You don’t need worksheets or special toys. Five minutes of play with things around the house teaches counting, colours, words and listening. And it’s fun for both of you.
Counting and numbers
- Spoon count. While you set the table, count the spoons together. “One for Papa, one for Dadi…” Then ask: “How many more do we need?”
- Stair steps. Count every step going up and down. Older children can count backwards or in twos.
- Roti stack. Stack rotis, chapatis or biscuits and guess: “Is this pile bigger or smaller?” Then count to check.
Colours and shapes
- Kitchen colour hunt. “Find something red!” A tomato, a chilli, a lid. Then yellow, green, blue. Let your child give you a colour to find too.
- Shape spotting. On a walk, look for circles (wheels, clocks), squares (windows, tiles) and triangles (roofs, samosas!).
Words and listening
- I spy, by sound. “I spy something that starts with b… ball!” Use the sound, not the letter name.
- Story with a gap. Tell a story your child knows and stop before a word: “The thirsty crow found a…” Let them finish.
- Rhymes in your language. Sing rhymes in Hindi, Marathi or English. Clap the beat together. Rhymes build the sounds children need for reading later.
Thinking and moving
- Simon says, at home. “Touch your nose. Now jump two times.” Following two-step instructions is a big preschool skill.
- Sort the laundry. Socks with socks, small clothes and big clothes, Papa’s and mine. Sorting and matching come before maths.
A few tips
- Keep it short. Stop while your child still wants more. Five happy minutes beat twenty grumpy ones.
- Let them win and lead. Taking turns being “teacher” makes them proud.
- Praise the effort: “You counted so carefully!” rather than “Clever girl!”
- Talk in the language you’re most comfortable in. Rich talk in any language helps children learn English later too.
Ask your child’s teacher what the class is learning this week. Then play a game about it at home.