In today's tech-savvy world, educational videos for preschoolers are a fantastic way to make early learning both fun and effective. They are designed to help young children grasp basic skills that pave the way for future success
Generations of kids have loved both live-action and animated videos, whether on TV or the latest storage and replay media: videotape, CD, DVD, download, and Tik-Tok. Why do kids love videos so much? Lots of reasons! For one thing, access is immediate. Hit “play” and be transported away. The immersive experience of video also creates a sense of connection and interaction with on-screen characters. Little ones can identify and feel like they are active participants along with the characters, facing the same joys, fears, and challenges.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of pre k learning videos and how they can enrich your child's learning journey. They include creative, colorful videos available from School Zone, a trusted name in educational resources for nearly 50 years.
Benefits of educational videos for preschoolers
Videos have a strong appeal for preschoolers and kindergartners, and fortunately, they offer many benefits too, boosting learning and development by:
- Enhancing Understanding: Visual and auditory elements make it easier for kids to understand new concepts.
- Making Learning Fun: With songs, animations, and characters, videos turn learning into an exciting adventure.
- Providing Flexibility: Videos can be accessed anytime, making learning convenient at home or on the go.
Sometimes there is a fine line between videos for entertainment and videos for education. After all, kids definitely learn important lessons about family by watching Finding Dory, and they learn about responsibility and the “circle of life” from The Lion King. Watching Sonic the Hedgehog teaches anger management and overcoming, among other things.
To hold preschoolers’ attention and increase their retention, educational videos do need to be entertaining. That’s why School Zone produced Charlie & Company, an original 13-episode live-action/animation series primarily for preschoolers and kindergartners. It features kids’ “Anywhere Teacher,” Miss Ellie, and Charlie, her lovable golden retriever in each episode. Miss Ellie guides littles through a learning adventure based inside a “school zone.”
They explore fun, real-life places and solve the “puzzle it out” question of the day with Miss Ellie, Charlie, and their cartoon friends: Violet Ringtail (raccoon), Autumn Red Squirrel (red squirrel), Jahzara “Jaz” Komali (tiger), Socrates (owl), Oba (bear), Nestor Fields (field mouse), Levi Cottonwood (beaver), and Lily Longlegs (frog). Learn about letters, numbers, crafts, fitness, music, and more.
Learning the alphabet and numbers for preschoolers
Learning the alphabet and numbers are key milestones for preschoolers, laying the groundwork for reading, writing, and math. Educational videos can make this process engaging and effective.
Here's how these videos help:
- Engaging Content: Songs, animations, and interactive elements keep kids interested while learning ABCs and numbers.
- Repetition and Reinforcement: Frequent exposure to letters and numbers aids memory retention.
- Diverse Formats: From sing-alongs to animated stories, there are many ways to teach the alphabet and numbers effectively.
For example, the Charlie & Company series mentioned earlier, which is available in both a 2-DVD set and Anywhere Teacher, School Zone’s online learning program for kids ages 2-8, takes preschoolers on an amazing exploration! They visit real-life places such as a farm, Coast Guard station, air museum, fire station, zoo, theater, artist’s studio, gym, commercial kitchen, and construction site.
Episodes include “Barnyard Buddies,” First Mate Charlie,” and “K-9 Kitchen.” Preschoolers learn math and language skills in lots of cute, creative ways. On Anywhere Teacher, in addition to full episodes there are short video excerpts available that focus on particular skills. Learning the alphabet for preschoolers becomes so much fun! Ditto for learning numbers for preschool.
Incorporating these videos into daily routines provides a strong foundation for preschoolers. Videos make learning both enjoyable and accessible, allowing kids to learn at their own pace.
To complement video learning, let little ones explore Big Preschool Workbook. Across 320 pages of creative, colorful activities kids encounter sensational squares and rocking rectangles, a giant newt reading the newspaper, and a dinosaur playing the drums. Lessons focus on must-know readiness basics, including colors, shapes, the alphabet, basic phonics, early math, and more, and activities appear in order of increasing difficulty, so preschoolers stay challenged until the end, constantly expanding their skills. When all done, they can fill in their name on their very own reward certificate!
Pre K and kindergarten learning videos
As children advance to kindergarten, educational videos remain a valuable tool, supporting key curriculum areas like reading, writing, and math.
Here's what makes these videos effective:
- Curriculum-Aligned Content: Videos aligned with educational standards ensure relevant learning.
- Interactive Elements: Engaging content keeps young learners involved. TechSmith, producers of this “How to Make a Great Educational Guide, ” note that “Done right, educational videos transform complex information into content people actually understand and remember.”
- Support for Diverse Learning Styles: Visual and auditory elements cater to various learning preferences. Not only does multi-sensory learning, also known as multi-modal learning, help kids who learn better in one particular way, but in general, when kids see, hear, and do, it leads to deeper understanding, better retention of information, and more engagement with the material.
By using pre-k and kindergarten learning videos, educators and parents can enhance traditional teaching methods, fostering a love for learning in young children.
Another great hands-on tool to go along with videos is our Preschool Full Learning Program. Preschoolers get a full year of learning—everything they need for kindergarten readiness in early reading, writing, math, and fine motor skills. Books, flash cards, game boards with press-out pieces, workbooks with stickers, and a cool see-through storage pouch with safety scissors, glue stick, pencil, and a Write & Reuse™ marker make it so much fun! Developed by teachers, this comprehensive set takes a classroom approach, with lots of ways to learn essential skills and keep kids with different learning styles focused and motivated.
Interactive learning with digital apps
In our digital age, interactive learning apps are also vital for improving learning experiences for preschoolers. These apps complement educational videos and print resources, offering a dynamic way to understand new concepts.
School Zone's Anywhere Teacher with 3,000+ activities stands out in this area, providing interactive content that makes learning both fun and effective. In addition to the Charlie & Company videos are dozens of others. Just a few are a series of life cycle videos (frog, butterfly, apple tree and water cycle), “Olive Oceana’s Ovals,” and “Introducing Basic Emotions.” Here's how educational apps enhance video learning:
- Interactive Engagement: Apps offer hands-on experiences, in an increasingly familiar medium, making learning active and engaging.
- Comprehensive Learning: They cover a range of subjects for a well-rounded education.
- Personalized Learning: Apps adjust to a child's pace, within their control, offering tailored challenges and rewards.
- Skill Reinforcement: Combining videos with interactive tasks helps reinforce learning in a memorable way.
By integrating digital learning apps like Anywhere Teacher, parents and educators can provide a rich educational experience that supports preschoolers in developing essential skills.
Encouraging balanced screen time
While educational videos and apps are valuable, balancing screen time with other activities is important. Here are some tips for managing screen time effectively:
- Set Time Limits: Establish clear boundaries to ensure screen time doesn't overshadow physical activity and social interaction.
- Mix Activities: Encourage a variety of educational activities, including reading, outdoor play, and crafts, alongside digital learning.
- Monitor Content: Choose high-quality, age-appropriate videos and apps that align with educational goals.
- Engage Together: Participate in video and app activities with your child to enhance and track their learning and understanding.
By using educational videos responsibly and balancing them with other activities, we can create a rich learning environment that supports preschoolers' development. Educational videos for preschoolers offer a playful way to teach foundational skills. From learning the alphabet and numbers to exploring pre k and kindergarten concepts, these videos cater to diverse learning needs.
School Zone is dedicated to providing high-quality educational resources including videos. We invite you to explore our offerings, including the Anywhere Teacher platform, which combines videos with an interactive learning app for a comprehensive educational experience. Visit the School Zone Website for more resources and tools to support your child's educational journey.
