5 Things You Can Teach Your Child as You Read this Book Together

Apr 20

This story resonates with preschoolers on so many levels. By reading Chrysanthemum, you not only share an enjoyable story but you also have the opportunity to address important themes including kindness, self-confidence, empathy, and bullying.

Listed below are 5 educational concepts to sneak in as you read this book together.

Name Recognition & Spelling
Chrysanthemum's unique name is one of the main areas of focus within this story. This provides an easy opportunity for you to engage your child in activities related to name recognition and spelling. Spend time reinforcing the connection between the spoken and written language.
Bullying
This story addresses the impact of teasing and bullying in a way that doesn’t scare children. The story also does a good job explaining the fact that it’s not just what people do, but also what they say.
Cognitive Development
Chrysanthemum has a well-structured storyline with engaging characters. Discussing the events in the book can enhance a child's cognitive development by promoting comprehension, sequencing, and the ability to follow a narrative.
Social Emotional Learning
Chrysanthemum explores emotions such as happiness, sadness, and resilience. Use the story to engage your child in conversations about emotions.
Identity & Self Confidence
This story addresses themes of self-esteem and identity as Chrysanthemum learns to embrace her unique name and appreciate her individuality.

Extend the Learning with
Story-Based Play

Adding an element of play is another way to deepen your child’s understanding of concepts within and beyond a story. According to Hall (1991), young children often develop advanced literacy skills when they engage in play related to a familiar story. Many complex literacy skills develop naturally when the story and play intersect, setting the stage for your child to learn to read and write.

It’s easy. Take a great story, gather toys that align with that story, and get out of the way. Your child will do the rest. The goal is to allow the play to evolve naturally. You’ll be surprised by the amount of learning transferred and reinforced through this type of play.