Is your little one getting ready for kindergarten? It's a big step! New friends, new routines, and lots of cool things to learn. We parents want our kids to do great in this new school adventure.

Here's a secret trick: playing and learning together! Studies say playing helps kids love learning, get curious, and understand what they need for school. So, let's forget about boring things and have fun while we learn!

Here are five cool things you can do to make learning fun and get your child ready for kindergarten:

1. Sensory Play: Exploring with Your Hands

Imagine a world full of different feelings, colors, and sounds. Sensory bins are like that! Fill a bin with rice, beans, or colorful foam shapes. Let your child play, scoop, pour, and explore. This fun game helps them strengthen their fingers, improve their use of their eyes and hands, and be creative.

Bonus Tip: Hide toys in the bin and let your child find them by feeling around.

2. Story Time with a Twist: Acting Out Stories

Reading stories is fun, but what if we made it even more exciting? After reading a novel, act it out! Your child can be the main character, using everyday things as props (like using a pillow as a boat or a blanket as a superhero cape). You can even make up your ending to the story and let your child's imagination go wild.

Learning Boost: This pretend play helps them remember stories, understand them better, and become better at talking and making friends.

3. Rhyming & Matching Games: Playing with Words

Our language has lots of words that sound the same! Sing super simple songs with rhymes or make up silly sentences together. Make flashcards with pictures and rhyming words. Play matching games or have your child sort the cards by the sounds they make.

Learning the sounds of letters is a crucial step towards reading. Here's a fun video by Its Circle Time that uses songs and games to introduce letter sounds to toddlers.

4. Number & Counting Fun: Math Can Be Fun!

Learning numbers doesn't have to be boring. Turn everyday stuff into counting games! Count toys together, sing counting songs while you play, or count ingredients while baking cookies.

Learning while Playing: These everyday things help kids learn about counting, sorting, and how much stuff there is.

5. Building with Blocks: Making Cool Stuff

Blocks can be anything you want them to be! Legos, wooden blocks, or even cardboard boxes can become castles, towers, or spaceships. Building with blocks helps kids think about space, solve problems, and use their fingers better.

Let Them Decide: Give them blocks and let them build whatever they want. Be amazed by their fantastic creations!

Ready for Kindergarten Adventures!

As we prepare our kids for kindergarten, remember that playing is essential for learning. By doing these fun activities every day, you're helping your child become curious, learn important stuff, and prepare for school success.

At Its Circle Time, we love playing and learning together. We have many fun ideas and activities to spark your child's imagination and prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. We're here to help little ones get ready for kindergarten and beyond. Our lessons follow the California Preschool and TK Curriculum Learning Foundations Standards. We teach essential stuff, help kids understand their feelings, and make them feel brave as they start school.

Let's make learning fun and watch our kids grow!