Little BearsI teach a Little Bears class for children officially aged at least 2 and half, although if the child is ready before that age they can join. Usually children are in the two to three age group. In my experience, kids have to be at least aged two before they can appreciate some of the activities.
Activity-Based
What activities can kids in the two to four year old range be expected to do?
What activities can kids in the two to four year old range be expected to do?
This depends on what can be expected from children in this age range and also the philosophy of the organisation your child is attending classes at. Our philosophy is that before a child should learn to read he/she needs to have mastered phonemic awareness (awareness of the sounds of words), basic writing of letters and the ability to focus for about one and a half hours.
Awareness First
I am attempting to achieve in the Little Bears class:
I am attempting to achieve in the Little Bears class:
Sounds first: A child first learns sounds and so we are putting together the sounds of English.
Shapes and Coloring first: A child can’t just write so it is best to learn how to color first and to draw shapes. This is what is called the development of motor skills (holding the pencil properly and being able to use the pencils correctly).
Talking first: Also when I am talking to the child I do repeat a lot and use pointing to reinforce language and understanding.
Educational Teething
The primary problem concerns separation issues, separating from Mum or Dad. I regard this as the equivalent of teething. It is painful for all, but we have to go through this process and the earlier the better. I have seen children aged five and six still having these problems, so there is no ideal age to go through. The earlier the better is what I say. This brings me to the main reason why you send your kids to English classes, and that is to have the best social skills possible.
The primary problem concerns separation issues, separating from Mum or Dad. I regard this as the equivalent of teething. It is painful for all, but we have to go through this process and the earlier the better. I have seen children aged five and six still having these problems, so there is no ideal age to go through. The earlier the better is what I say. This brings me to the main reason why you send your kids to English classes, and that is to have the best social skills possible.
Clear SignsMost parents focus upon the objective signs of leaning: Oh my child can do this and that … That is part of the joys of parenting and totally natural.
Savvy Social SkillsA minority of parents don’t overlook the skill that I feel is the most important.
Good Attitude
You may send your child to class to learn a language and to develop your child’s brain in the most holistic way, but the most important skills a child needs to learn is how to focus, how to work with a system and how to interact well with others. In other words, developing the good attitudes that underpin success. You may have read about how people get hired for skills but fired for attitude. The best attitudes are learnt at the youngest age and that is in class.
You may send your child to class to learn a language and to develop your child’s brain in the most holistic way, but the most important skills a child needs to learn is how to focus, how to work with a system and how to interact well with others. In other words, developing the good attitudes that underpin success. You may have read about how people get hired for skills but fired for attitude. The best attitudes are learnt at the youngest age and that is in class.
Start EarlyYour child is going to class to obtain the optimum success – to learn to operate in English with the greatest social success. Mastering social success is the one greatest aspect of childhood learning that will last a lifetime.
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