Sitting down to a family dinner is a great way to catch up with everyone. With a little effort, it can even be an educational experience for preschoolers. Showing an interest in your child’s education and applying core topics may help them at preschool the next day. Try the following ideas next time you sit down for an evening meal.

Ways to Make Dinnertime Educational

1. Teach New Words by Discussing Taste

Ask your preschool child about their opinion of the food. When they describe taste, teach more complex and detailed adjectives. Teach “tasty,” “juicy,” or “sweet” to better describe “good” or “yummy.” Get specific with words like “fizzy” and “refreshing” for soda. They’ll gradually build a larger vocabulary, and enunciating new words may help with speech development.

2. Teach Colors

Your child has likely mastered the basic ROY G. BIV colors and is ready to expand their spectrum. Point out new colors during dinner. Many colors pair with specific foods, such as lime green and sage. Point out mahogany for the table, cream-colored sauces, and apply new adjectives to the colors, such as a “plump violet plum.”

3. Establish a Schedule

You can teach your child time by keeping a schedule. Eat dinner at the same time each day. As your child becomes comfortable with the clock, start asking them to identify the precise time of dinner. You can then apply intervals, asking them to let you know when it’s an hour or a half-hour before dinner. You can use this for cooking times as well. For example, have them check timers to tell you when there’s 10 minutes left of baking time.

If it’s time for your preschool-aged child to enroll in a program, contact Seagull Schools in Honolulu, HI. This early childhood education center follows a proven preschool curriculum and has helped students excel since 1971. They also offer child and adult day care services, which you can explore online. Call (808) 533-0004 to speak with their staff about enrollment.