Calendar time is fun, it's my preschoolers favorite time of the day. Why? Research shows that preschoolers do not really understand the concepts of Calendar time and do not do so until they are between the ages of 7-10. If you really think about it, that is probably true. When did it finally dawn on you that the year actually changes every January? Probably not until well into elementary school when your mathematical knowledge matured. Regardless, we do calendar time everyday as preschool teachers. Why? What is the benefit?
My 4.5 year old {and even my older kids} love the together time in the morning. It's the first thing we do. We pray together and sing our morning songs together, no harm there, right? Regardless of what "science" says, my son has aced counting as we count out the date, {if it's the 10th of August, we count to 10~ in English and in Spanish}. He has memorized the days of the weeks names and knows how many days there are in a week. He is memorizing the names of the months. Does he understand how they fall into the yearly calendar? No, I don't think so. But he is memorizing and when the day comes that he needs to know that information, then it is already there in his memory bank. Just like bible verses.
Along with Calendar time, we talk about the season. He knows all 4 seasons and is learning what attributes go along with each season. He goes outside every morning and tells me what weather is and uses the weather wheel to point out the picture that best describes the weather. I also use the Weather Bear, my kids have all loved that. They dress the giant Panda in the appropriate clothing for the days weather. {In Monterey it is difficult because it is always foggy and cold in the morning so the Weather Bear hasn't made an appearance yet}.
Also at Calendar time we talk about important days coming up in the month, whether it's doctor appointments, games, birthdays, anniversaries. Melissa and Doug made a wonderful toy calendar that I love to use, {all their toys are wonderful and educational}. But I esp love their calendar. It has so many interactive pieces for the child to manipulate to make the calendar a very personal thing.
Above all else, I feel like being about to meet together in one single place with my children first thing after breakfast to pray, worship and start the day by observing our plans for the day, week, or month, is a great way to train your child about prioritizing time. It's a great way to set an example that God comes first in the morning. Thinking and planning out how to use your day and days ahead is a good stewardship of time. They may not understand that fully, but it is creating a habit that is useful~ in my opinion.
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