Workbooks for Young Children

The focus has been off workbooks for a long time in Early Childhood Education because the idea is that children should be free to play in a non directed scheme, but kids get tired of that easily when there is a shortage of toys and they know that a teacher is willing to really teach.

When kids first get that first workbook, you have to wonder why all the free play is better than trying new skills on paper. Kids love workbooks at age four and five and then by the time they are nine or ten, they despise them - and well they should. A workbook is thing that teaches "how" not why or what or when or where. That's why a workbook is a useful tool in Early Childhood because it teaches HOW. By the time a child is nine or ten, it's time to move on to a more hands on and research approach to learning - but that's a whole other topic!

I was recently sent a new BIG ALPHABET WORKBOOK for ages 3-5. I'd say it's a good book for any parent wanting to teach their child HOW to work on paper. It's colorful and big, and it covers a lot of things kids will do in kindergarten and in some better preschools. It's produced by School Zone Publishing Company. It's written by Joan Hoffman and Barbara Gregorich, and i give it a great big green light.

This book is a go for children who have learned their letters and are ready to start to process to read. I'm not sure I would use this as a first book. It would be frustrating to a child who has not learned the alphabet.

The counterpart book is a math readiness book that is approximately the same level. For kids who know how to read a number, it's a green light. This book is called Math Readiness Stickers 123. It's written by Jennifer Neumann and illustrated by John Kurtz.

These books would be a great extra help for parents teaching at home. They are fun, bright and the kids are going to love them. They would be wonderful for small in home day cares as well.

I like both the books and will give them to Miss Amy for her class. It's perfect for our 4-K which is kindergarten for four year olds. I thank Kristina Godfrey for sending me these books and making me aware of them.

You can find this book at The School Zone