This is a Guest Post written by Katheryn Rivas, a higher education writer, in which she details activities that incorporate both fun and learning for young kids. You may reach her at katherynrivas87@gmail.com.
From the moment our children are born, they are already studying the world around them. If you don’t believe me, try this: Sit your young child down in the middle of a room and carefully watch their eyes. You’ll see them gaze and let their eyeballs wander all around the room, meditating over the paintings on the wall, the colors of your furniture, and all the eccentricities that surround them. It is rather mesmerizing to behold.
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| Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
Even before our children are barely able to crawl across the room, we are often already ready to throw them into learning about math, reading, social science, and numerous other important topics. I talk with my own husband about whether or not it’s too soon to start educating our child about things he’ll eventually have to know, and we usually aren’t able to reach a definitive conclusion. In my mind, it is never too early to begin subtly educating a child – as long as it is within reason. I’m not suggesting you go throw your child into intensive learning scenarios; I’m merely saying that it can’t hurt to start integrating small, useful learning patterns and life lessons into their routine. For those of you interested in doing so, here are three easy ways to begin teaching your child at an early age.
Reading Out Loud
One of the most popular areas parents start out teaching their child is in reading. It is commonly believed that kids who learn to read in the early years of their life experience long-term gains in their future reading ability. It’s a skill that most kids will learn early on in their schooling, but some parents like to get their child started before they enter school. It’s important not to pressure your child to learn reading too fast, however.
Some studies have proven that doing so won’t help your child’s reading skills at all, so make sure to pace your child. Begin by reading to your child and allowing them to take it all in slowly. Also, don’t be afraid to stick to one or two books that your child is comfortable with or attached to. Over the course of reading, stop on certain passages or phrases you know or believe your child can say and encourage them to say them. If they aren’t ready, don’t pry; if they are, congratulate them. Remember, it’s all about pacing your child. You wouldn’t throw a short-distance runner into a marathon, would you?
Mathematical Thinking
Mathematics exists in our lives in ways we aren’t even aware. Our society greatly depends upon mathematics, so it never hurts to get your child started a little early on learning the roots of math. I’m not suggesting you sit your child down at a blackboard and ask them to add and subtract numbers; however, there are ways to introduce mathematical concepts and mathematical thinking into their lives without putting too much pressure on them. For instance, try asking your child to sort objects by colors, shapes, and sizes.
Also, have them identify various shapes and number groups, such as two triangles, one green square, etc. Another great idea is to introduce counting into your child’s daily routine, such as counting up to twenty and identifying number sequences. Furthermore, understanding mathematically comparative words, such as large, small, short, long, tall, short, empty, full, etc. will help them as well. With patterns like these, slowly but surely your child will be able to comprehend and utilize mathematics in his or her life.
Life Skills
As most of us know, life is not confined to the classroom. If you were to attempt to teach your child math and reading all day, you’d bore them to death and probably drive yourself crazy. Along with simple math and reading skills, you should also be teaching your child certain life skills. There are thousands for them to learn, and it’s equally fun and important to teach them things like brushing their teeth, saving money, setting the table, tying shoes, flying a kite, swimming, saying thank you, throwing a ball, dancing, and many other tasks. So when you or your child grows tired of math and English, try embracing a new list of things to learn. Conjure up your own list or utilize ones like this.
Parents often wonder how early is too early to educate their children. Too much pressure has no place in early childhood education, but it can’t hurt to start introducing some educational concepts to your children. Try utilizing one or all of the tips above and watch your child’s education evolve before your eyes.
Katheryn Rivas is a higher education writer and blogger. When she’s not digging and reporting about the latest online universities news, she can be found playing with her two Saint Bernards, Chica and Chico.
Nice post.One most important thing we have to keep in mind while doing all these should be :”Make it enjoyable.Knowledge is Fun”.It’s an amazing world.Cheers !
I totally believe in that credo. My previous post lamented on the loss of innocence in childhood.
A nice post and very valid things you have brought out!Reading stories aloud is what I have enjoyed most apart from other things!
Thank you Rahul! I have been reading stories with my kids, and it is fun!
This makes very interesting reading, Katheryn. In India, learning starts early – but there’s too much emphasis on preparing a child for school. You may be aware that children as young as three have to undergo entrance tests to get in to better schools. This puts a lot of pressure on the children and the parents.
Having said that, it’s never too early to learn. I do believe that children learn languages at a very young age and an exposure to more than one language is preferable.
A focus on Life Skills is absolutely essential.
Yes, I agree about language skills too. Young children pick them up quickly. I hate the push we give to our kids to “prepare” them for school in terms of writing.
I agree with absolutely everythign written here but the Life Skills paragraph is a little ambigious … I remember one of the comments on your guest post listed all the activities one parent had for her child, so many in fact that the child couldn’t fit in a doctors appointment. Some people have absolutely no common sense and could easily (and too often do) misinterpret the concept of broadening the childs education.
Hi Jane, I know what you are referring to. Parents do tend to go overboard, but Katheryn has shared some very basic and simple activities as life skills, and if you open the link shared, you will see that she really means very simple activities. I hope that people will take it in that spirit.
So often we ignore teaching life skills……it is so important in the times we live..
I agree.
We do most of the things mentioned above. My 3 yr old loves the reading sessions. I didn’t realize that learning to sort things builds mathematical thinking. Maybe he’ll turn out to be better than his mom in maths :).
Good one, Katheryn, Rachna.
Thank you Divya!
Nice post. Above everything else what I have read in quite a few places is that children tend to learn by observing their parents. Hence one needs to exhert caution and behave in an apt manner when in the presence of the child. For instance if we say thank you whenever we accept something, the child would learn by itself I suppose…. Thanks for sharing these points!
It’s absolutely true. I have experienced it, and I feel that kids actually imbibe their parents’ behavior quite a bit. Thus, parents really need to walk the talk.
It is a thought- provoking post. The reflexes and consciousness of a child have been deftly described. Of course, reading aloud to your children has been universally recommended. I liked the ‘Life Skills’ were given due emphasis.
Thank you Umashankar! I liked that part about life skills too in Katheryn’s post.
I agree with all these…we don’t really need to sit down and teach but these activities, especially the reading aloud are something which is really beneficial for the child.
Thank you Mom of A and a.
thanks for such an useful post
Thank you Ashok!
That was a good bit of professional advice!
Thank you dr. antony!
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Children today are way smarter than previous generations…i think your advice is very cogent.
absolutely, Indu! Thanks!
Good effort by you Rachna in bringing Katheryn here. And I completely agree with all these points. And we can incorporste them easily in our day activities.
Thanks Jas! And, I thank Katheryn for penning the post.
It is very important to focus on life skills. Learning should be fun. Parents put too much pressure on the kids. That has to be avoided.
I agree, Sabyasachi! Thank you so much.
Thanks all of you for liking this post. As per my opinion, children starts learning from the day they take birth. So it’s better to guide their learning in a constructive manner from very beginning, rather than waiting for any kind of formal education which starts much later. This can be done in phases and with different types of activities. This will teach children good habits and adds on to their skills as well.
can’t agree with this more- nice guest post !
Thanks Priya and welcome to my space.
nice post!
Thanks Medha! Welcome here.
nice tips
Thank you Shrinidhi! Welcome to my blog.
hmmm… things have changed a lot. thank god i am not married and i don’t have kids. i would have messed up completely!!
Just because you aren’t yet, it doesn’t mean you won’t later :). You will do well when you come to bridge!
Great tips! Life skills are really important and I say it from my personal experience. My daughter used to be extremely shy, her class teacher suggested that enrolling her to a music or dance class might help. We listened and found a good violin teacher for her. She was just five and half years old then. It is once in a week class and she really looks forward to it. The results are amazing and very encouraging.
Thank you Rachna and Katheyren for this useful post.
Happy friendship day!
Thank you Kavita! You know I noticed that too with my younger son. He is painfully shy and takes really long to open up. This year I put him in a great summer camp where he learnt dancing and singing. And, I see a marked improvement in his personality. I think creative forms give them the outlet they might crave.
Nice educative and informative post for young parents, Rachna. Meaning to read this in leisure. Hence, the delay. Also, thank you for the guest post and introducing her to us. I always wondered if reading out to kids help them in a better way. Now, I believe we should not let the habit go. My son loves me to read out for him, for he is lazy himself to do so..:)
Thank you, Latha! I have seen the benefits of reading to children. I did it with both my kids. I loved reading when growing up though I don’t remember my parents reading to me. Reading to a child helps them really enjoy the pictures, story, the emotions and even the reading part.
And that is one useful list. Dance and music are not usual life skills though. Rachna, please make the links in your post open in a new window:) .
Chandan too read the post and appreciates.
Yes, I agree that dance and music are not ususal life skills. He actually did not learn any dance form or musical instrument, just some bollywood stuff and singing some cute inspirational songs. I don’t know how they did it because even in school he had these events but he would not participate much. In the summer camp, he was so confident and even came home and showed us. See this video if you find time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCCFuRHAew8
Thank you for bringing the links part to my notice. Since it was her post, I did not check the hyperlinks. I’ve now set them suitably. Please thank Chandan on my behalf. And, a Happy Friendship Day to you too, dear Kavita!
What a wonderful post!! Agree completely! Children are like sponges, they absorb so much, so quickly. It’s best to teach especially the life skills from a young age!!
Thanks shilpa! Children are like sponges as you pointed out!