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.

---

Your Baby Nursery - Decorating a Fabulous and Functional Room

Decorating a baby nursery can be one of the most... Read More

A Special Formula for Baby!

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

Baby Dangers New Parents Need to Know About

This Spring many new parents will welcome new additions into... Read More

Infant Circumcision

If circumcision were a choice I had to have made,... Read More

4 Tips for Taking Great Baby Pictures - Even If Youre Not a Professional

When my daughter Layla was born I had a hard... Read More

Potty Training Guide

Toilet training (herein referred to as "potty training") is an... Read More

Shared Dancing has Benefits for Babies and New Moms Alike

Every parent knows the calming effects on their baby of... Read More

How to Clean Those Lovable Plush Toys

Are YOUR Stuffed Animals DIRTY?Stuffed animals and dollies can lead... Read More

Six Ways to Save on Your Baby Shower

It's time to celebrate the baby! As Keepsake Favors' resident... Read More

Baby Acne

One of the most common conditions a new mother may... Read More

The Baby Crib: Your Child?s First Bed

It is up to you as parents whether you want... Read More

Baby Shower Invitation Cards

Baby Shower Invitation Cards are a time saver for the... Read More

How to Choose a Baby Swing

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1,000 American... Read More

Childrens Bedroom Furniture - Three Mothers Share Their Buying Habits

Just two months ago, a group of mothers from three... Read More

Honor Grandma with a Baby Shower for Grandma

Throwing a baby shower for grandma could be a great... Read More

Steps To Dealing With Your Autistic Child

It is most unfortunate that many wonderful parents feel that... Read More

Movement and Infants

Besides the fact that they were built to do so,... Read More

Infant Car Seats

Finding the best car seats for your child: To escape... Read More

Baby Yoga and Me

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

Babies Born With A Cleft Palate Or Lip

As many as one in 700 babies are born with... Read More

Baby Development - But What Role do Parents Play?

It is truly amazing the development that a baby experiences... Read More

Baby Shower Games For Your Special Baby Shower

So you're holding a baby shower? Then you will need... Read More

Baby Shower for Twins (Or More) Peas in a Pod

Baby shower for twins or multiples can be given when... Read More

A Surprise Baby Shower Can Be the Perfect Way to Celebrate

Throwing a surprise baby shower doesn't have to be difficult.... Read More

Scrapbooking the Dizzying Movies of Toddlers

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

Baby Shower Centerpieces That Double as a Gift!

Here you will learn how to make and where to... Read More

10 Items of the Well-Stocked Diaper Bag

Does your diaper bag have everything you need in it?... Read More

How to Make a Lovely Baby Shower Cake

Baby shower cakes are terrific centerpieces for showers. Guests always... Read More

Five Easy Steps to Potty Train Your Baby

No?Don't let your child pee or poop every where and... Read More

Planning the Perfect Baby Shower

One of the most exciting events an expecting mother looks... Read More

Baby Shower Gift Ideas

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

7 Stages of Potty Training

There are seven stages of potty training. They begin with... Read More

Hints And Tips On Scrapbooking Baby?s ?Firsts?

It is true to say that a lot of people... Read More