Category: News

You probably don’t remember the day you realized what the number “6” looked like. At some point, you simply went from not knowing what it looked like to knowing, right? Whether you learned it through preschool worksheets or from Count von Count on Sesame Street, something must have aided you in recognizing numbers. As parents, it can be easy to overlook the importance of teaching our children early math skills, even ones as simple as recognizing the number “6.” After all, isn’t that what school is for?

Integrating these early skills into everyday life both before and during a child’s formal education is crucial to giving them the skills they need for math success. Here at our private school in Atlanta, our teachers have seen the difference this kind of intentionality makes in a child’s education. Children who begin to grasp even the most basic number-oriented skills at an early age often experience greater mathematical confidence throughout their schooling than those who do not.

The preschool teachers here at Academy of Scholars have found that teaching kids early math skills can be fun. The possibilities are nearly endless. Here are nine creative ways that you can help your child develop early number skills:

1. Count with Everyday Objects

Everyday life provides ample opportunity for counting. Children can count the remaining Cheerios in their cereal bowl, the number of building blocks in a pile, or line up their stuffed animals and count them one by one. As kids improve their counting skills, try incorporating simple addition and subtraction:

• “If you have five pennies and I give you one more, how many do you have now?”
• “If your tower has six blocks and you add three more, how many blocks will your tower have?”
• “If there are ten Cheerios in your bowl and you eat two, how many are left?”

Children can learn to comprehend the concepts of mathematical functions long before their first math class. Helping them think through simple equations in their everyday life will give them a crucial advantage in the classroom.

2. Tell a Story

Once your child can work with concrete, hands-on equations like those listed above, you can begin to introduce abstract equations. Stories are a great way to sneak in some learning. A mathematical story might go something like this:

“Once, there was a pirate named Pete who loved parrots. In fact, he had seven pet parrots. Every day, Pete and his parrots would sail the seas, hunting for treasure. One day, one of Pete’s parrots, Polly, decided to go off on an adventure of her own. Pete was sad to see one of his beloved birds go but knew it was time for Polly to set sail on her own adventure. So, Polly said goodbye to her pirate friend and set off into the sunset. If there were seven parrots before Polly left, how many parrots remained?”

3. Make it Sensory

Give your child opportunities to play with numbers in a way that appeals to their senses. Drawing numbers in sand, rice, or finger paint or forming them with playdough or clay are fun ways for children to solidify their number recognition.

4. Make it Musical

The internet is an excellent source for finding number songs and chants that children can memorize easily. Look for songs that help children master the basics, like counting from one to ten, or more advanced songs that help children learn to count two by two, three by three, and so on.

5. Go on a Math Scavenger Hunt or Discovery Walk

Kids love a good scavenger hunt. Pick a number and search the house, grocery store, or even road signs on a car ride to see how many of that number your child can spot. An outdoor hunt in the backyard or at the park is also an excellent way for children to engage their brains with the natural world while learning about numbers. When kids interact with nature, their brains often retain information more easily. On your walk, choose one thing to count. For example, you might see how many different colored flowers you can find or how many leaves you can crunch.

6. Read Counting Books

Books provide visual opportunities for children to develop their number recognition and sequencing skills. Many board books focus on simple counting and can be introduced to children even before they learn to walk and talk.

7. Use Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk has been and probably always will be a favorite childhood pastime. You can integrate math by helping your child trace numbers or drawing a game of hopscotch and encouraging them to shout out each number as they land on it.

8. Let Them Help in the Kitchen

You may not realize it, but baking and cooking can provide excellent opportunities for children to work on their counting skills. Help them measure out three cups of flour and two teaspoons of vanilla extract, or put ten minutes on a timer.

9. Play Number Games

In addition to these creative activities, you can play many games with your children to encourage their mathematical thinking. Here are some of our favorites:

• Bean bag toss: label a few buckets with numbers and give your child a target number each time they throw the bean bag.
• Number bingo: Create your own version of bingo using numbers!
• Number puzzles: From foam to board puzzles, these are a great way to engage your child’s brain as they learn their numbers.
• Card games: Games like “Go Fish” or “Crazy Eights” are a fun way for kids to recognize numbers.

Sometimes, children learn best when they don’t realize they’re learning. Teaching them essential math skills outside of the classroom is crucial to their learning experience, and employing creative tricks like these above will help your child become a mini-mathematician in no time.

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Children who learn basic numeracy skills at a young age tend to have more confidence in mathematics throughout their academic journey. Read on to discover nine creative ways to help your child develop early number skills in this infographic.

It’s November. Leaves are crunching underfoot. Temperatures are dropping, sweater season is in full swing, and hot cider is on the stove. The trick-or-treaters have come and gone, and the store shelves are lined with ornaments, garlands, and gifts. It’s the time of year that we remind ourselves to step back and take a look at everything we have to be grateful for. It’s a season of thankfulness.

This time of year reminds us that practicing gratefulness deserves more than one month on the calendar. It’s a trait we want to carry past the holidays and into our busy, everyday lives. Similarly, parents recognize the value of instilling gratitude in their children. But how can you help your child grow this trait that sometimes seems to go against our very nature, and how can you keep it flourishing once the Thanksgiving leftovers have disappeared?

Here at our private school in Atlanta, we’re grateful for teachers who value this essential character trait and have a heart for passing it on to their students. They know that fostering attitudes of gratitude requires more than a go around the dinner table every year on Thanksgiving. Like all good habits, gratefulness requires consistency and practice, and sometimes, it means you’ve got to think out of the box to help your child truly grasp its importance.

So, if you’re looking for simple and creative ways to help your child learn gratitude, here are some of our favorites:

1. Introduce It into Vocabulary Early On

“Thank you” should be one of the first things every child learns to say. But before they can speak it, they need to hear it spoken. Often. Encourage your child to practice saying “thank you” for meals when someone helps them with a task and at every other opportunity that presents itself. Thankfulness should be so ingrained in everyday vocabulary that it becomes a habit from a young age.

2. Mirror Gratitude

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Monkey see, monkey do,” and this couldn’t be more true when it comes to children. Children are like mirrors. They reflect what is shown to them. So, try to be intentional about modeling gratitude in your home as much as possible. Not only does this mean saying “thank you,” but it can also look like pointing out things you appreciate in your family members or bringing attention to little things they do.

3. Start a Gratitude Journal

Who says you can’t give gifts on Thanksgiving? This year, try giving your child a gratitude journal. Encourage them to write down one thing they’re grateful for each day. When envy, jealousy, or discontentment creep in, they can look through their journal and be reminded of everything they have to be thankful for.

4. Start a Family Tradition

One way to make gratitude a part of your family culture is to start a new tradition. Try going around the table each evening during dinner so that each person can say something they were thankful for that day. Or, make a gratitude jar and encourage each family member to jot down something they’re grateful for each day. At the end of the week, go through the jar as a family to reflect and finish the week positively.

5. Read Books About Gratitude

Although your child likely spends a lot of time reading for school, reading together at home is a great way to pass along your family’s values. Visit your local library and look for books with themes of gratitude, or poll fellow parents to find out which books they recommend.

6. Spend Time in Nature

Getting outside is a great way to relax and refocus. Go on a nature walk with your child and encourage them to point out what they love about nature. Watch a sunset just to take in the colors. Visit the beach or the river and pause to listen to the melody of crashing waves or flowing currents. Sometimes, all it takes to feel thankful is stepping out the front door.

7. Practice Sharing

Being thankful for what we have should make us want to share with those around us. Help your child to practice sharing their favorite toy with friends or siblings. Take some time together to sort through toys that no longer get played with, and take them to the local thrift store so other children can enjoy them, too.

8. Make Gratitude Crafts

Gratitude crafts are quite popular this time of year. You could trace your child’s hand, turn it into a turkey, and write something your child is thankful for on each finger, or turn fall-hued construction paper into a pile of “thankful” leaves. The internet may be lacking in gratitude crafts for the rest of the year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Consider crafts that could incorporate thankfulness during winter, spring, and summer so that every season is a season of gratefulness.

9. Write Thank You Cards

Teach your children to go the extra mile in showing gratefulness by writing and mailing thank you cards. When friends have showered them with gifts on their birthday or relatives send Christmas presents, encourage your child to write specific, individual thank you notes to practice expressing gratitude.

10. Address Envy

Envy is an easy trap to fall into, and it can rob us of the ability to feel and show gratitude. When the jealous, green-eyed monster threatens to rear its ugly head, talk to your child about their feelings and help them focus on what they have instead of what they don’t.

11. Give Back

Giving back is one of the best ways we can help our children grow their gratitude. When we realize how much we’ve been blessed, it should make us want to bless others so they can feel the same way. Find a community program to volunteer with, spend an afternoon picking up trash in your neighborhood, or donate toys or food to a local organization.

Before the season of thanksgiving disappears as quickly as grandma’s pumpkin pie, take a moment to reflect on how you can integrate these strategies into your daily life. With a bit of creativity and mindful intentionality, you and your family can enjoy attitudes of gratitude that last all year long.

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As the holiday season approaches, it’s important to remember that gratitude should be a year-round practice, especially for children. If you’re looking for creative ways to teach your child about gratitude, explore the eleven gratitude lessons for children in this infographic.

Long before they learn to read, kids must develop a pre-reading skill set. If the goal is to help children recognize words on a page, it is crucial to make sure they can differentiate between individual sounds and begin to understand how those sounds relate to words. This, in a nutshell, is phonemic awareness. Our Atlanta prep school teachers have found that when children are severely behind in reading, it is often because they lack this critical foundation.

What Is Phonemic Awareness, and Why Is It Important?

You might have guessed that phonemic awareness has something to do with phonics, which has everything to do with letters and their functions. Each letter has a sound (or sounds) that it’s designated to make. For example, the letter “k” makes the /k/ sound, and the letter “m” makes the /m/ sound. These sounds are known as “phonemes.” As they learn to recognize individual letters, preschool-age children should also learn to recognize each letter’s basic sounds. Additionally, a well-rounded phonemic awareness should include the ability to notice rhyming words, count syllables, and spot alliterations.

What Skills Are Necessary for Phonemic Awareness?

Although the overall goal of phonemic awareness is to help children recognize letter sounds and their relation to forming words, a number of specific skills are required for children to have a thorough understanding. Children should be able to:

• Identify phonemes: Differentiate between first, middle, and last sounds in simple words (e.g., the first sound in the word “top” is the /t/ sound).
• Separate and blend phonemes: This is what “sounding it out” refers to. Children should be able to identify each sound and then combine them to form the word (e.g., “c-a-t”).
• Subtract phonemes: “What would we get if we took the letter ‘s’ out of the word ‘west’?”
• Add phonemes: “What would we get if we added the letter ‘c’ to the word ‘lock’?”
• Swap phonemes: “What would we get if we replaced the ‘t’ in ‘top’ with an ‘m’?”

How Can You Help Your Child Develop Phonemic Awareness?

1. Start Early

Even if your child has yet to enter a classroom, it’s never too early to begin teaching them the fundamentals of phonics. Pointing out letter sounds can be a part of everyday conversation. Try combining daily tasks and activities with letter sound recognition. Here are a few examples:

• “B is for b-b-bed!”
• “T is for t-t-toys. Can you please put your toys away?”
• “D is for d-d-dinner. Time to eat!”

When it’s time for school, make sure your child’s preschool or kindergarten uses a phonics-based curriculum and continue to help them recognize letter sounds at home.

2. Read Aloud and Read Often

Reading aloud is one of the best ways to help your child gain phonemic awareness. Since there’s no such thing as too much reading, try to read as often as possible and make it a part of your daily routine. Tired of cycling through the same books? Head to your local library and let your child pick out something new to keep them interested and engaged.

3. Rhyme for a Reason

Rhyming words are an excellent way for children to connect and differentiate letter phonemic sounds. Crack open a Dr. Seuss book or ask your child to come up with some words that rhyme with “cat.”

4. Consonant, Vowel, Consonant

Start with simple words, no more than three letters, with the “consonant, vowel, consonant” pattern. Once your child has gotten the hang of these kinds of words, you can gradually increase in word complexity.

5. Clap it Out

Another crucial part of phonemic awareness is the ability to separate individual syllables. Have your child clap out the syllables in a word as you say it. For example:

• “Wa-ter”
• “Wa-ter-mel-lon”
• “E-liz-a-beth” (Have them try their name and their friends’ names, too!)

6. Make it Fun

Children often do their best learning when they don’t know they’re learning. Play a game of “I Spy,” where you say, “I spy with my little eye a /r/-/u/-/g/.” Or, try a variation of “Red Light, Green Light” where they can only move forward if they hear the short /o/ sound. There is no shortage of phonics-inspired games that you can try with your child. If you’re feeling creative, try coming up with a few of your own.

7. Make it Sensory

Use playdough, sand trays, and other sensory tools to help your child draw or shape letters and words, then practice saying their phonemes.

8. Make it Musical

The internet has a great selection of phonics songs to help your child learn their letter sounds. Songs like “CVC” (consonant, vowel, consonant), “The Alphabet Phonics Song,” and “The Big Pig Song” are great examples of catchy tunes that can be found on YouTube.

9. Make it Crafty

Who doesn’t love a good craft? Try making a paper bag puppet that likes eating things with the /p/ or /b/ sound in their name. Or, cut pictures out of a magazine of things with the /f/ sound in their name and make a cool collage.

10. Make it Routine

No matter what you do to help your child reach phonemic awareness, do it often. Children learn through repetition, so try to integrate these strategies and activities into your daily lives as much as possible. Even if it feels like they aren’t picking up on things, keep trying. With patience and practice, you can help your child build their phonemic awareness and set them on the path to becoming expert readers.

Writer’s block. Anxiety. Boredom. Burnout. Even the most seasoned writers are not fully immune from these mental plagues. And for children, a run-in with any one of them can seem insurmountable, leaving students feeling paralyzed and stressed when given a writing assignment with a deadline.

Here at our Atlanta private school, we believe these unfortunate but common issues don’t need to be a death sentence to a student’s ability to craft sentences easily. Parents can aid their children in strengthening their writing skills and stamina by engaging them in frequent and fun exercises and activities. Our Georgia private school teachers are here to help you fill in the blanks and discover practical ways to help your child become a better writer with these seven tried and true tips:

1. Prompt Jar

First, print out some fun writing prompts, fold them, and put them in a jar. Then, have your child draw a prompt from the jar and give them a goal to meet with their prompt (e.g., one paragraph, one page, or 300 words). Treat it like a game, and your child will learn that writing can be fun!

2. Free Writing Journal

Take a trip to the store (or a virtual trip if online shopping is more your thing) and let your child pick out a blank journal. Let them know that this is a special journal for writing. They can write stories, diary entries, or describe a vacation with it; the sky’s the limit! If your child doesn’t seem to use the journal often, provide an incentive for filling its pages.

3. Daily/Weekly Prompts

Frequency and consistency are crucial to building stamina and fostering healthy writing habits. Set an age-appropriate routine, whether daily or weekly, where your child can pick a prompt and write a short story or description. (Writing Wednesday, anyone?)

4. Story Cards

These story cards are one of many options the internet has to offer and are a great way to get the gears working and stories flowing. Children draw multiple cards and use them as a foundation for their story, which means the possibilities are endless!

5. Character Interviews

Character interviews are a great way to get the creative juices flowing and can be done in a variety of ways. You can use a worksheet (like this one on TeachersPayTeachers) and have the child “interview” their story’s main character. If your child needs a break from writing, have them pretend to be the interviewee and ask questions they must answer “in character.”

6. Timed Writing Challenge

Set a timer for a short, age-appropriate amount of time and see how much your child can write before the timer goes off. Try using your prompts or story cards to give your child a direction to run in, and let the race begin!

7. Handwriting Exercises

In addition to developing your child’s creativity and sentence-building skills, it is also imperative that children grow their handwriting abilities and stamina. In a time when typed work is becoming more and more the norm, handwriting practice is often placed on the back burner. This can lead to a decrease in handwriting stamina and overall discomfort with writing. Children who do not spend regular time working on these crucial skills may feel anxious when given a writing assignment that must be completed by hand. These days, it’s important to be intentional about developing healthy handwriting techniques in children.

Try the following exercises and activities with your child at home to strengthen their handwriting abilities:

• Guided letter formation activities and worksheets
• Spacial awareness worksheets
• Playdough writing tray
• Tracing worksheets
• Pencil control exercises
• Pencil grip practice
• Write cards or letters to friends and family
• Give your child bath paints
• Play with sidewalk chalk

Developing a child’s writing skills is not a task for the classroom alone but should be part of every child’s home routine, as well. By bringing writing into the home, parents can help their children understand that writing is a crucial (and fun) part of everyday life and not merely another piece of homework to be dreaded. Just as all accomplished athletes must train and exercise, an accomplished writer must do the same. These tips and tricks will help your child build their writing skills and stamina and develop a passion for this vital and rewarding craft.

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Adults and children alike can all relate to that feeling of exhaustion and restlessness while working on a tedious task. Sometimes you just need to take a lap around the office, get up and pour that second cup of coffee, or focus your mind on something else for a bit. In the classroom, our Georgia private school teachers know that children often need a chance to reset their minds as well. We call it a “brain break,” and it’s just as essential to implement this game-changer at home as it is in the classroom.

But are brain breaks actually effective in stimulating and refocusing the mind, or are they merely a waste of time? The science behind these short intervals of movement is pretty fascinating, so let’s unpack it.

Brain Breaks…

Ease Anxiety and Stress.

The amygdala might sound like the name of a Star Wars character, but it’s actually a part of the brain responsible for processing memory and emotions–namely fear-based ones. It is also the filter that processes new information to the prefrontal cortex in order for it to become a memory. When the brain constantly takes in information, the amygdala can reach capacity and go into overload mode, causing anxiety and stress. Shifting the brain’s focus to another network allows other areas of the brain to rest and reset.

Are Not Actually a Break for Your Brain.

A 2021 study found that periods of “wakeful rest” allows the brain to bind “together the memories required to learn a new skill” (Buch). This means that though the student may be taking a break from a particular task, the brain is using this time to commit the skill to memory.

Replenish the Brain’s Vital Chemicals, Renewing Its Ability to Focus.

Neurotransmitters (think of them as the postal service of your brain) are chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells. These chemicals are crucial for attention and memory retention, but they come in a limited supply. In fact, too much of the same activity can quickly deplete a person’s supply of neurotransmitters. Brain breaks help the brain to replenish neurotransmitters by momentarily shifting its focus.

Boost Self-Regulation.

Our Atlanta private school teachers have noted that brain breaks are especially beneficial for children who struggle with self-regulation. When areas of the mind become overworked, it’s nearly impossible to move past the brain fatigue and stay on task. For these students, a calmer, more relaxing brain break can give the brain the time-out it needs to recharge and return to the task with the ability to push themselves to the finish line rather than being prompted to it.

Improve Attention.

Children can only remain attentive for so long when working on those less-than-exciting tasks. When information seems to be going in one ear and out the other, or you’re met with blank stares, it may be time for a brain break.

Stimulate Motivation.

Using brain breaks as an incentive to help children complete tasks (or even segments of a task) is an effective way to keep them motivated. Try setting a timer and giving them an allotted amount of time to work on their task before taking a break, or provide them with a goal (e.g., “Complete ten problems and then you may take a brain break.”). Although it may seem that these frequent breaks will slow task completion, you’ll find that your child will be able to work faster and more efficiently after a brain break.

Brain Breaks Should…

• Be frequent (but not too frequent)
• Reflect the child’s age and attention span
• Be active and engaging
• Provide incentive

Brain Breaks You Can Try at Home:

Cardio Activities

• Running
• Dancing
• Jumping jacks or other exercises
• Balloon volleyball
• Action songs
• Freeze dance
• “Simon Says”

Sensory Activities

• Outdoor exploration
• Sensory bin
• Playdough
• Scavenger hunt

Calming Activities

• Yoga
• Deep breathing
• Relaxing videos
• Relaxing music
• Drawing, coloring, or painting
• Reading aloud

Brain-Engaging Activities

• Puzzles
• Story starters
• Riddles
• Activity pages
• Brain teasers
• Science experiments

Brain Break Games

• Board games
• Card games
• Charades
• Relay races
• Obstacle courses
• “Name That Tune”

Motivating your child to finish tasks such as chores and homework can seem daunting and, at times, impossible. By utilizing the science behind brain breaks at home, parents can better aid their children in working through brain fatigue and reaching goals more effectively.

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Adults and children often feel tired and restless when working on a tedious task. Parents can help their children combat brain fatigue and achieve goals more effectively by using brain breaks at home. Check out the infographic to learn more.

Parents of school-aged children have probably heard the term “STEM” tossed around by teachers and students, but what does it mean? The short answer is that it stands for “science, technology, engineering, and math.” Teachers at our Atlanta private school have found that integrating these critical skills into the modern classroom is essential for equipping children to thrive in the workplace of the future. These four areas of focus develop critical thinking, entrepreneurism, and make learning hands-on and fun.

What makes science, technology, engineering, and math so crucial to the future generation?

STEM prepares children for the workplace of the future.

With more and more jobs becoming tech and engineering-based, children will need to enter the workplace with a strong foundation in these areas. Consequently, children who are able to secure such jobs are more likely to experience financial stability, which leads to overall economic growth.

STEM grows critical thinking skills.

STEM-based activities engage a child’s brain and keep the gears moving, building their critical thinking muscles, and teaching them how to problem solve.

STEM develops richer vocabulary and language skills.

Science, technology, engineering, and math each come with a unique set of vocabulary. Children who learn and are able to integrate STEM-based language into their word-bank will find it easier to catch onto more advanced topics and equations in the future. These skills also teach children how to communicate in an academic fashion, which will come in handy once they reach high school and college.

STEM promotes entrepreneurism.

Building these skills in children encourages them to originate and develop new ideas. Many of today’s most innovative companies and products were created by individuals who excelled in STEM-related areas. The sooner children can learn and use these skills, the better equipped they will be to take up the torch of innovation and contribute to future advancements.

STEM helps children excel in core subjects.

While it might go without saying that STEM-based activities will aid a child as they study math and science, these skills also engage the child’s mind in a way that helps them better understand each subject they encounter, from English to music, social studies to history.

STEM makes learning fun.

Because of the wide variety of methods used to teach STEM subjects, children will find that learning doesn’t just come from reading textbooks. The hands-on opportunities to grow these skills will appeal to every kind of learner, keeping children invested and actively engaged in their education.

STEM skills are critical skills.

But how can parents and teachers integrate science, technology, engineering, and math into a child’s everyday life in a fun and engaging way? Our Georgia private school teachers have found various hands-on methods to help develop these four skill areas, which students have come to enjoy and even look forward to.

Building Activities

Providing children with blocks, tracks, marble ramps, and other building materials is a great way to connect their minds to their hands, building practical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Loose items and materials are also necessary for STEM-based learning. Try giving your child access to the following:

• Scrap paper
• Glue
• Colored masking tape
• Child scissors
• Coloring supplies (crayons, markers, paints)
• Fabric
• Empty containers and boxes
• Paper towel/toilet paper rolls

Shapes

Helping children identify shapes is foundational to the aptitude required to succeed in math and engineering. Try giving them various objects that fit into each shape category, and encourage them to point out the shapes they notice daily.

Explorative Play

When it comes to STEM, both structured and unstructured play are critical for a well-rounded education. Though some activities should be done with a set of instructions for the student to follow, it is equally important to give children plenty of opportunities to explore. Give them a tub of Legos or some time outside, take a step back, and see what they come up with.

Open-Ended Questions

When engaging with children in STEM activities, ask plenty of open-ended questions. These could include, “What do you think will happen if you­­­ ____?” or “How could you make _____ happen?” These questions will go a long way in boosting a child’s critical thinking and communication skills.

Collaborative Play

While children must learn to think and solve problems for themselves, it is also important that they learn to work well and communicate with others, building and expanding on one another’s ideas. Collaborative play and group projects allow children to develop teamwork skills that will be invaluable as they transition from school to the workplace.

Final Thoughts

Developing STEM skills is critical for children to succeed in the classroom, the workplace, and beyond. Teachers and parents can give children the tools they need to develop their minds in these areas by intentionally integrating these methods and activities into a child’s everyday routine.

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STEM activities develop critical thinking for technical jobs, boosting employability and economic growth. Integrating STEM involves hands-on activities like building and exploring shapes to develop crucial skills for success in school and beyond. Check out the infographic for more details.

If only helping children develop language and communication skills was as simple as ABC. Although it may be a complicated and, at times, trying process, our Atlanta private school teachers have found many tools and tricks that parents can use to help their children improve these critical skills.

Your child’s brain is incredibly complex and is in a constant state of taking in and processing information. Parents can use this to their advantage by intentionally seeking opportunities to model and encourage healthy communication.

So, what are the ABCs of developing stronger language skills? We’ll walk you through the best tips and tricks our Georgia private school teachers have to offer, from A, all the way to Z.

A. Active Listening

We might think we’re listening to our children when they speak to us, but it’s easy to let our body language say otherwise. Whenever possible, try to give your child your undivided attention when they are speaking to you. Maintain eye contact and give a short nod or an, “Oh, I see,” to let them know they have your focus.

B. Books and Stories

Studies upon studies have shown that reading and storytelling from infancy and beyond is one of the most effective ways to develop healthy communication skills and a robust vocabulary. Make reading a part of your daily routine and include a variety of books and stories.

C. Conversation

Take every opportunity to engage in rich, two-sided conversations with your child. The more comfortable your child is with conversing with adults, the faster their language skills will develop.

D. Daily Routine

Rather than trying these tricks here and there, try to make them a part of your daily routine. Consistency is crucial for developing healthy communication habits.

E. Environment

A child’s home environment should encourage and model mature and respectful communication. Remember that children pick up on everything, and we mean everything. Let your language light the path of healthy communication for your child.

F. Feelings

Children can sometimes struggle to express their feelings, leaving them feeling incompetent in their communication skills. Make feelings a regular part of conversation from an early age and teach them how to describe their feelings with their words.

G. Group Play

Nothing is quite as entertaining as watching a pair of toddlers communicate with one another in a language all their own. Although we might struggle to understand them at times, they never seem to have a problem understanding one another. Children benefit greatly from learning to communicate with their peers, so go ahead, schedule that play date!

H. Have Fun

Though it’s crucial to be intentional when it comes to communication, it is equally important that communication exercises don’t become a chore or a task to check off the list. Language can be taught in various ways, whether through stories, music, or games. The best way to teach these skills to your child is by making it fun.

I. Imaginative Play

There’s something so sweet about listening to your child in the other room, lost in play, having imaginary conversations with their toys, and completely enraptured in the world they’ve created. Unfortunately, screens are rapidly replacing imaginative play, and communication deficiency is becoming increasingly common. Provide your child with toys such as dolls, action figures, and costumes that will stimulate their imagination and keep them off the screens as much as possible.

J. Just Listen

If you’ve watched enough Bluey, you probably remember the episode where Bingo has to find her voice without Bluey’s help. This is an excellent lesson for parents as well. It can be so easy for parents to try to finish their child’s sentences in an attempt to move along conversations. However, this only causes children to rely on someone else to communicate for them. So, even when it tries your patience, allow your child to find their voice by simply listening.

K. Keep Trying

Some days it may seem like your child’s communication skills are developing in leaps and bounds, while others may feel like you drew the long chute in the game of Chutes and Ladders. The key to creating language habits that last is patience. If one technique doesn’t take, try another and return to it later.

L. Labeling

Get out the labeling machine or index cards and make labels the latest addition to your home decor. Label anything and everything your child will see regularly, from the lamp to the dishwasher.

M. Model Healthy Communication

Baby talk might seem cute, but speaking to your child in this way can hinder their brain from developing as it should. Instead, give their brain the challenge it craves by allowing them to hear healthy and mature communication.

N. Narration

Narrating is a great way to encourage and develop early communication, specifically with toddlers. Explain to your child what you’re doing. For example, you can say,“Right now I’m making dinner. First we need to preheat the oven.” Or, narrate your child’s activities, e.g., “You’re coloring a picture with crayons.”

O. Open-Ended Question

Try to avoid questions that are easily answered with a “yes” or “no” and opt instead for questions that encourage your child to elaborate.

P. Patience

It’s no secret that parenting requires a lot of patience. Teaching your child to communicate is no different. Remember that your child’s brain is constantly working to take in and process information, and that’s a lot of work. Celebrate the improvements you do see and when you meet a hiccup, put that patience into practice and try, try again.

Q. Quality Time

Spending uninterrupted, quality time with your child is one of the best ways to help them to develop healthy communication skills. It’s hard for children to learn proper communication from grown-ups who are often distracted by phones, so try to set aside technology-free time each day to spend time with your child.

R. Rhyme

Teaching your child to recognize rhyming words and sounds is incredibly beneficial to brain and language development. Teach them nursery rhymes, read some books by Dr. Seuss, or make up rhymes in the car on your way to school.

S. Sing

Singing and music are crucial to childhood development in a variety of ways. Songs can help children memorize information, boost their mood, broaden their vocabulary, and improve their communication skills.

T. Technology

The language resources available to today’s parents are seemingly endless, thanks to modern technology. When used in moderation, reading and language apps can be a fun and useful tool.

U. Use Your Imagination

Get silly, get wild, and get creative. No one knows your child better than you. You know what excites them and how they learn best, so develop language games that are unique to your child.

V. Visual Aid

Grab a set of flashcards, a chart, or some picture books and play a game of point and read.

W. Word Association

Show your child how to make connections between words and their meanings, between similar words, and between contrasting words.

X. (e)Xploration

Children are born explorers. Luckily, language can be discovered through a wide variety of real-world experiences. Get outside, book a trip, or visit a museum and watch your child soak up language skills like a sponge.

Y. You Know Your Child Best

It can be easy to fixate on what may be the developmental norm for most children, which can often lead to discouragement. Try to focus on the progress your child is making and remember that they are unique. While some things may take more work, they also have strengths in areas that others do not. It’s great to keep those developmental milestones in mind, but don’t focus so much on those that you miss the progress your child is making.

Z. Zeal for Language

Even as adults, there is so much more that we can learn about language and communication. There’s always more to discover and explore. There’s always room to grow. That’s what makes language so fun. Remind your child that just as they are learning and improving, so are you. Language is a journey that you can take together. By using these tips and tricks to keep learning fun and tailored to your child, you’ll help them develop a love for communication that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.