Preschool Learning: Fall Counting Tree

Today’s post is sponsored by First 5 California. Read on to find out how I use the Talk. Read. Sing. program to inspire my kids!

Here in Southern California we don’t experience what most parts of the country do when the Fall season comes around. It’s the second week of October and the temperature outside is in the high 90’s! But it’s still important to teach our kids about what the Fall season is like in other areas. I created this activity to help improve my son’s counting skills, and also to create a discussion about Fall.

I printed a plain tree on white cardstock and then used a shape punch to make circles in Fall colors. You can print this same tree here: Fall Counting Tree.

Then I gave him a number and he placed the corresponding number of circles on the tree as leaves. You can also use this activity for basic math skills. Ask your child to place 10 leaves on the tree, then tell them that a cold wind was blowing and 3 leaves fell off. How many are left?

You can also use the leaves to teach your child about Fall. Start with green leaves, then switch them out for the colored leaves and explain why. Or, you can ask your child to show you what the tree might look like at the beginning of Fall (full of leaves) and then show you what it might look like at the end of Fall (leaves have fallen off).

This type of activity is just one example of how you can inspire thought and creativity in your child. From an early age we are our children’s first, and sometimes only, teachers. What we show them and encourage them to do, as early as infants, makes a world of difference. Science tells us that 90% of the brain is formed by the age of 5, and recent research also reveals that more than 80% of a child’s brain is formed by age 3!

First 5 of California is a great, free resource for parent to learn how to interact with their child to ensure that they develop into bright, well rounded children ready for school. The first 5 years are crucial to your child. Learning starts from Day 1 and should never stop. The website offers free book and video downloads that share activity ideas for children 0-36 months. There are also activity sheets and coloring pages, as well as book suggestions for kids of all ages. If you live in California they have locations all over the state that you can visit to learn more.

All you have to do is remember: Talk. Read. Sing. ® It changes everything!