Developing Essential Skills For Young Students

Despite what some people think, learning can (and should) take place outside of the classroom. It is necessary in order to strengthen what is being learned in school. Learning should never stop, and can easily take place inside the home in a casual atmosphere. Avoid replicating what your child is doing in school, and enrich their learning by providing alternative, practical means for learning.
An essential skill young students need to acquire is Visual Perception. Visual Perception is defined as “the ability to interpret the surrounding environment by processing information that is contained in visible light.” You can help your young child to develop this skill by implementing the following activities at home.


1. Allow he/she to help with laundry by matching socks after a load of clothing has been dried.

2. Identifying different color articles of clothing in his/her closet and dresser drawers.


3. Provide a strip of yarn and have he/she find things that are longer and shorter than the yarn.

4. When baking, have he/she measure ingredients.

5. Spread toys on the floor, and let he/she put them in order based upon size.

6. Spread a bag of M&M’s or jelly beans on a table and instruct he/she to group them according to color.


This is not a comprehensive list but one to get you started. What ideas can you add to the above list?

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