children spot objects more quickly when encouraged by words than if they are only encouraged by pictures. The game taps into children's cognitive systems, improving their ability to learn and to guide themselves through complexed surroundings.
The added beauty of “I Spy” is that you can play it with your child ANYWHERE at ANYTIME! At home, in the grocery store or while waiting at the doctor’s office, there are lots of ways to get creative with this fun game.
Here’s a scenario to try with your preschooler:
“I spy with my little eye. . . a square. Can you find a square? Remember, it has four sides and four corners. Can you count the sides of the square?”
As your child identifies a square for you, perhaps it’s a picture frame or a road sign, try engaging him more with additional questions. What else can you think of that is in the shape of a square? What food is shaped like a square?
As your child considers your questions and discusses the answers with you, you are not only reinforcing shape concepts but building her other critical thinking skills.
To read more about why it is important for preschoolers to learn shapes and why a square can be so much more than a square in your child’s learning process, click HERE.
Did you miss a few of our Early Learning Center’s Friday Fun Facts? Visit www.summitinc.org/elcedtips for more ways to engage and learn with your preschooler. Happy Friday!