Teaching Children Days of the Week and Months of the Year in Preschool
Preschool is a magical time of discovery, and one of the fundamental concepts children learn during this early age is understanding the days of the week and months of the year. Teaching these concepts to young children might seem straightforward, but making it engaging and fun ensures that your little learners not only grasp the information but also enjoy the process. In this post, we’ll explore creative and effective methods using a fun way to teach preschoolers the days of the week and months of the year, with a special bonus: free printables to support your teaching journey! A chalkboard poster to help your child remember the names of the days of the week and months of the year.
Why Teach Days and Months Early?
Understanding days and months helps children make sense of time and the world around them. It’s a stepping stone for learning calendars, routines, and sequencing—all of which are crucial for their cognitive and social development. Early exposure helps children:
- Develop a sense of order and predictability.
- Understand the structure of their week and year.
- Build early math and literacy skills through patterns and sequences.
- Feel a sense of achievement as they recognize and use these concepts in their daily lives.
Fun Activities to Teach Days of the Week
1. Days of the Week Song
Songs are an excellent way to help children memorize concepts. Many catchy tunes are available online, or you can create your own version. Pairing the song with hand motions or claps can make it even more engaging. For example:
(To the tune of “The Addams Family”)
Days of the week (clap, clap)
Days of the week (clap, clap)
Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week (clap, clap)
There’s Sunday and there’s Monday, there’s Tuesday and there’s Wednesday, there’s Thursday and there’s Friday, and then there’s Saturday!
Repeating this daily can help children quickly learn the order of the days.
2. Calendar Time
Start each day with a brief calendar session. Show your child a physical calendar and discuss what day it is, what yesterday was, and what tomorrow will be. Let kids add different colors or stickers to highlight special days, like birthdays or holidays, to make it an interactive activity.
3. Daily Routine Chart
Create a daily routine days of the week chart that aligns with the days of the week. For example:
- Monday: Story time at the library.
- Tuesday: Art and crafts day.
- Wednesday: Park day.
Associating specific activities with days helps children link the name of the day to their experiences. You can add this list to your homeschool room wall or bulletin board to review daily with your kids.
4. Day of the Week Wheel
Craft a “Days of the Week Wheel” using paper plates. Write the days of the week on the outer edge and attach an arrow in the center with a brad. Each morning, let your child move the arrow to the current day. These are great tools to help children have independence and use their hands to learn.
Engaging Ways to Teach Months of the Year
1. Months of the Year Song
Songs work just as well for months! Here’s a simple version to try:
(To the tune of “Ten Little Indians”)
January, February, March, and April,
May, June, July, and August,
September, October, November, December,
These are the months of the year!
2. Seasonal Sorting Activity
Print pictures representing each season (e.g. leaves for fall, snow for winter, flowers for spring, and sun for summer) and help your child match the months to their seasons. For example:
- Fall: September, October, November
- Winter: December, January, February
- Spring: March, April, May
- Summer: June, July, August
This activity ties the months to observable changes in the environment.
3. Monthly Birthday Chart
Create a chart with all 12 months and add family members’ or friends’ birthdays. Children will enjoy finding “their” month and those of their loved ones in this interactive activity, which reinforces the sequence of months.
4. Monthly Crafts
Make a craft for each month that ties into a holiday or theme. For example:
- January: Snowflake art using paper and glitter.
- February: Heart-shaped crafts for Valentine’s Day.
- March: Rainbow and pot-of-gold craft for St. Patrick’s Day.
- April: Bunny masks or egg decorating for Easter.
- May: Flower bouquet craft for Mother’s Day.
- June: Sun-themed crafts to welcome summer.
- July: Patriotic handprint flags for Independence Day.
- August: Beach or seashell art to celebrate summer.
- September: Apple stamping art for the start of fall.
- October: Pumpkin carving or decorating for Halloween.
- November: Handprint turkeys for Thanksgiving.
- December: Ornament decorating or paper snowman crafts for Christmas.
Interactive Free Download: Days and Months
To complement these activities, we’ve created the perfect addition to your teaching method- a free printable Days of the Week Poster and a Months of the Year Poster.
Download the printable pdf file here and use it to enhance your teaching efforts at home or for classroom use! This Printable poster is a great addition to your homeschool room or to add to your classroom decor.
If you are interested in a more colorful poster then click HERE to see a different option for a Days of the Week poster and Months of the Year poster.
Tips for Success
- Repetition is Key: Practice the days and months daily to help the concepts stick.
- Keep It Playful: Use games, songs, and crafts to make learning enjoyable. This is a great way to keep it fun.
- Integrate Into Routine: Discuss days and months as part of your daily activities, like talking about plans for the week or upcoming holidays.
- Celebrate Progress: Praise your child’s efforts and achievements to keep them motivated.
Teaching preschoolers the days of the week and months of the year can be a delightful journey of discovery and bonding. With a mix of songs, hands-on activities, and visual aids, children can grasp these foundational concepts while having fun. By incorporating a free printable and making the learning process part of your daily routine, you’re setting the stage for success and creating memories that last a lifetime. If you are looking for more school activities, be sure to check out our learning printables HERE.
We hope these ideas inspire you and your little learners! Don’t forget to download our free printable and share your experiences in the comments. What are your favorite ways to teach days and months? We’d love to hear from you!
