In this age of technology, there are no shortages of educational games available online. Many game manufactures today are specializing in learning games, for children of all ages. Educational software is designed to teach the foundations of early education and are great tools for building solid skills in math and language arts. Maintaining a balance between various forms of early childhood instruction will keep things lively and interesting.
Getting back to basics and educating children with a more hands-on approach opens the door to ample teaching opportunities through playfulness and creativity. There are countless activities to engage children in learning. Some games require planning and materials -- as would any involved lesson plan -- but other games such as I Spy or Simon Says necessitate mere spontaneity and imagination.
Some games can be executed almost anywhere, anytime. Holding up a handful of fingers and asking "How many?" is a simple and highly educational activity. Reversing roles can be fun, with children asking their instructors "How many?" The game need not be confined to counting fingers -- things around the room can be tallied up as well. I Spy is another impromptu game which is primarily pursued in search of colors -- but it also works well with spying shapes. The classic Simon Says teaches children to identify body parts and enhances physical coordination.
A standard deck of cards provides a medley of games intended to teach and/or reinforce some basic concepts such as counting, matching and patterns. Some card game classics are ideal for learning. Go Fish and Old Maid both teach number recognition, counting and matching, while War is a great game for comparing the value of numbers.
Board games for preschoolers are plentiful, with Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders falling among the favored. These games teach counting, matching, colors and sequencing -- as do Dominoes, which are all the more inviting when colored. Puzzles also teach patterns and shapes and encourage critical thinking, while various matching games promote memorization.
No preschool would be complete without music and singing. Songs that have been around for decades still find their rightful place in a variety of educational environments. "Old MacDonald" teaches animal sounds. "This Old Man" encourages counting and active finger play. The alphabet song has been laying the foundation for learning the English language since 1835.