Learning which is their right and left side is a big step for preschoolers.

A couple of examples of needing to know right and left are that lines of printing and writing read left to right, and a little later, children need to be able to follow directions to turn right or left on the street to go to a specific destination.

Here is a fun game to learn these concepts.

Cargo train game

If you are using a room indoors clear a space by pushing furniture toward the walls.

Children form a line, headed by the teacher, all facing in the same direction with the teacher as train engine and each of the children a boxcar.

Teacher and children put their hands on their own waist to begin.

The teacher takes a few steps forward and stops.

The teacher extends her right arm to the side and says, "Everyone stretch out your right arm and bend to the right like me to empty your cargo."

All the children mimic the action of the teacher, and the children in front of them in line.

Hands back on waist, the train chugs along with little gallops and the teacher stops and says, "Everyone stretch out your left arm and bend to the left like me to empty your cargo."

This little game shows the children in a fun way their right and left side, and if they forget, they can visualize the game again to remember.

I recommend when playing the game to always begin with the right side so the children do not get confused.

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Article by Susan Kramer