How to Help Your Children Learn

We all want the very best for our children and that includes giving them the best possible start to their education. There is a great deal you, as a parent, can do to achieve this. Your priority should be to create an environment that is safe, loving and stimulating.

CHILDREN LEARN THROUGH ALL THEIR SENSES

As we get older, we tend to rely on our sense of sight, and maybe hearing, to learn. We read, we observe and we listen. Children touch, taste, smell, look and then listen.

It's quite pointless to expect toddlers to learn by listening to you -- they're not being naughty when they gaze at you with those big eyes as you explain that it's wrong to spray your expensive perfume all over the bath (you spray the bath when you clean it, they're copying your actions -- they just haven't refined all the details yet).

The best way to teach your children about their world is the most difficult for you. It involves letting them try to do things for themselves (always under your supervision, of course).

When you're rushing to get to work, the temptation is to dress your toddlers, make the beds, tidy the room, pack the bags etc, while they remain passive recipients or observers. It takes much longer if you allow your toddlers to decide what they want to wear, to dress themselves, to begin making their beds and to pack their own bags. But if you deny them the opportunity to learn these things now, when they want to, you really have no-one to blame when they don't know how to look after themselves later (and when they don't want to do these things for themselves).

CHILDREN LEARN BY DOING

Children learn by doing - it bears repeating.

Children are also experts at the scientific method -- they observe their environment; they formulate hypotheses and they test these by carrying out experiments.

The toddler throwing objects from a high chair isn't doing it out of malice, to make you prematurely grey! It's part of learning what happens if you drop different sized objects from a height; what happens if you put a bit of force behind the objects and throw them; what happens if you tip that plate of squishy cereal upside down; what happens to the milk if you pour it into the vegetables ...

When your children become astrophysicists, they'll thank you for letting them conduct their early experiments in such a positive environment!

FOSTERING LEARNING

It's not desirable to just let your children do whatever they want to do -- you need to provide firm guidelines from an early age about what is acceptable and what isn't. By setting these boundaries, and being consistent with them, you'll give your children a secure environment in which to carry out their experiments.

Jennifer Stewart has a degree in English and History and taught senior High School for over twenty years. During that time, she was Head of Department, responsible for devising and implementing teaching programs, and for supervising young teachers. After leaving full-time teaching, she wrote (and now markets) writing courses for students and adults who want to improve their writing skills. Visit her website at http://www.write101.com

Jennifer also offers professional writing services - copy writing, editing and proof reading for your web pages, press releases, technical booklets, newsletters, business proposals, reports or any other writing projects.

---

Potty Training Your Child: The Five Potty Training Methods

There are many different ways to potty train your toddler.... Read More

On the Road Again

Just like Willy Nelson, I could not wait to get... Read More

Does The Size Of Your Baby Matter?

Does size matter? No, not that! Is your baby too... Read More

White Noise for Baby Stops Colic Crying Fast

It's true. Colic is MUCH harder on the parent than... Read More

A Special Formula for Baby!

Choosing to breastfeed the baby is one of the most... Read More

Baby Shower Checklist-Hostess

Using baby shower checklist-hostess are the best way to stay... Read More

Potty Training Resistance - Is Your Child Resisting Your Potty Training Efforts?

Potty Training ResistanceFrom your perspective, your child is resisting all... Read More

Baby Yoga and Me

Having carried a sizable bump around for a very long,... Read More

Teach Your Baby To Read English

If your child's first language is not English, he or... Read More

Properly Care For Your Children

When it comes to your newborn or children's health, it... Read More

Baby Furniture Essentials for Your New Baby

Baby furniture can be made up of many different pieces... Read More

Childrens Gift Ideas: Babies, Toddlers, and Beyond

When your time comes to shower a new mom or... Read More

Weaning A Baby Onto Solid Food

The best time to wean your baby onto solid food... Read More

Your Little Gourmet: Babys Fifth Month Guide

Baby smiled her real smiles at you and you were... Read More

Feng Shui Fertility: Six Ways to Create More Baby Chi

Today, feng shui is used for everything from arranging office... Read More

Baby Shower Gift Ideas

A few guests can get together and get a big... Read More

Should Your Baby Sleep In Your Bed?

Should baby sleep in her own cot or... Read More

Front Packs vs. Baby Back Packs

For ages caring parents have carried their babies with them... Read More

Car Seats and Newborn Babies

I remember very clearly the first day we brought our... Read More

Tips and Tricks for Introducing Solids to Your Baby

Helping your child move from breast breast milk or formula... Read More

Family Life or How to Buy Chair for a New Baby

Even if your baby is just weeks old now, you'll... Read More

Baby Eating Habits ? Which Approach Do You Take

One of the first decisions we make is if we... Read More

20 Popular Quotations About Babies

1. "A baby is God's way of saying the world... Read More

Playing With Food Words: Teaching Mindfulness to Preschoolers

The most powerful way to instill a love for language... Read More

Guide to Easy, Affordable Baby Shower Decorations

Great baby shower decorations are more about using your imagination... Read More

Hello World: Babys Third Month Guide

Remember how you wished your baby would learn there is... Read More

Tough Time Deciding on a Name for Your Baby?

The conversation went something like this:"Hey honey, when we get... Read More

Should a Toddler Wear Pull-Ups While Potty Training

As a parent, you've learned a lot while your child... Read More

Bonding with Baby

Most parents bond instantly with their babies, an intense feeling... Read More

To Invite or not to Invite the Dad to the Shower?

Do you invite dad to the baby shower? As per... Read More

How to Find Those Elusive Baby Gifts That Are Just Right

Baby Gifts from gift certificates to very expensive toys. Something... Read More

Scrapbooking the Dizzying Movies of Toddlers

Toddlers are highly energetic life forces. Between infancy and kindergarten... Read More

Baby Shower for Mom and the Ladies

Baby Shower for Moms who just wanna have fun! This... Read More