Flash Cards: Simple & Versatile, Reap Their Benefits!

Flash cards bring great learning benefits to children of all ages, but have they been used wisely?

We all know that newborns and infants see picture outlines in black and white better than coloured ones. As they grow up, bright and colourful ones would be more appropriate. There are many types of flash cards around - cloth types, thick cards, laminated cards, etc. Regardless of the type of flash cards we use, our kids can only learn when we use them correctly.

Flash cards are simple and highly versatile learning materials, for children of all ages and even adults. It is particularly good for children of reading age, as they are visually well-presented, allow for practice through recycling vocabulary, and helps the brain to familiarise with the learned words.

Flash cards are good for visual and kinaesthetic learners, due to their colourful  and eye-catching illustrations. There are studies showing that children and adults score better in examinations, than peers who do not incorporate learning through flash cards. This method of learning enhances knowledge retention through active recalls to remember a concept, and to better understand new words.

Cards like the above are introductory to children 1-3, as there are touch and feel textured panels for their little hands to explore the different materials used to represent the animals' fur or skin. They get to learn the names and species of some of these common animals too.

For older kids like 3+, cards with words that are associated with our daily lives are helpful in their learning. There are cards with prints on both sides, one side with a picture and the word, and the other side with simple descriptions for parents to read and relate to the child.

Take for example, the flash card above. Other than introducing the type of fruits and their names, both the child and parent can learn facts like where and how apples are grown, which country produces the most, and the types of apples in the world. I bet most of us do not know some of these facts, right? Neither do I. That is how parents learn with the child too. (",)

Flash card teaching method is best when it is used for 10 or more consecutive days, at least 15 minutes each session. Concentration span of a child is relatively short, thus it is advised not to over-stretch the session.

While flash cards can be bought easily from anywhere, DIY can also be an option if you have the time to do so. Bear in mind when designing flashcards - use bright colours, interesting illustrations, simple layout, useful information, and the theme of the flash cards.

All right, time for you to re-think on how you can better make full use of those existing flash cards you have at home, or consider making a set for your little one.

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BeezMom Serene