Preschool children who hear their parents describe the size and shape of objects and then use those words themselves perform better on tests of their spatial skills, as per researchers at the University of Chicago.

The study is the first to show that learning to use a wide range of spatial words predicts children’s later spatial thinking, which in turn is important in mathematics, science and technology. Children who heard and then produced 45 additional spatial terms saw, on average, a 23 percent increase in their scores on a non-verbal assessment of spatial thinking.

Spatial learning in the early years is largely limited to identifying shapes. However, young children can acquire spatial visualization skills that are important in STEM by engaging in spatial activities and by hearing and acquiring spatial language!

Help your child learn spatial language while discovering where animals live!

Steps:

1. When you see birds flying, mention that they fly 'up' in the sky

2. See a bunny? Ask your child if it can find their bunny hole, 'under' the ground

3. When you see a rock, ask your child if they think any bugs live 'under' it, and then pick up the rock to find out!