This was a sad week at our house. My four year old finished Rod and Staff's ABC pre-school series. Maybe all of you have heard of these workbooks, but since I'm so glad that a friend told me about them, I thought I'd pass it on to you!
I've used several workbooks with my daughter, picking them up at Walmart or wherever, but these were certainly our favorite! The series contains five workbooks and a Bible story coloring book which you can buy as a set or individually. A new series is presently being published with only the first book in print at this time. They can be purchased from Rod and Staff by mail or several on line sites such as at CLP. I picked mine up here locally at the Country Dry Goods, figuring they would be a good thing to keep the children occupied this winter. Two of the books, I gave to my three year old, the other four were the four year old daughter's. Both children loved them and it soon became obvious that I would need to limit the number of pages completed in a day if I was going to make them last for even the first month of winter! My daughter honestly cried when she finished the last page and I had to tell her there was no more books!
There was a lot to like in these books. Printed on thicker paper then other books we've tried, they cover a variety of skills from colors, shapes, numbers, letters and thinking skills. I loved the wide range of projects as my children get tired of constantly coloring or cutting. I also liked that the parent's directions were printed on the bottom of each page. I dislike flipping to the back of the book for directions. Of course, Christian values are displayed throughout the books. They also have a Bible story book that coordinates with the Bible story coloring book, but I haven't seen it.
This series, despite it's name, does not teach the alphabet. Some practice is given on listening to sounds and to forming the letters but nothing on letter or sound recognition.
A little disclaimer... I know how easy it is to compare children and start feeling inadequate as a parent. (Unless, such things only happen to me!) I don't want anyone to feel that way reading this! Every child is different! If your pre-school child has no interest in workbooks, I sure wouldn't be forcing it upon them! In my opinion, reading quality story books aloud, enjoying the outdoors, and working alongside their parents in every day life, is far more important then perfecting coloring skills in those first five years!
I happen to have children who beg to “do school” - at least in the winter when their activities are corralled to the indoors. My daughter is four, almost five, and these books were perfect for her. The only struggle she had was with the writing, as she had done very little writing of any sort before. She had never even had interest in writing her name. I allowed her to just trace the numbers and letters and just recently she has begun trying to form the letters on her own.
The books were a little advanced for my three year old. If he wasn't so eager to be just like big sister, I would have waited! He did well, though and only a few times did I need to adjust the directions for him. Since the series is intended to be done just before starting school at first grade at age six, I think most four and five year olds would benefit from this series.
Now I have a month or two of winter left until spring! I'm open to any and all ideas on how to keep several pre-schoolers busy and occupied through the remainder of our cold weather!
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