Learning Path Stones

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
While infants and toddlers learn vocabulary by memory, older children use word structure and context to help understand the meaning of a word. They identify synonyms and antonyms. They use prefixes, suffixes and base words to build their own vocabulary.

The Alphabet

The Alphabet
Knowing the letters of the alphabet is one of the first steps toward learning to read and write. Introducing letters to young children helps them learn to recognize the different shapes and names - an early indicator for reading achievement.

Colors

Colors
Learning color names and matching them consistently to the right color develops by around the age of 2 to 3 years. When children eventually come to understand the concepts of color they can then use that information to categorize shapes, patterns and other visual information.

Memory Skills

Memory Skills
Memory skills are essential for learning. It is fairly easy to help your child train their memory using memory games, poems and particular memory strategies.

Keyboarding

Keyboarding
Learning to use the keyboard is another step in becoming computer literate. It can take a while for children to learn the positioning of each key, but simply searching for the right key helps children with letter recognition. Eventually, they'll be able to use the keyboard commands as an alternative to using the mouse.

Mousing

Mousing
Children start off using the computer mouse before they learn how to use the keys. It's best to get a child-sized mouse so that it's small enough for children to handle correctly. Within a short space of time children become adept at navigating the screen using the mouse to point and click.

Screen Navigation

Screen Navigation
Children quickly learn the basics of screen navigation. By pointing and clicking they can open programs they can use to help them learn.

Shapes

Shapes
Identifying and manipulating shapes lays the groundwork for geometry by giving children concrete experience with angles, symmetry and relative sizes.

Early Number Sense

Early Number Sense
As early as 6 months, babies begin to understand the concept of numbers, noticing small groups of one, two or three things. As children develop number sense they learn to count by ones, skip count and count backwards, gaining the foundation for operations. Children who have good number sense find learning operations like addition and subtraction much easier.

Number Recognition

Number Recognition
To begin their study of math, children must distinguish numerals from letters and shapes and understand that numbers are symbols for amounts.

Sequencing

Sequencing
Even toddlers can often recite number names in order, but the ability to compare and order numbers in sequence indicates a practical application of number concepts.

Addition

Addition
Once children know that numbers are symbols for objects (2 stands for two cars) they learn to count sets, or groups of objects, to find sums. Finally, sets of objects can be replaced by numerals and added together in equations.

Subtraction

Subtraction
The inverse of addition is subtraction - to take away objects and tell how many are left. Once children grasp subtraction, sets of objects can be replaced by numerals in equations.

Physical and Human Environment

Physical and Human Environment
Young children are introduced to social studies "me first" and gradually expand to learning about others. First, they learn about their neighborhood, and then their larger community. Then they learn about their own culture, and finally the cultures of others.