Autumn provides a colourful, vulnerable-to-the-senses setting for involving preschoolers in developing skills of kindergarten preparedness. The textures, colours, and natural variations of fall present numerous possibilities for practical study that lead to the development of observation, fine motor skills, and cognitive abilities. This seasonal skill-building strategy is consistent with the holistic Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready philosophy, which sees the need to relate the learning of a child to the immediate world. These intentional fall activities at the family level are a natural extension of the formal curriculum of Kinder Ready Tutoring to the extent that they both promote the well-rounded growth of Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley.
One of the main activities that can be carried out and has easy access is the sorting and picking up of autumn leaves. This is a complex learning activity. Collecting the leaves of various colours, shapes and sizes promotes keen observation and comparison. Grouping them in groups develops early math abilities of classification and patterning. The talking of the colour changes brings out simple scientific principles. The given activity directly develops the targeted attention and the use of a description as the main skills discussed in the Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready approach that are needed to understand instructions in the classroom and to complete academic activities.
Fall is also good for developing fine motor skills, which are sensory in nature. Small-muscle activities such as making collages using leaves and seeds, child safety glue, or pushing acorns into the playdough make the small muscles tight in the hands and fingers. This fine motor mastery and hand-eye coordination is an immediate precursor of the pencil grip and writing readiness of Kinder Ready Tutoring lessons. The methodology of Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley has accepted such tactile, creative work to be essential in the development of the physical dexterity that enables tasks to be done in a classroom.
Even the nature walk in the autumn may be turned into dedicated science and language tours. Auditory discrimination is enhanced by a listening walk, listening to the sound of falling leaves and the rustle of leaves and branches. A visit to a texture hunt to locate something smooth (a stone), rough (bark) and prickly (a pinecone) develops a rich vocabulary of description. Such experiences improve sensory processing and language, both of which are part of communication and cognitive development that Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready promotes. The inquisitive attitude necessary for effective learning is facilitated by the inquisitiveness that is created during these walks.
Moreover, themes of falls can be incorporated into life and math practices. Early numeracy and sequencing are involved in counting sets of gathered pinecones, sorting pumpkins by their size, or contributing to the process of measuring the ingredients of simple applesauce. Such practical applications bring abstract ideas to reality, and this is a teaching concept that can be identified with the Kinder Ready Elizabeth Fraley model of relating curriculum to daily life.
When these fall activities are incorporated into the routine of a preschooler, learning becomes fun and relatable. They develop the same basic preparation skills, namely observation, fine motor skills, language and early math, in a systematic manner as Kinder Ready Tutoring. To the families that adhere to the Elizabeth Fraley Kinder Ready philosophy, the season is an accomplice in preparation. This moderated approach guarantees a child not only the particular academic prowess but a lifetime enthusiasm for inquiry, which means that the child will be fully equipped to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
For further details on Kinder Ready’s programs, visit their website: https://www.kinderready.com/.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElizabethFraleyKinderReady