The Number Nursery Rhyme

Age: From 1 year old (Level 1)

This is a very good way to learn numbers AND at the same time to learn language. I got this idea from "Having Fun at Home".

Here is the Number Nursery Rhyme:

One is fun.

Round and back on the railroad track. 2-2-2

Round the tree, round the tree, that's how we make number 3.

down and over, down some more. That's how we make number 4.

Down and around with a flag on top. 5-5-5

A line and a loop, six makes a hoop.

Across the sky, down from heaven. That's how we make number 7.

We make an S, do not wait, climb back up and make and 8.

A loop and a line make number 9.

Straight line down, circle we bend. That's how we make number 10.

References:

http://havingfunathomeblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/teaching-numbers.html

Montessori Activity: Matching Shapes/Matchende figurer/形状分类[xíng zhuàng fēn lèi]

Age: From 1.5 year old (Level 1)

Activity Duration: 5-10 minutes

Preparation Time: 3 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To create a fun way to identify picture and name the picture.
2. To teach language skills.

Material(s):
Wooden puzzle with different shapes in different colours.

Directions:
1. Show your child how to fit the correct wooden shape into the correct place on the puzzle, and say the name of the shape.

2. Encourage your child to try.

Cost:
Wooden Puzzle: 20 DKK (4.90 SGD) from Tiger.

Additional Information:
I was very happy when I found this in Tiger!!! It is very cheap, very educational, very well-made and well thought out! The holes are marked with the shape to clear vision. The wooden pieces also protrude out for from the hole, instead of just lying flat, for better sensory feel. J tried this activity for the first time on 19 march 2011 (2Y14D) and had no problem with all the other shapes, except for the triangle. He took some time to learned it, as the triangle is not of equal length on all three sides.

Montessori Activity: Matching Pictures/Matchende Billeder/图片匹配 [tú piàn pǐ pèi]

Age: From 1.5 year old (Level 1)

Activity Duration: 5-10 minutes

Preparation Time: 3 minutes

Objective(s):
1. To create a fun way to identify picture and name the picture.
2. To teach language.

Materials:
Matching picture card board game for 4 players.

Directions:
1. Each player picks a mat and the cards are spread out face down on the table. The youngest player begins and the game continues clockwise. The first player picks a card. The player shows the card to the other players and puts it on its mat if a matching picture is found. If the picture on the card does not match, the card is put back on the table. The player who first covers his or her mat wins the game.

2. The simple version is to just let your child match the picture on the mat for younger toddlers :-)

Cost: 30 DKK (7.20 SGD) from Tiger.

Additional Information:
Tried this game with J (the simple version) and he could match the pictures. But he is such a perfectionist like mommy and daddy that he got frustrated when he could not place the picture fitting on exactly the same spot as the matching picture!!!