Helpful Tips for Parents

• Read aloud daily for at least 15 minutes. This single habit is the strongest predictor of kindergarten reading readiness and long-term academic success.

• Curiosity is more valuable than knowledge. A curious child who doesn't know the answer will find it. A knowledgeable child who has lost curiosity will stop learning.

• Sleep is educational. Memory consolidation — the process of moving learning from short-term to long-term memory — happens during sleep. Well-rested children learn more effectively.

• Choose toys that grow with the child: open-ended materials (blocks, clay, art supplies) remain valuable for years; single-use toys with one correct answer produce brief engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much learning time should a preschooler have per day?

All of it — because preschoolers learn continuously through every interaction with their environment. The question of "learning time" implies that learning is separate from living, which it isn't at this age. A preschooler who plays freely, has rich conversations, is read to, helps in the kitchen, plays outdoors, and is exposed to music and art is having the richest possible educational experience. Formal, scheduled "learning time" is less productive than a generally enriched daily environment.

What learning differences might first become apparent in the preschool years?

The preschool years are when speech and language delays, developmental delays, autism spectrum characteristics, sensory processing differences, and early signs of ADHD typically become apparent. Early identification and early intervention are the most powerful factors in outcomes for children with learning differences — the preschool brain's plasticity makes early intervention far more effective than the same intervention at age 8. If you have concerns about your child's development, discuss them with your pediatrician rather than waiting to see if the child grows out of it.

Related reading: See also our alphabet activities and our read-aloud guide for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 📚 Pre-Reading Skills — Activities that involve letters, sounds, rhymes, and print directly build the phonological awareness and letter knowledge that are the two strongest predictors of successful reading development.
• 📖 Story Structure Understanding — Understanding that stories have a beginning, problem, solution, and ending develops narrative comprehension — the mental schema children use to make sense of increasingly complex texts throughout their school years.
• 🔢 Early Numeracy — Hands-on counting, sorting, measuring, and pattern work develops the number sense and mathematical reasoning that formal arithmetic will later build on — and preschool numeracy is one of the strongest predictors of later math achievement.
• 👂 Listening & Attention — Activities that require children to listen carefully and follow directions build the voluntary auditory attention that classroom learning, reading comprehension, and conversation all require.

From the Preschool Book

"Skit skat skoodle doot. Flip flop flee. Everybody running to the coconut tree. Mamas and papas and uncles and aunts hug their little dears, then dust their pants."

About the Preschool Book

The naughty little lower case letters get themselves into trouble when they all try to fit into the coconut tree. All of the lowercase letters are too heavy for the coconut tree and they all fall out. The poor little letters have skinned knees, black eyes, and a loose tooth. Luckily the uppercase letters come running to the rescue and kiss everything better, but what will the mischievous little a do when the moon come up?

From the Reviewer

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom will quickly become a favorite among preschoolers and parents. The bright colors and simple illustrations easily hold preschoolers attention and have them yelling "Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM!" Preschoolers will learn the upper case and lower case letters as they listen to this story. Sing this book with your preschoolers for an exciting variation. This whimsical alphabet rhyme will have children excited about learning the alphabet and will become a staple book in many homes and classrooms.

Making Some Music

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Other Coconutty Songs is a fun musical rendition of the classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Preschoolers will love singing along with the book and will quickly learn the words. This is a favorite addition to story time for preschoolers.

Book Details

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Aladdin (August 1, 2000)

Language: English

ISBN-10: -68983568X

ISBN-13: 978-0689835681

Hi! I'm Rachel Lister, the Preschool Education writer at PreschoolRock.com. I live in Utah with my husband and two beautiful boys. When my oldest son was born, I quit my teaching job and opened a home daycare and preschool. I love to help preschoolers learn about the world around them. They make life interesting and I can't imagine doing anything different. If you have any ideas, suggestions or comments, feel free to contact me.