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Pre-Kindergarten

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Since young children learn mainly through play and modeling the adults and older children around them, we didn’t include “Pre-School” in our first and second editions of The Game Curriculum.  However, since the idea that formal Pre-School is an important part of child development has become so widespread in our society, we decided to include some game suggestions for children under five.  The article “Teaching Pre-Schoolers With Games” that follows will explain more about the kinds of learning activities that are appropriate for young children.
Teaching Pre-Schoolers With Games
The best education for your child is one that is developed for his or her unique learning schedule and learning style. Only the parent can judge the appropriateness of the schedule by watching for things to “click,” but we can get quite a bit of guidance from Raymond and Dorothy Moore’s many books on homeschooling and Willis and Hodson’s Learning Style Profile found in Discover Your Child’s Learning Style. Trying to get a head start by pushing early academics can backfire, causing difficulties for years to come. Instead of worrying about a “learning disability” because your child does not fit the style and sequence of “in the box” schools, spend your energy on developing your child’s natural interests. You will be amazed at the results.

 

How to Use the LEARNING STYLES Hints on the Charts

You will notice that the game charts have a column labeled LEARNING STYLES.  If you have Discover Your Child’s Learning Style, you will understand what the notes mean.  If not, here is a brief key:

Modalities:

Print means that most content is in print.

Picture means there are a lot of pictures or other graphics.

Visual means that both print and pictures are used in the game.

Verbal means there is some to quite a bit of talking involved.

Listening means that listening is involved.

Auditory means that both Verbal and Listening skills are used in the game.

Hands-on means that there is significant hand movement of cards, pieces, etc.

Whole Body means that the whole body is moving.

Writing means that writing is involved.

 

Dispositions:

Move means that there is significant physical activity.  These games are great for the very active child who hates to sit still.

Produce means that there is a clear (to the student) and quantifiable learning objective.  These children like to have a game labeled “educational” whereas that adjective is the kiss of death to most of the other dispositions.

Invent or Discovery means that there is discovery and/or experimentation involved.

Interact means that there is significant social interaction.  This learning style enjoys most games so it is only listed it when the group interaction is above average.

Create means that the game requires significant thought and/or creativity.

There is another vital element of learning that is important in regard to physical movement or what schools like to call Physical Education.  This is explained in depth in Smart Moves by Carla Hannaford.  Therefore, we have included the notations Vestibular and Proprioceptive to help you pick out P.E. games and activities that give your child reinforcement  in these sensory areas.

Vestibular refers to awareness of body balance and movement.

Proprioceptive  refers to the relative position of different parts of the body and the strength of effort used in movement.

Most games combine multiple elements, so we listed only the salient ones.  Likewise, any one child’s learning style is far more complex than these simple definitions and each child’s personality includes a combination of several modalities and dispositions.  Watch for the elements in games that your child likes and look for those or similar elements in other games

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PERCEPTUAL SKILLS

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GAME IDEAS FOR PERCEPTUAL SKILLS

GAME IDEAS FOR PERCEPTUAL SKILLS

GAMEIMAGEPLAYERSAGETIMEEMPHASISLEARNING STYLE
Blocks & Stacking Toys12+VariesVisual & Motor Skills PlanningVisual, Hands On, Discover, Create
Balls and Ball Games1-23-7VariesHand-Eye coordination, Large Muscle skillsHands On, Whole Body, Move, Discover, Interact
Delux Floor Standing Wooden EaselDelux Floor Standing Easel1-23-7VariesCreativity, Hand - Eye Coordination, Large Muscle SkillsVisual, Hands On, Move, Create
Chicky BoomChicky Boom2-44+10 MINUTESMatching, Visual RecognitionVisual, Hands On, Move, Discover, Interact
Spot It Junior: AnimalsSpot It Jr Animals2 64+10 - 15 MinutesMatching, Visual RecognitionVerbal, Hands On, Move, Interact, Discover
Boom Boom Balancing PandaBoomBoom1 - 63+10 MinutesBalance, Manual Dexterity, Risk ManagemenHanda On, Move, Discover, Interact
Grandma's TreasureGrandma's Treasure2-44+10-15 MinutesMemory, Color, Fine Motor Skills, StrategyWhole Body, Picture, Move, Discover, Interact
Simple Puzzles12+5-10 MinutesVisual Skills, Shape Recognition, PatienceVisual, Hands On, Discover, Create
BlinkBlink Bible2-34+5 MinutesMatching AttributesVerbal, Hand On, Move, Discover, Interact
How Tall Am IhowtallamIgame2-43-820 MinutesVisual Discrimination Measuring NumbersVisual, Hands On, Move, Discover, Interact
PengoloPengoloo2-44+10-15 MinutesMemory, Color Recognition, Fine Motor Skills, StrategyVisual, Hands On, Move
Smart TossSmart Toss1-43+10 + MinutesVisual, Large Motor Skills, Depth and Distance perceptionHands On, Move, Interact

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LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

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GAMEIMAGEPLAYERSAGETIMEEMPHASISLEARNING STYLE
LADY BUG GAMELADY BUG GAME2-43+20 MinutesCounting to 15, Addition, Subtraction, Life of a Lady BugVisual, Verbal, Discover, Interact
SEQUENCE FOR KIDSsequencekids2-43-620 MinutesMatching, Counting, StrategyPicture, Discover, Interact
ZIMBBOSZimbbos1-43+5-10 MinutesCounting, Manual Dexterity, BalanceHands On, Move, Interact, Discover
RUCKUSruckus_box3-84 - Adult5-10 MinutesShape Recognition, MatchingPicture, Discover Interact
UNCLE WIGGILYuncle wiggley2-44-825 MinutesReading and NumbersVisual, Auditory, Discover, Relate, Create

The books suggested below reinforce language concepts as well as cultural literacy.  Nursery rhymes and fairy tales reinforce an important part of our culture and those who are not familiar with them are not totally literate in English because they will not understand allusions to these stories when they read English literature or even the daily newspaper. Nursery rhymes also give children experience in repeating rhyme and meter long before they can articulate the rhythms of language fluently.  Read and recite stories and poems to your children as often as possible.

Below are some suggested books that are popular with homeschool families.

  • Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes by Blanche Fisher Wright
  • Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Eve    
  • Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose by Scott Gustafson
  • Richard Scarry’s Best Nursery Tales Ever
  • Classic Fairy Tales by Scott Gustafson

RECOMMENDED READING LIST FOR PRE-SCHOOL ABILITY CHILDREN

  • Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes by Blanche Fisher Wright
  • Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Ever
  • Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose by Scott Gustafson
  • Richard Scarry’s Best Nursery Tales Ever
  • Classic Fairy Tales by Scott Gustafson

If you prefer individual books that your child can easily hold and muse over, Child’s Play publishes a beautiful collection:

  • There was an Old Lady                                 
  • Goldilocks                                                    
  • Jack and the Beanstalk                                       
  • Three Little Pigs                                              
  • Little Red Riding Hood                                     
  • Three Billy Goats Gruff                                    
  • Hansel and Gretel                                            
  • Cinderella                                                    
  • Little Red Hen                                                          
  • Emperor’s New Clothes                                    
  • Stone Soup                                                   
  • Ugly Duckling                                                       
  • Snow White                                                      
  • Elves and the Shoemaker                              
  • Frog Prince                                                 
  • Gingerbread Man                                          
  • Rapunzel                                                      
  • Sleeping Beauty                                                          
  • Little Mermaid                                                            
  • Princess and the Pea                                        
  • Chicken Licken                                                        
  • Boy Who Cried Wolf                                      
  • Tin Soldier                                                          
  • Town Mouse, Country Mouse                                    
  • Pied Piper                                                 
  • Pinocchio                                                    
  • The Brave Little Tailor                                     
  • Thumbelina

If you are looking for charming stories with good values, these are some of our family favorites:

These stories about three little Swedish girls (triplets) will warm your heart and teach important lessons:

  • Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Little Dog, by Maj Lindman
  • Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the New Dotted Dresses, by Maj Lindman
  • Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Strawberries, by Maj Lindman
  • Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Three Kittens, by Maj Lindman
  • Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and their New Friend, by Maj Lindman
  • Flicka, Ricka, Dicka Bake a Cake, by Maj Lindman                                                                                                                           
  • Flika, Ricka, Dicka and the Big Red Hen

Stories about three little Swedish boys (triplets) that highlight good moral values are also available:

  • Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Yellow Sled                                                                                                                                                  
  • Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Gingerbread                                                                                                                                                
  • Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Big Surprise                                                                                                                                                 
  • Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Buttered Bread                                                                                                                                          
  • Snip, Snap, Snurr and the Red Shoes                                                                                                                                                    
  • Snip, Snap, Snurr Learn to Swim    

We can’t emphasize enough the importance of reading to your children every day!

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COUNTING AND NUMBER CONCEPTS

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This is the stage when children begin to attach meaning to number words.  Activities that encourage counting something tangible like spaces on a board game or dots on dice help them to connect the number word with the concept of quantity.  The matching games help them learn to look for similar shapes or pictures.  This skill will help them when they start to learn letters and connect them to sounds.
  • GAMEIMAGEPLAYERSAGETIME OF PLAYEMPHASISLEARNING STYLE
    LADY BUG GAMELady Bug Game2-43+20 MinutesCounting to 15, Addition, Subtraction, Life of Lady Bug and AphjidsVisual, Verbal, Discover, Interact
    SEQUENCE FOR KIDSsequencekids2-43-620 mINUTESMatching, Counting, StrategyPicture, Discover, Interact
    ZIMBBOSZimbbos1-43+5-10 MinutesCounting, Manual Dexterity, BalanceHands On, Move, Interact, Discover
    UNCLE WIGGILYuncle wiggley2-44-825 MinutesNumber Recognition, CountingShape Recognition, Matching
    RUCKUSruckus_box3-84 - Adult5-10 MinutesShape Recognition, MatchingPicture, Discover, Interact

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SOCIAL STUDIES

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GAMEIMAGE LINKPLAYERSAGETIME OF PLAYEMPHASISLEARNING STYLE
AMERICAN HISTORY MEMORY GAMEAmerican History Memory2 - 63+20 MinutesMatch images of historical people, monuments, maps, artifacts and symbols.Picture, Hands-On, Discover, Relate
Young children love to learn about the people in their community.  Community JINGO works like BINGO but involves matching pictures and/or clues about the people and jobs in your town.  Very young children will just match the pictures but as they grow, they will enjoy hearing the clues and figuring out whom they describe.  Madeline at the White House is an active game in which the game board is your living room or family room and the players are the pawns!  It is based on a charming children’s book of the same title in the Madeline series.

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SCIENCE

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GAMEIMAGE LINKPLAYERSAGETIME OF PLAYEMPHASISLEARNING STYLE
BUGGY BATES AND WALLACEBuggy Bates2-63-715 MinutesActive game about animals and counting to 6Picture, Verbal, Move Create
LADY BUG GAMELadybug Game2-43+20 MinutesCounting to 15 Addition Subtraction Life of ladybugsPicture Discover Relate
LIFE ON THE FARMLife on the Farm Game2-43-720 MinutesAnimals, matching shapes.Picture, Discover, Relate
Science is all around you and connected to everything you do.  Your kitchen is a science lab: water boils, freezes and melts; fire cooks and burns; pudding, Jello and gravy get thick; food spoils if left out too long; mold grows, etc., etc.  Your yard or porch garden is a botany laboratory.  Young children are interested in just about everything they encounter and there are so many things they want to know.  All you really have to do is patiently answer their questions and they will learn more than any curriculum could hope to provide.  The games add an element of fun as well as teaching skills like taking turns and dealing with winning and losing.
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BIBLE

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GAMEIMAGE LINKPLAYERSAGETIME OF PLAYEMPHASISLEARNING STYLE
BLINK - BIBLE EDITIONBlink Bible2-34+5 MinutesBible Themes, Matching, Visual PerceptionPicture, Auditory, Discover, Relate
BIBLE RUMMY CARD GAMEBible Rummy2-64+20 MinutesStory of Noah, matching, strategyPicture, Auditory, Discover, Relate
Helpful Books:

  • My Take-Along Bible                                                                                                             
  • My Creation Bible                                                                                                              
  • The Rhyme Bible Storybook

These Bible storybooks have very short stories for short attention spans.  The stories in verse help children begin to hear and recognize rhymes, an important auditory skill for reading readiness.