The early years play a critical role in child education and development. As a parent, it’s natural to want to do everything possible to encourage learning during the formative years and support your child as they grow. There are many ways parents can promote and champion learning and education. In this guide, we’ll outline some simple, effective strategies to help young kids learn and flourish.
Play Together
Children learn through play from the earliest stages of development. Learning begins as soon as babies start to notice the environment around them, recognize faces and voices and take in their surroundings. Whether you have a 3-month-old or a 3-year-old, it’s hugely beneficial to make time to play together. Play with toys, make up games, try different activities and enjoy spending quality time as a family. As your child grows and gets older, you can change, adapt and develop activities and games to cater to their interests and requirements. Your child will also start to express their preferences and likes and dislikes, which can help you plan and identify the best activities to aid learning.
Read
Reading is one of the best ways to educate young kids, encourage creative thinking and imaginative play and teach children how to recognize objects and learn new words. It’s a great idea to read to your kids from the outset. You can start with basic picture books, soft books and books for the bath and gradually introduce more complex ideas and descriptive stories as they get older and their vocabulary improves. Reading together is a brilliant bonding exercise and it helps kids to be creative and enjoy learning. It’s also a fantastic way to encourage relaxation and help young children wind down between periods of more active play and exercise. Making time for a bedtime story can help children get into a steady, familiar evening routine and encourage good sleep habits.
Explore Childcare Options
There are many options when it comes to childcare for young children. Many moms in the US take around 3 months leave after giving birth. Some may choose to work part-time or take a longer break from work while others will return to work full-time. Daycare programs provide structured routines for young children in safe settings, which actively promote socialization, helping children to bond with other adults and make friends with other kids. Going to daycare introduces children to different environments, people and ways of learning. Another option to consider is hiring a nanny or a childminder. The main benefits of this option include flexibility and one-to-one care. Some parents may also choose to get other family members or friends involved in childcare. It’s very common for grandparents to help out, for example. A poll conducted by the University of Michigan revealed that 49% of grandparents with kids under the age of 18 helped out with babysitting at least once every couple of months, with around 10% helping every day.
Exploring different childcare options is important for multiple reasons. Most parents prioritize safety and security when choosing who looks after their child or where they go to daycare or school, but it’s also important to think about educational opportunities and the chance to develop new skills, explore different environments and meet new people.
Provide Experiences
Reading and playing with toys are excellent ways to learn, but often, nothing beats real-life experiences. Young kids often love to read books about animals, for example, but they really come alive and get excited when they can see the animals they read about in stories in the flesh when visiting zoos, wildlife parks and farms. Providing experiences is an incredible way to learn, create memories and have fun together. From days out at the park or the beach and going to museums to attending light shows during the holidays or traveling to different states or countries, there are endless opportunities.
Introduce New Faces
Young children learn from the people around them. For most babies, parents are the primary educators, but as children get older, they can learn from new faces. Every person your child meets has the potential to teach them something different. Introducing your child to new people is an effective way to expand their knowledge base, help them build relationships and enable them to develop social skills. Try to spend time with friends and family members and explore local parent and child groups and baby and toddler classes in the community. Making friends is also beneficial for parents, especially during the early days when many people can feel isolated. Creating a network is helpful for both children and adults.
Repeat Activities
Children learn quickly, taking in everything around them and developing and evolving every day, but it can take time to master skills. Repeating activities is important to facilitate understanding and help young kids get to grips with skills, such as learning new words and figuring out what they mean. Read a small selection of books multiple times, sing the same songs every day as well as adding new ones to your repertoire, and keep asking the same questions to make sure your child understands concepts and words properly. If you’re reading a book together, for example, ask them to point out different objects or animals, say what things are and talk about what they do. If they need help remembering, make sure you reassure them, give them support and provide a gentle nudge or clue to help them get the answer right.
Reward Achievements and Celebrate Milestones
Children, like adults, respond positively to encouragement, recognition and praise. Rewarding achievements is a fantastic way to promote continuous learning, build confidence and help children to move onto the next goal or milestone. Celebrate successes and landmarks and try to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself or your child. Guidelines can help you monitor development, but every child is different. Don’t panic if your baby isn’t sitting up at 6 months or walking at 12 months. Seek advice if you have concerns, but remember that children develop at their own pace.
Raising children is one of the most challenging jobs, but it’s also one of the most rewarding and special. As a parent, it’s natural to want to encourage learning and development from day one. To help your kids learn, make it fun, spend time playing and reading together, explore different childcare and early education options and provide experiences. Reward achievements, celebrate milestones and introduce your child to new environments, places and faces.