progression if his or her basic grounding is good.
For kindergarten, children are expected to know the basic shapes, recognize them and identify how they form part of other items. They may also be expected to be able to draw the shapes - not perfectly, but certainly recognizably. There are many ways to encourage and help your child to learn about shapes.
Because shapes are all around us, it is easy to play 'Find the Shape' at home, in the car, in the store and elsewhere. Select one shape at a time to concentrate on, rather than trying to find all the different shapes.
A good set of worksheets for preschool will help your child recognize different shapes, see how they form part of other objects, and help them learn how to draw them. Drawing shapes is the precursor to learning how to write, and a good set of worksheets should take you step-by-step through this process until your child is drawing shapes on their own, free hand. Look out for worksheets that combine learning shapes with the use of different colors, as this is particularly effective in reinforcing the shape names.
The sirens ring and the lights flash, attracting the attention of children everywhere as the fire trucks speed past. But what if those trucks were racing to your house? Would everyone in your family know what to do, how to get out, and where to meet?
Most children never have to face the danger of waking up with their house on fire, but every child needs to know what to do in case they find themselves in a smoke filled room. See if your kids can answer the top ten questions about fire safety.
1. If there's smoke in the air, what do I do?
To escape during a fire, Crawl Low and Go! Hot smoke rises, so there's better air to breath near the ground below the smoke.
2. Should I wait for my parents to find me in a fire?
Get out as fast as you can. Fires are scary but you should never hide in closets or under beds or from firefighters who may come in to rescue you with a big air mask on.
Don't Hide - Go Outside!
3. When should we call 911?
If there is a fire, first GET OUT, then call 911 from a phone outside or from a neighbor's house. Practice giving your name, your address, and how to explain the emergency.
4. If your clothes are on fire, what should you do?
Do not run. Running makes the fire burn faster. STOP, DROP & ROLL until the fire is out!
5. How fast can a fire spread?
In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with black smoke and become fully engulfed in flames.
6. Should I sleep with my bedroom door open or closed?
Bedroom doors should be closed at night to help slow the spread of smoke if there's a fire. If there is a fire, feel the door with your hand to see if it is hot before opening it. If it is hot, use your window or other escape route.
7. Would the light from the flames help me find my way out?
No. Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness. If you wake up in a fire, you need to know how to get out with the room totally dark, so practice feeling your way out with your eyes closed.
8. What should I do if I find matches or lighters?
Matches and lighters are tools, not toys. Tell a grown up right away if you see these items.
9. Where is our family's meeting place?
Choose a meeting place outside, such as a big tree or by the mailbox, so you will know that everyone has gotten out safely.
10. Are our smoke alarms working?
Smoke alarms should be tested once a month and replaced every 10 years.