“Bend the tree while it is young.” Forming symbolic representation in preschool children is a crucial foundation for the development of thinking, language, and communication skills later in life. Symbolic representation formation is a process, and parents and teachers need to patiently nurture it, like caring for a small seedling. From their earliest years, children begin to interact with and become familiar with the world around them. This helps children form their first symbols, laying the groundwork for abstract thinking later on. Are you interested in learning more about preschool cultural dances for your beloved child?
My child, at the age of 3, would shout “meow meow” whenever she saw a cat. This is a typical example of symbolic representation formation in children. The sound “meow meow” has become a symbol representing the image of a cat in her mind. This symbolic representation not only helps her recognize and name objects but is also the starting point for language and cognitive development.
Exploring the World of Symbols for Children
Symbols are not just simple images or sounds; they also encompass the emotions and experiences that children receive from their surroundings. For example, when a child is lovingly caressed and comforted by their mother, the feeling of love and protection becomes a symbol associated with the image of the mother. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, a leading early childhood education expert in Vietnam, emphasized in her book “Raising the Joy of Discovery”: “Forming symbolic representation is the key to opening the door to the world of knowledge for children.”
The Role of Symbols in Children’s Development
Forming symbolic representation plays a pivotal role in the comprehensive development of children, from thinking and language skills to social communication. Ms. Le Thi Huong, an experienced preschool teacher at Hoa Sen Kindergarten in Hanoi, shared: “Children absorb knowledge through symbols. Understanding this, we can help children learn and develop more effectively.” When children have the ability to use symbols, they can think about things that are not present, imagine, and create their own stories and games. You can also learn more about how to calculate preschool tracking books.
Nurturing Symbolic Representation Skills in Children
Parents and teachers can apply many methods to stimulate symbolic representation skills in children, such as telling stories, reading poems, playing role-playing games, and letting children interact with nature. Ms. Pham Thi Thuy, in her book “Modern Preschool Education,” has given some interesting suggestions to help children develop this ability.
Methods to Support Children
- Storytelling and Poetry Reading: Stories and poems with rich imagery will help children form symbols naturally. Check out good poems for preschoolers.
- Playing Games: Role-playing games, puzzles, drawing, etc., are activities that help children practice symbolic thinking skills.
- Exploring the World Around: Letting children interact with nature and visit places like the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam will help them expand their knowledge and form more new symbols. Have you ever thought about creating a preschool farm model for your child?
In summary, forming symbolic representation in preschool children is a long journey that requires patience and love from parents and teachers. Let’s work together to nurture the future generation of the country. Do you have any stories about your child’s development to share? Please leave a comment below! You can also refer to what to gift preschool teachers on November 20th to show gratitude to the silent ferrymen. Contact us at 0372999999 or visit us at 234 Hao Nam, Hanoi. We have a 24/7 customer care team.