At Academy of Stars in Barrington, we often get parents asking us how they can extend what we teach through our monthly themes at Academy of Stars at home with their children.
As we focus on railroads and holiday traditions this month, here are great discussion prompters to have with your child:
1. Do you live near a train station or have to travel over tracks during your daily commute? Discuss trains and the train system with your child. What kind of cargo are the cars carrying? Where are the trains traveling to and coming from? If possible, visit a depot or museum with antique train cars or memorabilia.
2. Discuss seasonal changes. Is the temperature dropping? What kind of precipitation are you having? Rain or snow? Are there evident changes in plant life? Have you noticed any changes in animal behavior or appearance?
3. Discuss the upcoming holidays with your child. Which holidays do you recognize or celebrate? Christmas? Kwanzaa? Hanukkah? Talk about your family traditions and what you will be doing to celebrate as a family this month. By the age of 4, children notice cultural aspects. They begin to recognize ethnic differences, noticing that other children eat different foods and celebrate different holidays or none at all. Help your child become more accepting of cultural differences. Read books about different holidays to your child.
As a follow on to discussions, we always recommend reading time with your children to not only work on vocabulary and comprehension, but reading also doubles as a great quality time activity!
Here are a few book recommendations this month:
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical trip to the North Pole . Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish.
Freight Train by Donald Crews. In simple, powerful words and vibrant illustrations, Donald Crews evokes the rolling wheels of that childhood favorite: a train. This board book features sturdy pages and is just the right size for little hands.
Trains by Gail Gibbons. In this fun nonfiction picture book, Gail Gibbons introduces the youngest readers to all kinds of trains. Featuring powerful locomotives, huge tanker cars, and boxcars full of cargo-- and many other types of trains-- this is a kid-friendly way to learn the ins and outs of trains, their parts, and why we ride them
