The Computer Savvy Preschooler

The Computer Savvy Preschooler

When I first started preschool homeschooling my son I relied on my computer and the internet for exploring lesson plans and ideas to help me along the way. The internet is not a new concept by any means, but it still fascinates me that my son and I can take virtual field trips, find pictures and information on just about anything we are studying about, and even participate in interactive skills sites to supplement his learning. By now you may know that there are a ton of educational websites geared towards school-aged children, but very little offered for preschoolers. I’ve managed to find a few great websites that cater to preschool learning and a great article about computer usage for preschoolers.

Hands down, the best site for learning the alphabet and the sounds of letters is Starfall. Its interactive lessons start at the preschool level of recognizing letters and sounds and progress to activities for early readers. It will quickly become a favorite for your little learner.

Another website my son and I enjoy is called Lil’ Fingers. Especially geared towards toddlers, Lil’ Fingers offers online story books, educational games, and coloring pages.

Preschoolers and toddlers love to sing and learn songs, and Singing To Me offers a selection of children’s songs that are easy to learn and fun for the little ones to listen to.

If you’ve read every children’s book in your home and you and your child are looking for some new reading material, try an interactive book at Children’s Storybooks Online. Each title is beautifully illustrated and some come with audio. You can read them aloud to your child and some titles even come with printable activity pages.

If you use picture flashcards with your child to help them learn and identify objects in their world, try an interactive version of picture flashcards at Moone Leaf. Simply click on the picture of the object and it is pronounced for your child.

You may wonder if there is any benefit to using a computer at such a young age. I wondered the same thing and found a terrific article published here by Facts In Action, a project of Associated Early Care and Education, Inc. This article focuses mainly on the positive social skills that benefit preschoolers using computers, but also points out that nonverbal skills and fine motor skill development are also added benefits of using the computer.

As with anything, moderation and supervision of computer time is key. However, if you are looking for some fresh supplemental material for your preschooler, you just may find it and be pleasantly surprised by visiting one of the sites mentioned above.

Mandy is a preschool homeschooling mom to her two year old son. In her column “Knee High Homeschoolers,” she writes about the joys of homeschooling a preschooler and shares helpful links and practical information gained from experience. Visit her blog, Inching Along.

Tags: Curriculum, homeschool life, Homeschool Methods, learning styles, links, Preschoolers

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