Helpful Tips for Parents

• Use mathematical language all day: "more than," "less than," "half," "equal," "twice as much." Incidental math vocabulary builds the conceptual foundation formal math builds on.

• Expose children to multiple languages early if possible. The preschool window is the most efficient period for language acquisition the brain will ever have.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 counting activities and our writing readiness guide for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 😊 Love of Learning — Positive early learning experiences build a child's identity as a learner — and children who see themselves as curious, capable learners approach school with the engagement and resilience that matter more than any specific skill.
• 🔢 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.
• 💬 Vocabulary Expansion — Every new concept, activity, and domain-specific term a child encounters expands their vocabulary — and children's vocabulary at kindergarten entry is the single strongest predictor of reading comprehension at age 10.

The health benefits of animals have been praised for years. Pets lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and prevent depression. Many families have pets for these exact reasons, but what about the educational benefits? Many teachers shy away from using pets as a supplement to their curriculum because they worry about the care involved, but preschoolers can learn so many things by being exposed to animals.

Caring for a pet teaches responsibility and empathy. Preschoolers are used to parents and teachers doing things to help them but they do not get many opportunities in their lives to take care of others. Beings responsible for the care of a classroom pet will raise a child's self esteem and teach them a wonderful character trait that will help them for the rest of their lives.

Preschoolers can learn about the life cycle first hand. Sadly many children have already experienced the death of a loved one. Death brings complicated emotions for anyone, but preschoolers have a particularly hard time coping. If a classroom pet dies it is upsetting to preschoolers but it can be used as a valuable teaching experience to prepare them for harder things that they may face down the road.

Animals get preschoolers excited about learning. Early in a child's educational career, it is important to instill in them a love of learning. They need to explore new interests and expand their view of the world. All it really takes is finding one thing that they are passionate about to set them on the right track.

Pets can relieve stress in the classroom. No one learns well when they are tense and preschoolers are no exceptions. There will always be things in the classroom that cause stress, but animals may provide an outlet for kids that are struggling. Watching a fish tank can be extremely relaxing. A worked up preschooler can be calmed by watching the peaceful movements of the fish.

Consider the care a pet will need. Whatever you choose for your classroom pet, be sure that you have the time and the resources to meet any needs that may arise. Find out what the life expectancy of the animal is. Make sure the diet they require is one that you are comfortable with. Some pets eat live food such as crickets. Sick animals may need to be cared for by a vet. It is better to know what the problems may be before they come up.

Choose a pet that is a good fit for your preschoolers. Do the research before choosing your class pet. Some popular choices are hamsters, rabbits, fish, birds, guinea pigs, turtles and frogs. Hamsters can be put in a ball to run around the room but they can bite if handled roughly. Fish require minimal care and are protected from anxious hands by the glass of the tank. Avoid pets that are likely to show aggression towards preschoolers and make sure that none of the children that will be near the animal have allergies.

A classroom pet can be a wonderful addition to a preschool program if you make a choice that meets all the needs of your class.

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.