Enrichment Classes Make Learning A Lifelong Habit

1. Enrichment Classes Make Learning A Lifelong Habit

2. Enrichment classes during early years matters Enrichment programs set the foundation for the development of critical social and emotional knowledge and skills. They also teach children leadership as well as group skills. Furthermore, it is a natural tool that children can use to build their resilience and coping skills.

3. Why enrichment is such a big deal? Children find enrichment activities exciting and provides them with a well-rounded, culturally rich means of education that enhances their learning. Enrichment gives children opportunities to try new and a variety of engaging activities that may not strictly fit into any curriculum. It helps develop their resilience and the motivation to pursue higher goals. It teaches life skills and inculcates an appreciation for teamwork and a commitment towards social responsibility.

4. Learning through play Play is one of the most important ways in which young children gain essential knowledge and skills. For this reason, play opportunities and environments that promote play, exploration and hands-on learning are at the core of effective enrichment programs. Children are ‘hands-on’ learners and acquire knowledge through playful interaction with objects and people. For example, by playing with geometric blocks they grasp the concept that two squares can form a rectangle and two triangles can form a square.

5. Making enrichment happen at home You probably already do a lot of enrichment activities at home without realising it. Reading together, roleplay games, singing, dancing, painting and drawing all count, and work to make a big difference in the attitude and behaviour of young children. The idea is to help your child expand her knowledge base and widen the resources that she can access. Participating in enrichment activities is a great way and is an easy path to meet other children and learn from each other. In early childhood, learning takes place at a phenomenal speed. Apart from this, learning through play builds lifelong learners and supports a child’s overall development.

6. Don’t wait, start right away! “Research over the past 30 years has taught us that the most important period of human development is from birth to eight years old. During these years, the development of cognitive skills, emotional well-being, social competence and sound physical and mental health builds a strong foundation for success well into the adult years.” [Source] Home environments provide excellent opportunities to promote learning in the early years. Primary caregivers, such as parents, are the biggest supporters of children’s learning, and therefore have an important role in creating the space for learning. Empower them to take an active role in shaping children’s learning and development, as well as to facilitate playful learning at home creating an abundance in day-to-day experiences.

7. Create a sensory board for your baby A sensory board is the most effective way to support your child’s sensory experiences and gives you many opportunities to teach. It is a fun way to explore a range of textures and sensations and to stimulate a child’s sense of sight, sound, smell and touch. Sensory boards encourage natural curiosity and investigative skills and help children to develop their fine motor skills as they coordinate their movements to feel the different materials. Babies and toddlers develop preferences as to which textures they like and dislike. A sensory board can also help children learn new words too as you support them to describe the different things they are feeling.

8. Help your baby develop fine motor skills Babies are busy developing their fine motor skills even from just a few months old. It will be great if you can participate and create more opportunities for your baby to practise her fine motor skills throughout the day! For small infants who aren’t ready for these types of activities, tummy time is the best time to encourage your baby to use her hands. Stacking blocks, pushing blocks through holes, using rattles and noisy toys, and encouraging her to pick up and hold things in her hands.

9. Hopping on to coloured circles Gross motor activities for toddlers are generally very simple to create and don’t require a lot of prep time. Here is one that combines learning with movement and helps toddlers retain what they learn. Draw large coloured circles on the pavement with chalk and fill them in. And the game is ready for your toddler. The most effective way to involve your toddler in this colour recognition game is to start playing it yourself. Hop onto one colour circle and call out the colour, do it a couple of times and your toddler will almost always want to join in the fun!

10. Shape activity for toddlers first art activity because it uses motion, and toddlers love to move. The tube fits easily in the palm of their hands, too. It also helps keep some distance between the paint and the hands. Some toddlers might not like the queasy feel of the paint. Your goal is to make your toddler feel comfortable. There are times when other toddlers use cardboard tubes as telescopes. Give credit to their imaginations!

11. Threading a pasta necklace This is one of those activities that your toddler will love because she can make it all by herself too! And the necklaces are so easy to make. All you need to do is thread the string through each pasta piece. Show your child how this is done. You will also love making it together with your child. While making these gorgeous pieces, talk about the colours, teach her about patterning and ask to whom she wants to give the necklace to. This activity extends to developing her fine motor skills as well.

12. Learning numbers by filling them Number filling activity is an excellent idea for your toddler to practise. While this activity is super easy to prepare, it will keep your toddler busy and learning at the same time! All you need is a piece of paper, coloured markers, ear buds and washable paint. You can set it up in under five minutes! You first outline the numbers zero to nine using the marker and then ask your child to fill in the outlined number using the earbud dipped in a colour. As she fills the outline, get her to say the number aloud. Remember to use a different colour for each number she fills. Filling in colours is fun and an excellent way to improve pre-writing skills, and helps your child familiarize with numbers, and colours at the same time!

13. Using Post it to learn the Alphabet Alphabet posting is a tested and proven way for your child to learn the alphabet without pressure. Not ready for letters yet? No worries! Try matching shapes (drawn on the Post-Its) to shapes drawn on the wax paper. Matching practice is awesome, no matter what. Activities like this are great because it involves a little gross motor and fine motor element to the learning: running back and forth from paper to table is a perfect moving activity for your child. And manipulating the Post-It Notes takes some intricate hand and finger movements.

14. Conclusion My Gym involves children in dynamic games, physical activity and movement that help in building neural networks in the brain. Customizing its enrichment programs and workshops to make it easier for children to acquire intellectual skills, navigate complex social situations, and nurture emotional development.

15. Our Branches: My Gym Buona Vista 35, Rochester Drive, Rochester Mall, #03-24/25/26 Singapore 138639 Phone: (+65) 6684 9220 My Gym Great World 1 Kim Seng Promenade #03-106 Great World City Singapore 237994 Phone: (+65) 6235 4070 My Gym Jurong East 3 Gateway Drive, Westgate, #04-39 Singapore 608532 Phone: (+65) 6465 9205 My Gym Punggol 681 Punggol Drive, Oasis Terrace, #03-02/03/04 Singapore 820681 Phone: (+65) 6787 1178 My Gym Tampines 300 Tampines Avenue 5, NTUC Income, #05-05, Singapore 529653 Phone: (+65) 6789 7061 My Gym Parkway Parade 80 Marine Parade Road, #15-03 Parkway Parade, Singapore 449269 Phone: (+65) 6440 9916

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