These activities involve practicing the alphabet, helping them identify letters, singing alphabet songs, reading alphabet books and playing with alphabetical puzzles. Cut out individual squares with each letter of the alphabet written in bright colors, mix them up and glue them to different surfaces around the house. Practice counting, identify opportunities throughout the day. Help them practice shapes and colors, identify shapes and colors, ask them to describe objects. Give them choices. Take them to visit interesting places, play with everyday objects, offer a variety of games. Take them to local children's museums, the library or the farmers' market to stimulate their curiosity. Encourage them to ask questions, to learn to think for them. The child's mental models, or cognitive structures, are based on the child's activities; commitment gives meaning. Free, unstructured play is healthy and, in fact, essential for helping children reach important milestones in their social, emotional, and cognitive development. (James.&Matthew