Let's Go Visit the Concepts Neighborhood!

In preschool programs and daycare visits, one thing we try to always include in our story time is a concept idea, be it by way of a finger play, felt items, or a book. A concept is an idea or word (or ideas and words) a child will need to understand in order to perform in everyday life. So we may count by using Five Little Pumpkins, or sing the Alphabet song to learn letters, or do a book where we ask the kids to name a shape or a color.

We also hope that the parents will continue to teach their children the basics in counting, shapes, numbers, opposites, and ABC's at home. And the best way to do that is through a book. And the best place to start their search is... visiting the Concepts Neighborhood.

Labeled with a green sticker on the spine, the Concepts Neighborhoods features books of basics concepts, from counting to learning time.  Here are some of the titles you will find in this collection:

• Pigs will be Pigs by Amy Axelrod
• Monsters Love Color by Mike Austin
• Eye Spy Shapes by Debbie MacKinnon
• Chicka Chicka 123 by Bill Martin Jr. 
• Counting Kisses by Karen Katz

From experience, I've figured out that shapes, counting, and colors are the easiest to do ( especially at 10 am.) The alphabet is a bit tricky, so unless it is a story, it's easier to just focus on a few letters. I also like the DK My Very First Look at... books are also good to use because it gets the kids to interact (and you don't have to do all the items featured, unless some kid asks " Hey, you skip a page) and Marianne Berkes Over in the... series because it takes the familiar tune  of " Over in the Meadow" and places like  the forest or the ocean and features animals one would find in those places ( plus information in the back about each animal.)

So the next time you're look for a book with numbers, colors, or ABC's, visit the Concepts Neighborhood!

Come check out the Neighborhoods!