It’s that time, my baby is going off to preschool in the fall (*insert tears*) so we’re in full preschool prep mode around here. As parents, we know we play an essential role in preparing him for this new experience. It’s definitely a big time for both of you. On one hand, my baby is venturing out into the big world without me but on the other, I hope he meets tons of new friends and feels proud to be a big kid now. I’m now doing this for the third time so I feel like I’ve learned some things along the way to ensure a smooth transition. This is a sponsored post in partnership with Highlights and The Motherhood, but let’s dive into how we can get our babies ready for preschool, shall we?
1. Play Games:
We’re big believers in technology learning so it’s no surprise I’ve had my eye out looking for just the right apps that help my child grow. I believe learning through play is the way kids learn best. A couple great apps we’ve been learning bring the best of both worlds (learning and play) together – #HiddenPicturesFun. Highlights for Children brings its world-famous Hidden Pictures puzzles to life with digital fun the whole family can enjoy! Their puzzle apps bring kids the fun and challenge they crave, with the quality content parents expect from Highlights.
Hidden Pictures™ Puzzle Town offers quality screen time that’s FUN and promotes preschool learning like pre-literacy, pre-math and problem-solving. We’ve had a blast exploring this interactive app full of five, engaging games for him. You and your child can search Highlights’ famous Hidden Pictures puzzles, untangle colorful Picture Mix-ups, earn friendly characters to personalize their towns and much more! As your child completes the puzzles they get to tap an egg, the egg eventually cracks and out pops the character. We made a game out of who can touch and crack the egg first. He had no idea he was learning along the way to finishing the puzzles.
With Hidden Pictures™ Puzzle Town, your child will get:
● 45+ puzzles instantly, plus new puzzles every week
● Five kinds of puzzles, including Highlights’ famous Hidden Pictures scenes
● Adorable characters and accessories to enhance play and personalization
● Exciting bonus mini-games that help earn more collectibles
As we play, I am noticing his skills getting better. At first, he was having a hard time with the maze puzzles but then I could see him beginning to problem-solve and use those improving fine motor skills along the way. These little milestones make me so happy and I know by the Fall he’ll be ready for preschool if we keep up with these learning puzzle games.
2. Overnight Stays with Their Grandparents or Other Relatives:
Encourage and enable your child to participate in overnight stays at their grandparent’s house (or with an aunt or uncle). We actually just started doing this last week because before then, he had always been with at least my husband or me for all 4 years of his life. The benefits of doing this are tremendous and grandparents love it – they’ve been waiting for this!
Your child will get used to the idea of being away from you for an extended period of time in an extremely safe, loving and familiar environment. It also introduces change. Your child will need to sleep in a different room with a different bed etc. They will have to eat food cooked by someone else and follow the rules that their grandparents set.
3. Creative Play:
Although I am all for technology, we do limit the time our kids are on the screens. When I can feel that my son needs a break we encourage learning with number blocks to learn to count, letter blocks, or use some magnet tiles for some open-ended play and geometric shape familiarity learning.
Remember, everything you do with your kid is educating them so let them help you with housework or gardening and watch how it can help promote independence. We do this by having him put his clothes in washer or dryer (mama puts the soap in and turns everything on!), making his own bed, or something little you may not even realize you do without thinking, choosing their breakfast cereal. Have them choose their meal and then what Hidden Pictures™ Puzzle Town game they choose first.
Help your child prep for preschool with Hidden Pictures apps from Highlights. Plus, get a limited-time offer when you try FREE!
Why you’ll love the app:
● Preschool Hidden Pictures™ Puzzle Town puzzles promote early vocabulary development
● Look and Look Again scenes that encourage letter recognition and critical thinking
● Mazes that strengthen problem-solving and fine motor skills
● Match Maker activities that build early math skills through classification and visual memory practice
● Picture Mix-ups that improve cognitive flexibility and short-term memory skills
● Adaptive Learning Technology that tailors activities to children’s growing skills
● Option to pre-load puzzles for offline play
● Advertisement-free, safe and secure environment
If you have an older kiddo, The Hidden Pictures Puzzles app would be great for them. Geared for little one’s ages 6+, Hidden Picture Puzzles offer the same great content that Puzzle Town does but with a bit of an edge. It’s a great app to help your child avoid the “summer slide” of not learning throughout the summer break. Keep their brain working and learning (while having fun) and ready for going into 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th grade. Hidden Picture Puzzles brings the world-famous puzzles to life with digital fun. How many objects can you find in these interactive puzzles? The faster you find them, the more stars you’ll earn. Collect enough stars, and you’ll unlock new, exclusive challenges, including new ways to play Hidden Pictures puzzles! I admit I got a little too much into it and had to try to earn the top stars on a few puzzles.
For a limited time, from 6/18-6/30, get summer-themed BONUS puzzles Puzzle Town. Only $2.99/mo (PT) / $3.99/mo (HP) after. The apps are available on both iOS and Android and you are free to cancel anytime. Get your first 30 days FREE, plus instant access to 45+ puzzles. For a limited time, you get summer-themed BONUS puzzles to kick-start summer vacation. That’s over 50 puzzles when you start your free trial! The limited-time offer is available for Hidden Pictures™ Puzzle Town kicks off June 18-June 30. Download Hidden Pictures Puzzles (great for ages 6+) and Hidden Pictures Puzzle Town (ages 3+) today for FREE by clicking here!
