Here are 15 things you can easily work into your daily schedule to create wonderful early learning moments with your child from birth to age 3. They are simple and anyone who spends time with the child can do them. They cover four areas of your child’s development: speech and communication, thinking skills, social skills and emotional knowledge.
- EXPLORE WAYS TO PLAY WITH TOYS IN
DIFFERENT WAYS.
Touching, banging, stacking, shaking and interacting
with toys and everyday objects in different ways
helps them use their developing muscles and
support all their senses in new ways. - PAY ATTENTION TO HOW YOUR BABY COMMUNICATES.
Babies let you know their needs and feelings
through expressions, sounds and cries. Let them
know you are listening to them, even if they can’t
use words yet, by looking at them, nodding,
picking them up or talking to them. - REPEAT THE SOUNDS AND WORDS
YOUR CHILD USES.
Have back-and-forth conversations with them.
This will help them learn. It also leads to better
communication skills later on. - REPEAT THE SOUNDS AND WORDS
YOUR CHILD USES.
Have back-and-forth conversations with them.
This will help them learn. It also leads to better
communication skills later on. - TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO TOGETHER.
Whether it’s playing, shopping or simply folding
laundry, talking about what’s going on helps them
understand the meanings of words and leads to
better communication skills later on.
- TURN EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES INTO PLAYFUL
LEARNING MOMENTS.
Use everyday activities like dinner time as a chance
to learn about colors, textures and tastes. During
bath time, talk about the ideas of sink and float,
and wet and dry. - ENCOURAGE THEM TO FOLLOW THEIR INTERESTS.
Children are more likely to learn from activities that
excite and interest them. Pay attention to what
activities your child enjoys the most. - ASK YOUR CHILD QUESTIONS.
Get them thinking by asking questions. When
reading a book, you can ask, “where is the doggie?”
or “which balloon is red?” and have them point
out the answers. - TALK THROUGH YOUR CHILD’S
FEELINGS WITH THEM.
Help them understand what they are feeling by
using words to describe what’s going on. “You
are really mad you had to get out of the bathtub
now.” This helps them learn to deal with their
emotions and get better at sharing what is going
on with them emotionally. - LET OLDER TODDLERS MAKE CHOICES.
Giving your child a choice helps them learn to
make decisions. It can be simple choices like, “do
you want to eat your snack before or after we
take a walk?”
- STAY CALM WHEN YOUR CHILD IS UPSET.
Learning to wait for something you want now, to
share with others and to work out your problems
with friends isn’t easy for a toddler. It’s natural for
them to get frustrated and upset. When they are
upset and see you stay calm, it helps them feel
safe and get back in control. - GIVE POSITIVE COMMENTS WHEN YOUR
CHILD DOES SOMETHING WELL.
This helps them feel good about themselves and
more confident, and willing to try new things. - HELP YOUR CHILD BECOME A GOOD
PROBLEM SOLVER.
Give encouragement and support that they need
to be successful, but don’t completely solve the
problem for them. Let them figure things out
when they can. - LET YOUR CHILD DO THINGS FOR THEMSELF.
As they get old enough, let them try things for
themselves, like helping sort socks or putting
their clothes away. This teaches them a feeling
of accomplishment and independence. It shows
them that helping others is something they can
feel good about. - ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO KEEP TRYING.
They won’t always get things right the first time.
Help them continue trying with words like,
“You’re working so hard. You’ll get it. Sometimes
it takes a lot of tries!”