Everything you need to know about academic learning for 5 years old

In this article I am going to share with you everything you need to know about for Academic learning for 5 years old. It is rightly said that home is the first school and parents are the first teachers, as parents are the ones who help their children understand the things happening around them. A child sees the world from his/her parents’ eyes. Kids spend enormous amount of time at home, with their parents, as compared to school and learn a lot of things from them.

Now, as the schools are shut down and parents are struggling with their kids’ academic learnings. In this article, I am going to explain the academic learning required for children up to 5 years old. These ideas will help you in your children’s learning process and homeschooling.

When should a child start school?

In India, mostly, children are introduced to school life at an early age. The admission age ranges from two years six months to three years depending on the school. Children in this age group, get admission in pre-nursery class. In pre nursery, basically, the kids understand the whole environment of school, they learn to sit in the classroom and focus on the class, they learn to stay away from their homes and their parents, for a few hours. They play and explore many new things, learn many new words, make new friends.

Homeschooling

This year, because of the COVID outbreak many parents have opted the ‘Homeschooling’ concept. Honestly speaking, prior to lockdown, I had no idea about this term. But these days, it is trending and parents are very much enjoying homeschooling their children in an unique and play way method. If you know exactly about the academic learning required for children up to 5, then you can easily homeschool your kids. These days everything is easily accessible on internet and also, it is the need of the hour that children should be homeschooled or get home education, till the time schools are opened properly.

What is Homeschooling

Homeschooling or home education is the education of children at home or a variety of places other than school. It is usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or an online teacher.

So, if you are also among those parents who are homeschooling their children at home, or at private tuitions, or online classes, then you must read this article, about, What should children up to 5 years know academically.

Syllabus For Play Group

My daughter started schooling at the age of about 3. At that time, I was doing a full time job and I did not try doing any creative activities with her, neither I was aware about such activities. We got her admission in a nearby play way school, in pre nursery class. In school, she was given some books of Hindi, English, Math and Rhymes. In pre nursery, the main emphasis is given to oral learnings, drawing and rhymes.

Straight Lines and Curves

First, they teach the kids to draw Straight Lines. Straight lines are classified into three types, 

1. Standing Line: Standing line is a vertical line.
2. Sleeping Line: Sleeping line is the horizontal line. 
3. Slanting Line:  Slanting is a line drawn with an angle just like a diagonal line.

• 

Then, the children are made to learn, how to draw forward and backward curve, which is important to draw numbers and alphabets.

RHYMES

In pre-nursery, kids learn short rhymes, like, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Johny Johny Yes Papa, Machli Jal ki Rani Hai, with actions. For the best easy rhymes, you may refer to this link https://www.itpanther.com/top-ten-easy-rhymes-for-kids/

Shape Recognition

Kids should know some basic shapes. Now, how would you define shape to a child?

What is shape?

A shape (Here is Wiki definition) can be defined as the form of an object or its outline, outer boundary or outer surface. Everything we see in the world around us has a shape.

Preschoolers must know the shapes like, square, rectangle, circle, oval, triangle and diamond. These shapes are also the simplest for your child to draw. Nursery children should know about heart, pentagon, hexagon, octagon shapes.

• 

Color Recognition

Preschoolers should know the names of all colors and should also be able to recognize it. In play way school, different Colors Day Celebration like RED DAY, GREEN DAY, BLUE DAY, YELLOW DAY etc. are done to teach the significance of various colors to kids. The little ones are required to bring that specific color food in their meals as well.

Fruits, Vegetables, Animals Name

Preschoolers should be able to tell at least 5 Fruits name, vegetables name, flowers name, animals name and parts of the body. They should recognize these as well.

Alphabets and Numbers

In pre nursery, my daughter learnt to write only capital letters from A-Z and numbers up to 10. In Nursery class, students should know both capital and small letters and numbers up to 50. Again, this criteria may vary from school to school. During lockdown, I taught my daughter counting up to 200 and cursive alphabet also.

Reading

Children should be introduced to reading at an early age. Parents should read them at least one bedtime story on a regular basis. When it comes to academic learning for 5 years old, then it is essential that kids are able to read simple picture books.

To know more about how can you motivate your children about reading, you may refer to my this blog https://www.itpanther.com/how-do-you-get-your-child-to-read-books/

Before, After and Between Numbers

Children up to the age of 5 should be able to find the before, after and between numbers in Math. They should be able to solve the missing numbers worksheets.

Greater than and less than

The best way to teach the greater than and less than signs is, tell them these are little alligators (or crocodiles), with the numbers on either side representing a number of fish. The alligator always wants to eat the larger number of fish, so whatever number the mouth is open towards is the larger number.

Addition and Subtraction

During lockdown, I taught my 5 years old daughter, simple one digit addition and subtraction. After one digit, I moved to two digit additions and now she is able to do carry over additions also.

Number Names

As the name suggests, these are numbers written in words. Children up to the age of 5, should know number names from 1-100.

Days of week and Months Name

Preschooler at the age of 3 or 4 should  understand and learn the days of the week and names of months.

Sense Organs

Children should know that we have five sense organs and also teach them about the senses they provide.

• Eyes (Sight)
• Ears (Hearing)
• Nose (Smell)
• Tongue (Taste)
• Skin (Touch)

• 

Animal and their babies and Animal sounds

I have taught my daughter about the sounds that animal make and also the names of their babies, where do the animals live, what do they eat etc.

Basic General Knowledge

I keep on asking some basic GK quiz to my daughter, to keep her updated. We try to make it a playtime and enjoy learning together. You may go through these videos for ideas.

Backward Counting

Children at the age of 5 should know how to count backward or reverse counting from 20-1.

Seasons Name

Children up to the age of 5 years should know that  there are 5 seasons in a year, Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Rainy.

Hindi Vowels and Consonants

Pre nursery kids should be able to identify and write the Hindi vowels and nursery students should be able to identify and write all the Hindi vowels and consonants. They should be able to read and write simple two or three letter words also.

Community Helpers

Community helpers are people who work in the community for its overall well-being. They solve our daily life problems and make our life easier by providing their services. Examples of community helpers are: doctors, nurses, chefs, bakers, astronauts, soldiers, teachers, dentists, mail carriers, bus drivers, coaches, plumbers, firefighters, farmers, librarians, and volunteers.

• 

Devotional Bhajans

Kids should be taught simple devotional bhajans and songs. This will promote devotion in the hearts of young children. Singing regularly also develops confidence in them to sing outside of the class environment, which is a desirable life skill. My daughter loves to sing and dance to the beats of the melodious Bhajans and songs. Since the kids are at home because of the pandemic, you can teach them a lot more about prayers and rituals too.

At last, I just want to say that every child is unique. Parents should not pressurize them to study. Let them enjoy childhood. Try to teach them in a fun way so that they can learn while playing.

I hope this post about Academic Learning for 5 years old, would be of a great help to the parents struggling during this pandemic.

Thanks for reading!

Reach me at: Poonam11157@gmail.com