Whether a child has been in institutionalized school or has been home schooled forever, many six to eight year olds enjoy learning. As a parent, understanding how your child learns, which temperament is the strongest, and which type of intelligence he excels at will go a long way in the teaching/learning process. Children six to eight years old learn best when they are having fun. Reading to the child is essential to her learning experience. Read on a variety of topics, such as animals, mystery, history, fantasy, classics, and adventure. Visit the library often and see what they offer. Some offer reading and art classes or other activities. Purchasing a phonics book will dramatically help your child understand how words are read aloud phonetically.
Another lesson for this age group is writing. Although the child may have difficulty writing, he can certainly talk a lot. Writing to your child while telling a story is a great way for them to see it written. Ask them to draw the words that she has written for them. Storytelling is also a great tool for learning language skills. Read to your child and have him repeat in his own words what the story is about. Remember to keep all of these lessons fun and stress free. Children learn at their own pace as long as there is daily practice there is nothing to worry about.
When working with arithmetic, try to incorporate many real life situations, such as cooking, going to the supermarket, etc. Science is another subject that is best learned in its natural environment. Read about snakes and then go to a zoo to see some. Name all the animals in the zoo and then write about them later. See how many different birds are outside your house and try to name them. The hands-on approach is often the easiest way to learn. Walk on the beach and name all the animals, hike in the mountains and look at the different landscapes, collect specimens, watch the seasons change, the world is a learning experience.
Also, parents want to teach their children responsibility and accountability with household chores. This is a great way for the child to learn that she is capable and that the family needs her.
In general, children in this age group enjoy combining inquiry with creative projects, such as crafts, dressing up, eating, reporting, home decorating, music, and imaginative play. With each activity, each topic can be easily incorporated. No need for a purchased curriculum, learning is inevitable.