Guest Author - Diane Claus

If preschoolers should have very little actual academic based worksheets what should the ones they do get look like?
How often should they do them?
How many should they do at a time?
What else is there to teach preschoolers concepts that need more formal instruction?

In answer to the first three questions is simple: It depends on the child. To last question: A lot, just use your imagination or if you are in a time crunch or creativity drought, try Google.

A typical worksheet for preschoolers should be short, simple and not need written instructions to complete. They should have one consistent focus. Whether it is picking out one letter that is a different case (between no more then five choices) or circling the box of objects that is the same as the written number to the side or even just working on pre-writing skills.

My son will sit all day doing mazes and matching shapes or objects. I have to limit him or he will do nothing else. While my son thrives on them there are many three and four year olds who do not. I have created tons of worksheets to use but I do not mean for every preschooler to sit down and do them all. I have them up for the preschool teacher to have them if they feel there preschoolers would benefit from them.

Most preschoolers will not be able to sit for more then one worksheet at a time and if pushed to sit and do several worksheets in a row the lesson will be lost. I do not recommend more then one worksheet every hour and a half at the very most and even then as the exception rather then the rule.

There are so many ways for the preschooler to learn using a hands on approach that most of the time worksheets are not needed. Manipulating materials is a far better way to learn and it sticks with them better. File folder games are a great way to introduce new concepts and to reinforce concepts. The preschool teachers best friends are file folders, scissors, velcro and a laminating machine! The possibilities are endless. They are fun to make and fun for the kids to do. They can be on any concept imaginable and best of all they are cheap and easy to make.

How Preschoolers Learn

Preschool Literacy