The holiday season presents a valuable opportunity for parents to support their children’s early development in a relaxed and nurturing environment. Parents of soon-to-be kindergarteners can play a significant role in preparing their child for this exciting new milestone. While too much screen time is not recommended for them, YouTube can be an effective tool when used in moderation. As they step closer to exploring the world on their own, make them more independent by also teaching them to complete simple tasks on their own.
Making learning fun at home
Sr Susan Dias, a pre-primary teacher at St Joseph Convent Pre-Primary School, Aquem, Margao advises, “By engaging in activities and routines that promote academic, social, and emotional readiness, parents can help their child transition smoothly into kindergarten and set them up for a successful year. Begin by reading books with the child, play educational games, watch educational videos which include alphabet and phonics, number recognition and counting, shape and colour recognition.”
She further adds, “Besides this, view videos recognizing and managing emotions, stories about empathy and self-awareness. Sing songs, and recite rhymes together which helps the child to develop social skills, doing some role-play, teaching them how to share, take turns, and cooperate with others.”
Importance of quality and moderation
Fatima Dias, a pre-primary teacher at Fr Agnel Multipurpose Pre-primary School, Verna, highlights the importance of quality and moderation of watching videos. “Children's social-emotional development is fostered as they observe interactions and learn about feelings under parental supervision. Furthermore, action tunes and craft movies can stimulate fine motor abilities and inventiveness. However, quality and moderation are key—parents should prioritize educational content, actively engage with their child during screen time, and balance digital exposure with real-world play,” she says.
Transitioning into a formal learning environment
Parental involvement is key to maximizing the benefits of these digital tools. Sr Monica Colaco of St Thereza's Convent Pre-Primary School, Raia says, “Beyond academics, a wide array of YouTube content focuses on developing essential soft skills, which are crucial for a smooth adjustment to school life. This early exposure can significantly ease the transition into a formal learning
environment.”
The essence of
parental bonding
Teaching for 43 years, Christine Alphonso of Happy Hearts Montessori Pre-Primary School, Porvorim, is always happy to welcome a new class of students every year. However, over the years, she has noticed that parents are dedicating less time to the child and only a 25 percent of parents make the effort to teach the children fundamentals before school. “When parents spend more time with their children, it gives them the comfort to share everything. The initial bonding is very important and the same can be done while reading books or watching videos with them, rather than just putting on the video and leaving the child alone. Parents can sing the songs with them to make their bond stronger. Once they start school, they will feel comfortable
to share whatever happened in class,” says Christine.
YouTube can prepare children for one of their biggest early life steps. By turning holiday screen time into a gentle introduction to school life, parents can help ensure that their child begins kindergarten with confidence and excitement.
Beginning kindergarten with confidence and excitement
Videos such as ‘My First Day at School’ or ‘Kindergarten Morning Routine’ allow children to visualise key parts of the day at school. “Psychologists agree that repetition and routine help children feel safe. Watching these videos repeatedly, especially with a parent by their side, helps young minds process the new environment and build positive expectations. Parents can pause to explain scenes, ask questions like ‘What would you do next?’ or relate the video to the child’s future school. To make the experience more engaging, parents might even consider creating simple role-play games at home based on what their child has seen online, or recording a ‘pretend school day’ video together,” explains Sr Perpetua Fernandes of Daya Mata Niketan Pre-Primary School, Mardol.
Some of the best YouTube channels for pre-schoolers:
Blippi: Explores various places like zoos, museums, parks, and teaching kids about colours, shapes, animals, and everyday objects in a fun, upbeat way.
Cocomelon: Features catchy songs and nursery rhymes focusing on alphabet, numbers, days of the week, and animal sounds.
Little Baby Bum: Features nursery rhymes, educational songs, and fun animated characters and covers topics like animals, colors, numbers, and shapes, with sing and dance along.
National Geographic Kids
Offers short, engaging videos that introduce pre-schoolers to nature, animals, and the environment.
Pinkfong
Best known for the viral ‘Baby Shark’ song, it also includes educational videos that teach children about numbers, shapes, animals, and good manners. The animations are bright and visually appealing.
Super Simple Songs: Full of simple, easy-to-understand songs on things like colours, shapes, numbers, and common phrases in a child-friendly way.