Welcome Message from Time4Felt.com



HELP WANTED

  Why I ♥ My Job

Awnya Boam
Time4Felt owner

Sr. Team Leader
Story Time Felts, Inc.
(also known as the Storyteller)

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We have asked some of the preschool teachers that we know what products they use and/or recommend using in their classrooms. We want you to know the kinds of things your kids are or can be using in their classrooms or the things that actual teachers recommend for this age group. See what our Preschool Teachers have to say. Click on a name to jump to their recommendation and information.

Candace

Candace Candace is a former preschool teacher and nanny, and is now a stay at home, homeschooling mom to 3 young children. She posts regularly at her blog, HeavenInOurHomes Blog, along with keeping up with Heaven In Our Homes website and a new project, Sonbeams. Sonbeams is a preschool based guide to assist mothers desiring to homeschool their preschoolers.

1. The Just Like Me Dolls are an excellent way for young preschoolers to explore the wonderful world of "When I grow up, I'd like to be... ". These are children, just like them - really, just like them with their image on them, that will provide hours of creative opportunities - learning about different types of clothing that various professions wear. They'll learn which clothes go on what part of the body, and are provided with imaginative playtime as 'they' become different people in the community. Children learn by example, and also by acting out themselves. At this age, learning is best through play, not structured lessons. Their minds will LOVE exploring - whether being a ballerina, firefighter, or dressed up for church. Sit with your child, and make up stories together with the characters they build. Besides the quality time you share together, they will learn even more about the 'world of grownups' by your inputs into the story. 2. Dress Me Bear is a fun product that as a preschool teacher, I can highly recommend! Not only will your preschooler have the opportunity to learn about getting dressed, they will also learn about seasons. This is a great introductory toy to teach the relations between each season, temperature, and how those affect what we wear. Children will love not only dressing their bears in adorable clothing, but also matching the window 'season' to each outfit. Take this a step further by discussing what your child is wearing, and then looking outside the window and deciding which season it is currently. You might even choose to 'be silly' with the bear and your child, picking out clothing that isn't appropriate for that season. This gives them not only a visual way to understand why the two don't relate - but they can actually FEEL what's wrong! 3. Let's Play House w/CD- What goes where in a house? But more importantly, how can we learn to be safe in our house! Is it safe to jump on the bed? Is it safe to pull out a hot tray from the oven? Is it safe to play with our toys in the middle of the floor and leave them there? These are lessons we as parents constantly try to teach our little ones. But playtime is fun, and fun with preschoolers almost always means they get distracted. This board teaches safety lessons and manners - which are on the musical CD included. All children love music and signing. Teach them something they need to know while they are having fun! Having these lessons being 'hands-on', they will stick in their minds so much more so than a voice - probably in the distance. 4. Three Little Kittens - All children LOVE rhymes! This mounted board featuring the well loved "Three Little Kittens" will bring hours of delight to preschool age children. Take the opportunity to say the rhyme to your preschooler first, while you either attach or remove the appropriate felt pieces - then begin again allowing them to assist you in both the rhyme and felt pieces. This teaches them order - what comes first, next, and last in the rhyme. They'll learn visual discrimination - having to look for where you've hidden the 'lost' mittens on the board. I can hear the squeals of delight as they find them now! 5. Calendar Set - It's never to early to begin teaching children about how our days, weeks, months, and years are set up. This brightly colored board teaches all this, PLUS the weather as well! As a preschool teacher, I can say that one of the first things starting each school day is having calendar time. Besides pointing out the current month, take the opportunity to say all of the months. You'll be surprised at how quickly your preschooler will begin to recognize the months and even say them in order. Do the same with the days of the week. Together, find the current day on the calendar, talk about what day was before (yesterday) and which will be next (tomorrow). As you 'decide' what number comes next, go back to number 1 and say each number on the board. This teaches your preschooler not only to recognize each number, but also teaches auditory recognition. Saying the numbers in order while pointing to them. Look out the window and discuss what you see. Is it cold, windy, rainy, cloudy? Which felt piece matches your weather each day? If possible, go outside and let them observe firsthand what the weather is like. I remember how much fun calendar/ weather time was to me as a child in school, and have always enjoyed sharing it with preschoolers - and they have too!