Think about all the times someone has said something along the lines of “children need routines”, “children easily form habits”, or “children need consistency”. I couldn’t tell you how many times I have heard this, normally proceeding with some random parenting advice from the lady behind me at the checkout line. When we talk about routines, habits, and consistency we are looking at a child’s sense of security with the familiar day-to-day patterns. Children see patterns and feel comfortable because they can predict what will happen next. Not only can patterns provide this comfortable feeling of knowing, but it is also a foundational mathematical skill. Here is why you need to teach patterns to preschoolers.
Importance of Patterns
When preschool teachers start teaching children foundational math skills, number recognition and counting are high on the list. Another key element to teaching foundational math skills is teaching patterns. Patterns allow us to be able to predict what will occur next and can be observed in nature. You can observe patterns in the way pinecones grow, flower petals, and honeycombs. With patterns, a child can predict and reason for future outcomes.
Your child might be practicing patterns without you even knowing it! Common songs and dances use patterns to help children make connections and learn. Think “head, shoulders, knees, and toes”, this common dance teaches children about body parts with a fun repetitive song. This is a pattern.
Teaching patterns to preschool children has many benefits including:
- Learning sequences
- Learning to make inferences
- Learning to problem-solve
- Learning to make logical connections and reasoning
How to Teach Patterns to Preschool Children
The foundation of early childhood education is deeply rooted in play. As education evolves, we see more and more peer-reviewed research that shows the importance of play at an early age. This research article shows how a purposely designed, stimulating, and engaging environment can positively impact the connection that the brain makes in young children. Allowing children to explore and make discoveries through play makes more neurological connections in the brain. This means that play-based learning produces more meaningful learning opportunities for preschool children.
Another study has shown that play can be a significant starting point for young children when learning shapes and patterns. However, the teacher’s ability to recognize teachable moments helps a child understand the subject.
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Looking for Teachable Moments
This can be one of the most difficult parts of a teacher’s job. Facilitating a child’s learning occurs when a child explores a topic that is interesting to them, and the teacher (or parent) guides a child down a path of thinking. The good news is that patterns are everywhere!
When your child is playing with colored blocks and is building a tower, comment on the colors and notice the patterns a child might create. Make sure you are commenting as your child builds or as you create a tower yourself. Challenge your child to make their own patterns. Communicating and discussing your child’s environment has been shown to increase children’s cognitive development dramatically!
Start simple. When trying to teach patterns to preschoolers, look for ABAB patterns. These patterns are often the easiest to learn because there are only two repeating parts.
Patterns can happen when your child is working with shapes, colors, letters, numbers, and even foods.
Simple pattern activities will go a long way toward building that foundation. This can be creating an ABAB pattern with blocks, cars, colors on paper, or LEGOs. I find that engaging a child with activities that they already love doing is the best way to slowly introduce a new topic to your child. We all know that children have short attention spans. This makes the window for introducing new topics smaller. Learning to identify patterns can be more fun and engaging when you are doing something you love.
Be Intentional. Teachers often use a teaching technique called scaffolding. For young children, play provides a wonderful foundation that is needed. Through the process of scaffolding, a teacher can build upon that foundation.
Start with the basics and make sure the foundation is strong. I cannot teach patterns by using colors or shapes if the child is confused by colors and shapes. Once the child has a strong understanding of one concept, slowly introduce the next element and build upon their understanding.
Show your child how to create a simple ABAB pattern and step back. Allow them to explore. When they create a pattern, acknowledge their success. By setting up a small building block activity and showing a child how to create a pattern, you are being intentional with that child.
Be Patient. It will take time and several attempts to teach patterns to preschoolers. It might take weeks or even months before the concepts stick, and they have their lightbulb moment. That’s okay! Every child develops at their own beautifully unique pace. Learning takes time. If you are concerned with your child’s development, it is important to bring your concerns to your child’s doctor.