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Pre-Kindergarten
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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
PLAYERS
AGE RANGE
TIME OF PLAY
EMPHASIS AND NOTES
LEARNING STYLE
Blocks and Stacking Toys
1 or more
2 and older
Varies
Visual and Motor Skills
Planning
Visual
Hands On
Discover
Create
Balls and Ball Games
2 or more
2 and older
Varies
Hand – Eye cordination
Large muscle skills
Hands-On
Whole body
Move
Discover
Interact
Delux Floor Standing Wooden Easel
1 – 2
3 – 7
Varies
Creativity
Hand – Eye Cordination
Large Muscle Skills
Visual
Hands On
Move Create
Chicky Boom
2 – 4
4 and older
10 Minutes
Balance
Arithmetic
Manual Dexterity
Risk Assessment
Visual
Hamds On
Move
Discover
Interact
Spot It Junior
Animals
2 – 6
4 and older
10 – 15 Minutes
Matching
Visual Recognition
Verbal
Hands On
Move
Interact
Discover
Kee Kee The Rocking Monkey
1 – 6
3 and older
10 Minutes
Balance
Manual Dexterity
Risk Management
Hands On
Move
Discover
Interact
Grandma’s Treasure
2 – 4
4 and older
10 – 15 Minutes
Memory
Color
Fine Motor Skills
Strategy
Whole Body
Picture
Move
Discover
Interact
Simple Puzzles
1
2 and older
5 – 10 Minutes
Visual Skills
Shape Recognition
Patience
Visual
Hands On
Discover
Create
Blink
2 – 3
4 and older
5 Minutes
Matching Attributes
Verbal
Hand On
Move
Discover
Interact
How Tall Am I
2 – 4
3 – 8
20 Minutes
Visual Discrimination
Measuring
Numbers
Visual
Hands On
Move
Discover
Interact
Pengoloo
2 – 4
4 and older
10 – 15 Minutes
Memory
Color Recognition
Fine Motor Skills
Strategy
Visual
Hands On
Move
Candyland
2 – 4
3 and older
30 Minutes
Colors
Matching Pictures
Group Play
Picture
Hands On
Move
Discover
Interact
Smart Toss
1 – 4
3 and older
10 minutes or more
Visual
Large Motor Skills
Depth and Distance perception
Hands On
Move
Interact
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LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
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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
GAME IDEAS FOR LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
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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SOCIAL STUDIES
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NAME OF GAME | PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME | EMPHASIS AND NOTES | LEARNING STYLES |
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Community Jingo![]() | 2-30 | 4 and Up | 30 Minutes | Learn about community by matching picture and oral clues. | Listening Picture Discover Relate |
Madeline at the White House![]() | 2-4 | 4 and Up | 10 Minutes | Counting to 4 Washington DC landmarks | Listening Picture Whole body Move Relate |
American History Memory Game![]() | 2-6 | 3 and Up | 20 Minutes | Match images of historical people, monuments, maps, artifacts and symbols. | Picture Hands-On Discover Relate |
Geo Lotto![]() | 2-8 | 3 and Up | 20 Minutes | Animals and their continents | Picture Listening Discover Relate |
Explore Photo Safari![]() | 1-4 | 3 and Up | 20+ Minutes | Learn about 112 animals placed on a world map. Three levels of play. | Picture Listening Discover Relate |
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SCIENCE
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NAME OF GAME | PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME | EMPHASIS AND NOTES | LEARNING STYLES |
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Buggy Bates and Wallace![]() | 2-6 | 3-7 | 15 Minutes | Active game about animals and counting to 6 | Picture Verbal Move Create |
Life on the Farm | 2-4 | 3-7 | 20 Minutes | Animals, matching shapes. | Picture Discover Relate |
Ladybug Game![]() | 2-4 | 3 and Up | 20 Minutes | Counting to 15 Addition Subtraction Life of ladybugs | Picture Discover Relate |
Wild Cards Baby Animals![]() | 2-6 | 4 and Up | 20 Minutes | Use of 18 pairs of animal cards to play "go fish" and "memory" | Picture Discover Relate |
BIBLE
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NAME OF GAME | NUMBER OF PLAYERS | AGE RANGE | TIME OF PLAY | EMPHASIS & NOTES | LEARNING STYLES |
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VeggieQuest![]() | 1-6 | 3 and older | 10 minutes | Christian Values | Picture Discover Relate |
Hermie Card Game![]() | 2 or 4 | 3 and older | 10 minutes | Veggie Tales characters, matching | Picture Discover Relate |
BIBLE BINGO![]() | 2-6 | 3 and older | 10 minutes | Bible themes, Listening and matching | Picture Listening Discover Relate |
My Little Bible Memory Game![]() | 2-6 | 3 and older | 10-15 minutes | Bible themes, matching Two levels of play | Picture Discover Relate |
Bible Old Man Card Game![]() | 2-6 | 4 and older | 15 minutes | 24 Bible characters on 48 cards plus the old man. Matching and Strategy | Picture Auditory Discover Relate |
Bible Rummy Card Game![]() | 2-6 | 4 and older | 20 minutes | Story of Noah Matching Strategy | Picture Auditory Discover Relate |
New Testament Cube Puzzle![]() | 1-2 | 3-6 | 10 minutes | Six (6) puzzles from New Testament stories on the sides of wooden cubes. | Picture Discover Create |
Baby Moses Puzzle | 1-2 | 3-6 | 10 minutes | Simple 12 piece puzzle | Picture Discover Create |
- 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.