Homeschoolers are in the perfect position to teach their children through play.
Using games and activities that really build our children's skills and guide them through all the tasks of learning in a way that helps every child use his whole brain.
Children therefore need the visual perception to notice these differences in shapes. Visual perception also reveals similarities between letters written in different fonts. Previously I showed you how to make your own Spot-the-difference games. Here is a Tangram game for
you.
Tangram is an old game of simple shapes cut from an original square to form an almost unlimited number of different forms and shapes. It’s a wonderful game for developing your child’s visual perception!
Print and cut out the shapes on the large square above (the one with the little jumping boy). Show your child how they all join together to re-form the square. Now let him copy my house, cat and tree (see below). Draw some of your own Tangram forms for your child to copy; or print 2 sets of my Tangram square and you make some shapes and let your child copy yours.
In order to copy the different forms, your child will be developing his visual perception of shape, direction and spatial relations. He will also be developing his figure-ground perception. This visual perception enables him to notice which way a letter faces and helps him to notice and remember which shape represents which letter. Figure-ground perception is the ability to notice the main figure from the background. In a garden, figure-ground perception enables us to see the weeds from the flowers and know what to pull out. In reading, figure-ground perception helps us see the words as separate from the sea of writing on the page. In spelling, figure-ground perception helps us see which letters combine to make the word. Size perception is also developed in Tangram. Your child has to decide whether to use the big, middle or smallest triangle to copy the pattern correctly. Size perception is a common problem for children when they begin to learn to write. It is a lot easier to teach your child that ‘i’ is
smaller than ‘l’ once he has developed a strong perception of size-constancy.
Humans are designed to learn through play. Play with your child, enjoy having fun together and feel righteous in knowing that while you are having fun together, you are also developing his perception and helping him learn to read!
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE TO BUY A READING PROGRAMME THAT TEACHES YOUR CHILD TO READ THROUGH PLAY
Let your child try to copy the designs below.