Holding a young child’s interest long enough to impart new knowledge can be challenging.
Teachers all over the world face similar issues when attempting to engage preschoolers, or pre-primary students. This is because a child is always exploring and needs constant stimulation for all 5 senses to be truly engaged and stimulated. Often the traditional chalk and talk method is not enough to maintain a child’s interest.
So, here are 5 ways in which to appeal to a young one while ensuring he or she is grasping knowledge and retaining it:
- Take them outside
Lessons about things that can be found in the natural world should not be imparted in a drab classroom. Take your students on class trips and excursions to witness flowers, birds, insects and other easily found natural elements.
Make it fun, interactive and real. They’ll never forget it!
- Craft and DiYs
Turning basic household items into cars, trains and buildings help kids to understand the mechanics behind each structure.
Being engaged in the craft activity enhances their focus allowing teachers to share knowledge in a fun setting. Tapping into a young child’s creativity, will help him or her open up and ask questions, clear doubts and retain information better.
- Audio-visual tools
Use music, songs and audio recordings to engage their ears while teaching about certain subjects through videos.
The internet is filled with videos on every topic under the sun! Utilise these to show young children how a fish swims, horse gallops or bird flies. Keep a bank of attractive, coloured images to display in between your lessons to make a good impact.
- Create a comfortable environment
Young children are used to the comfort of their homes and find it difficult to adjust to new places, easily. To make a more conducive environment, create an interactive space that is bright and colourful.
Throw down some pillows in a corner, create interactive boards on one and a reading corner in another. Place safe, soft furniture that makes students feel confident to move around and interact.
A positive environment can also be created by keeping the classroom happy and fun.
- Balance between passive and active times
Both passive activities and active ones serve their own purposes. If you wish for a child to pay attention to some new information, avoid following this with a jumping jack session.
If you wish for children to calm down, give them craft activities, do a storybook reading or painting. This will relax them before you introduce a focus-driven teaching session.