Look around. Everywhere, there are letters and numbers, and shapes of all different sizes and colors. While we might take these for granted, our kids don’t – in fact, they are just beginning to learn about all our world has to offer. Why not take the time to make everyday learning opportunities for your toddler or preschooler?

Learning Opportunities at the Grocery

Learning opportunities exist everywhere – you just have to find them. For example, a trip to the grocery store can provide a chance to teach a young one about tastes, colors, textures, shapes, sizes, colors and more. Choose a cart or a basket – how are they different? Are they the same size or color? Which one has wheels? Which one is heavier?

Sizes & Shapes

In the produce section, compare two apples – is one larger than the other? More round? More red (or green or yellow)? What does the display sign say? If apples are sold by weight, select two and weigh them on the scale. If sold in quantities, count out with your child how many you want to buy.

Texture

Compare the textures of various fruits. Kiwi are covered with a brown, fur like skin; avocados are black and bumpy. Bananas are yellow and smooth. See if your child can identify the colors or shapes. Think about buying a selection of fruits for an at-home taste test to compare the insides’ colors, textures and tastes.

Take a stroll to the deli counter and compare the types of cheese, deli meats, etc. (Be sure to ask the nice person behind the counter for a sample for the little one!) Look at the names of the various items and compare them.

Counting

At the checkout, count out the items as you place them on the conveyor. How many oranges are you buying? Grapes? Gallons of milk? What colors are displayed on the conveyor? You can also talk to your child about the types of bags we use to carry groceries home, such as paper, plastic and re-usable, and their affect on the environment.

Learning opportunities for little ones are all around us. Take a few minutes during your next trip to the supermarket to explore our diverse world and talk about it with your little one.

It’s exciting when kids start saying words. My daughter was an early talker, and combined with her petite stature we got plenty of amazed stares when she would speak to people in public. My son also had the propensity toward learning longer words a lot faster than other kids his age. At an early age he once told a lady that something was “enormous” and when she looked at him with a shocked face he sympathetically said, “That means big.”

Despite their early verbal skills, I still worried that maybe they weren’t learning how to speak exactly as they should. I think most parents do like I did; they alternate between being incredibly proud of their kids’ new speaking skills, yet worry that any little thing may be an indicator that there is something cognitively wrong with their kids’ learning ability. Yes, it’s normal to worry about these things, so don’t beat yourself up if you find yourself hypervigilant.

What is Generalization?

Let me help you with one thing you may be worried about when your child starts talking: generalization. This is the term that is used to describe how many young children label things in lumps. For example, all four legged animals might be labeled “cat” by your child, or every woman may be declared  “Momma.” Most kiddos do this when they are first learning to talk, and not only is it completely normal but it’s expected.

This is simply one of the ways that young kids use what they already know about the world to interpret new things they experience. Think about it; if you encountered something new you had never seen before, you would probably try to relate it to something else you already know in an attempt to understand it. Young children just don’t have as extensive a history in world experiences, so the generalizations will seem more, well, generalized.

So if your new talker declares a horse to be a cow or a desk to be a table, don’t fret. It’s just another one of the many verbal and cognitive steps your brilliant child will go through.

Ask me to recite just about any Dr. Seuss book (or Fancy Nancy, or Eric Carle) and I’ll probably be able to do it from memory. Do you want to know the lyrics to a Veggie Tales song? How about the Imagination Movers? It’s all stored in my head, and I don’t think it’s ever going to get purged.

Once my kids find something they like, whether it’s a certain book, song or movie, they never seem to grow tired of it. I know this is fairly common among babies and children, and I also know that it helps the kids learn. I get it, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

I’ve been reading the same Diego book every night for the past couple of weeks. The suspense as to whether Diego will indeed save the baby sea turtles has long since been lost on me, but every time we read it my kids sit in hushed anticipation to find out what happens next. I’ve also had They Might Be Giants: 123 in my car’s CD player for a straight week now, and any time I change it I get a stern tongue-lashing from my kids in the back seat who want their music back.

I keep reading Diego and keep listening to They Might Be Giants in the car because I know that the kids love them. I also know that it won’t be long before they get passionate about a different book or CD, and although we’ll undoubtedly read the book over and over and listen to the CD over and over, it will also pass someday soon.

Besides, every so often I do manage to talk them into trying something different and they actually take to it. They were initially iffy about the Olivia books but now they love them, and I saw some scowls when I first slipped a swing CD into the stereo at home but now they dance like crazy when I turn the music on while I cook.

Repetition is a necessary evil, I’m afraid, but it could be a lot worse. At least my kids pick music I enjoy and books that are clever. I don’t know what I would do if their music of choice was something horrible and I was stuck in the car along with two kids who like singing along with vigor.

It’s finally spring, and if you’re looking for an outdoor activity that both you and your kids will enjoy, head outdoors. Whether it’s your own backyard or in a local park, go out and enjoy the spring weather. And while you’re at it, make it a learning experience for both you and the kids with the Arbor Day Foundation’s new pocket guide to tree identification.

“What Tree is That?” is a 164 page guidebook that’s small enough to fit into your pocket or bag. Written and illustrated by the Arbor Day Foundation, the guide provides a step by step approach to identify 250 common North American trees, with beautiful illustrations that kids can easily compare with the tree in question. Trees are identified by answering a series of questions, much in the same way as a choose-your-own-adventure book. Beginning with the leaves or needles, the yes or no answers to the questions walk you through the identification process. There are also various “clues” and explanations sprinkled throughout the book that help to enrich the process and teach kids about the various parts of trees. For example, did you know that the proper term for those little brown winged fruits that drop to the ground from many maple trees in the springtime are actually named samaras? We always called them spinners or helicopters, and would throw them up in the air just to watch them come fluttering back down.

If you want to check the book out first, the Web site has a free interactive “What Tree is That?” section for the Eastern, Central and Western United States. Click on your region, then answer a few easy yes or no questions to identify the trees in your neighborhood or right outside your door. It’s a great way to get the kids involved in a fun activity that everyone can take part in.

There’s also a glossary of tree terms and an animated tutorial that teaches identifying characteristics, such as leaves, seeds, and fruits – handy for the budding arborist in your family.

Arbor Day falls on April 24th this year and is an excellent excuse to go outside and enjoy nature. Why not get the kids together and plant a tree or two, whether it’s in your own backyard or part of a community tree planting project? It’s great for not only the environment but for our own health as well.

I came across an interesting quiz this morning from Dream Box, the same company I reviewed not too long ago for their online math games.  I liked the games they offered online, so I figured the parenting style quiz might be fun to take.

The quiz is designed for parents of school-aged kids, but it wasn’t difficult to apply the questions to scenarios I encounter with my young children.  The quiz asked a series of questions about what I would do in certain instances.  If my child wanted a puppy, what would I say? If my child wanted to try out for a very competitive team, how would I react? I couldn’t help but laugh at one question that asked me what I would do if my child wanted to leave the house wearing a mismatched outfit; you would know why I was laughing if you saw what my daughter left the house wearing on her way to preschool this morning.  I try not to stifle her creativity, but I really wish I had a shirt for me that said something along the lines of My Kids Dress Themselves.

So I took the quiz and apparently I’m a “Mentor.”  That means that I try to prepare my kids for lifelong learning.  That sounds about right, but then to make things a little more interesting I retook the quiz and answered the questions with the opposite of what I would do.  It turns out that I am not a “Historian” parent, or one who refers to life experiences as a way to discipline.

I think there is a larger lesson here.  There’s no concrete way to have the perfect parenting style.  A lot depends on the parents, the kids and the circumstances.  I don’t think there is any combination of answers that would have made the quiz results say something along the lines of, “Wow, you really are a horrible parent!” Maybe I’m a Mentor and maybe you’re a Historian, but the fact remains that we love our kids madly and that’s the most important thing.

Go to this link if you want to take the quiz, Dream Box Learning Quiz.

Apparently, it’s not because they want to make us tear out our hair.  Researchers at  the University of Colorado have been studying toddlers and older children, and they’ve decided that toddlers just don’t think the way adults and older children do.

Toddlers live in the present, as the parent of any toddler knows very well. Only what’s happening right now matters to a two or three year old. Trying to explain to a toddler that if they can’t leave their current dollhouse project soon, then there won’t be enough time to go to the park before dinner, is an exercise in futility.

So why can’t toddlers understand that there will be consequences of their actions? Or that what happens now affects what happens in the future? And why don’t they believe us when we say that yes, they really do need their coat on or they will be cold outside?

The researchers aren’t really sure, and they don’t have much helpful advice in getting your toddler to put their coat on. It’s part of the brain’s development process, and gradually children learn to consider what will happen in the future. And then they turn into adults and spend too much time stressing about the future.

But right now, I guess us parents just have to appreciate that our little ones just don’t have a grasp of planning for the future. When we ask our toddlers to do something, we are often asking them to think about something that is going to happen, and toddlers find that very difficult or impossible to understand. And that’s why they can be so resistant or uncooperative when we tell them not to put their fingers in the door hinge or they will get squashed.

We’ve been reading a lot about the importance of DHA as “brain food” for children and adults, alike, but what exactly is DHA?

DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is an essential Omega-3 fatty acid found naturally in foods like salmon, tuna and other coldwater fish, as well as flax and pumpkin seeds. Most children and toddlers’ diets (not to mention many adults’ diets) lack sufficient quantities of these foods, which is why trusted pediatrician Dr. Sears recommends adding a DHA supplement to your child’s diet.

When the body lacks essential Omega-3 fatty acids, the cells try to build “replacement fatty acids,” which are similar in function but may cause depression and Attention Deficit Disorder. A diet rich in DHA lowers the blood level of these replacement fatty acids and also of harmful fats such as cholesterol.

So how did DHA earn its reputation as “brain food?” According to Dr. Sears, DHA is the primary structural component of brain tissue, as well as an important part of the enzymes within cell membranes that allow the membranes to transport valuable nutrients in and out of the cells. DHA also affects the brain’s neurotransmitters, and helps brain cells communicate with each other more effectively. Simply put, a healthy brain is a smart brain!

A diet rich in DHA has been shown to improve focus, behavior and cognitive function, and even increase learning capacity in young children. Children who are more focused and can concentrate better also tend to remain in better moods longer — less tantrums and more time to play, study and learn!

DHA also helps vision development because the retina contains a high concentration of the fatty acid. Improved vision development also leads to greater learning capabilities, since the eyes are such important tools in education.

When the body has enough DHA, the brain can function at its highest capacity. This is especially important in infants and toddlers, because brains grow more rapidly in the first few years than at any other time of life. Evidence shows that the increased academic performance of breast-fed children is due, at least in part, to the DHA-rich diet breast milk provides. Breast milk contains DHA for growing infants, and most infant formula today is fortified with DHA. But toddlers don’t receive DHA from these sources, which is why a supplement is important. Dr. Sears offers a variety of vitamin products to insure that your child is getting enough of the crucial fatty acid.

Dr. Sears’ specially-developed Go Fish Brainy Kidz Omega-3 DHA natural fruit-based soft chews contain optimal levels of DHA for improved brain function. Each soft chew contains 100 mg of DHA and is certified by Safe Source ™ to be free of detectable levels of over 250 environmental contaminants, including mercury, heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs and pesticides. The pediatrician-developed, kid-approved, tasty vitamin supplements are all-natural and do not contain any high-fructose corn syrup.

I started my daughter out on computer games very early. She had a huge affection for all things Elmo, so once I discovered the online Elmo games I was pleased to share them with her. It’s no surprise that now at five years old she can navigate most websites designed for kids and she’s a big fan of spending some quiet time on the computer. Although I do limit how much time she spends on there, most of the time I would rather she did something interactive with a computer game instead of plopping down in front of the television.

I signed up for a free two week trial at Dream Box Learning and ran through the games there myself first to see if it was anything my daughter might enjoy. Since the math games on this site are designed for older kids – around kindergarten to second grade – I didn’t know if it would be above her head. I didn’t want to present her with something that would frustrate her.

To my delight, the games were just right for her age group. Here are the things I really liked about this particular website’s games:

1. You sign in to play, so if you have to quit abruptly or you lose your Internet connection the game goes right back to where you left off when you return and sign back in.
2. There is an option to sign in as the adult so you can try out all the games without altering your child’s scores.
3. There are lots of additional resources for parents to look through and the system tracks the child’s progress as games are played.
4. The animation is appealing, but certainly not “babyish.”
5. The system logs how much cumulative time players have spent playing the game.

I presented the game to my daughter and she was immediately enamored. She loves learning and she loves math, so this game was a perfect fit for her. To my surprise, my younger son likes watching her play, so even though he isn’t old enough to indulge in the game I think he might be getting something out of it too.

I give this online game a big thumbs up. If you have preschoolers then you should check it out and let your kids give it a try.

Most people refrain from certain behaviors once they have children, such as swearing, talking about people behind their backs, or otherwise distasteful or impolite behavior. But sometimes it’s not just the words that you say in front of your kids that they might pick up on it’s what you do.

As our daughter has reached toddler age, she has also begun to notice all of the little behaviors and mannerisms my husband and I have both good and bad. Not only does she mimic us when we do certain good things, such as putting our hands to our mouth when we cough and repeating us saying “Bless you,” to someone when they sneeze, but she also will let out an exaggerated sigh when we ask her to do something that she does not want to do. The other day, I had to kill a spider on the wall. Spiders make me jumpy as it is, and having to squish one is definitely not one of my favorite things to do. So I took a deep breath, grabbed a paper towel, and smashed him, squealing in distaste as his life was put to an end. My daughter, of course, witnessed the whole thing, and immediately jumped around the room, saying, “Eeew! Eeew!” Cute, but a good reminder of just how much she sees.

Seeing yourself mirrored in the innocent behaviors of a toddler can be unnerving, to say the least. Suddenly your own bad behavior or traits that you don’t like about yourself are not only being scrutinized by little eyes, but are being acted out as well.

The bright side to this is that she is a little sponge, absorbing every last drop of learning that she can, through our actions and our words. I just wish sometimes that she could be a little more selective about what she chooses to remember and not have to remember Mommy shrieking as she kills a spider.

Recently I was at the library with my older children and noticed that they were offering an infant story time program. The infant program was geared, according to the flyer, for infants up to 18 months of age.

I have to admit that I never took my older children to a story time program until they were about three years of age, but my son is such a social child and loves activity! I decided to try it.

Today, he went to his very first story time session. For most of the half hour session, he sat on my lap and truly wasn’t very interested in the story other than for a few seconds. What did interest him was all the other children! He spent a lot of time just watching them. During the music time, he shook his rattle and screamed with delight. He put the paper bear cutouts in his mouth instead of putting them on the paper during the craft time, but I expected as much.

He played in the toy area alongside of a few of the children who attended the story time session and smiled at some of the parents. He chewed on some of the books which seemed to make him very happy.

After story time, we rode the elevator a few times as he loves elevators and pressing buttons. He cried when it was time to go home which surprised me.

I have to admit, I had my doubts about taking a child so young to an organized activity at the library. After seeing how much he really enjoyed the whole experience, I believe that we’ll be attending every week so he can socialize with his peers. Well, socialize as much as a child of his age is able to socialize anyway. I also got to meet and mingle with some of the parents who attended with their children. That’s definitely an added bonus.

Of course, one of the best parts about the story time program? It’s free.

If you are looking for educational outing opportunities for your child, I’d encourage you to check out your local library to see if they offer such programs. I am glad that I did!

Up until a few years ago, I have been very against allowing my children to watch television. I never purchased movies for my oldest daughter who is now fourteen until she had reached age four. While television programs for children had come a long way from my childhood, I was still skeptical of so called ?educational television? and DVDs.

Today I had a chance to review a Baby Einstein DVD. Rather, I should say that my children had a chance to review it. I allowed this because thanks to advances in educational programming, children are learning more from DVDs and television than in years past. I must admit, I am glad I popped this into the player. Recipient of an American Baby Best of The Year Award, it has been voted as a product moms say they can?t live without. After viewing it with my children, I can agree!

Baby Einstein, Baby?s First Sounds-Discoveries for Little Ears is a fun, lighthearted DVD for babies aged 6 months and up. The program introduces little ones to sounds, the basic sounds of speech that we use everyday. ?Ah?, ?buh?, ?duh?, ?ee?, and ?mm?. Each sound is then connected to a simple word, easy for the child to understand especially if they are older than the 6 months stated as beginning age. My youngest child is eighteen months, but he loved every minute of this DVD. I was pleasantly surprised to watch and hear my little man imitating the sounds on this DVD. Unlike his sister who is 3 years old, he has not been using words strung together. He says one word at a time with some trouble on certain sounds. Key sounds being reinforced in a fun way with puppets, songs, and rhymes seemed to have a great impact on him.

His older sister, my 6 year old happens to be autistic and has some problems with certain sounds, much like her younger brother. She also enjoyed copying the sounds during the run of the DVD. For parents of children with special needs, I highly recommend the Baby Einstein, Baby?s First Sounds DVD. It appeals to children who love simple scenes and repetition.

The DVD is divided into 13 scenes, each accompanied by a song, sonata, or quartet. Most of the classical music is Mozart which has been suggested to help with intelligence development. Music is enjoyed by nearly all children, regardless of the impact on their I.Q. and this DVD has plenty of it for them.

Four bonus features are included, including a sneak peek at another DVD, Einstein Pals.

A great way to get your kids to eat their vegetables (and meat, and anything else they might turn their sweet little noses up at) is to have them help out in the kitchen.

But when you?re trying to get dinner on the table, sometimes it seems easier to just do it yourself and keep the kids on the sidelines. However, this can eliminate a valuable opportunity to not only bond with your kids, but also to take part in a great learning opportunity for them. By helping out in the kitchen, kids can learn a variety of skills, including math skills (measurements, addition, subtraction), science (mixing and chemical reactions, cooking, boiling) and hands-on opportunities to create something.

This article has some tips on age-appropriate tasks that children can complete in the kitchen. It?s written by a children?s cooking teacher, and the handy tables might be helpful for the next time you make a meal and want the kids to help.

Every new mom knows that it is important for a child’s toy to multi-task. It must be safe, stimulating, interesting, mind expanding and attention holding to name a few of these tasks. It is also important for A child to be introduced to the right toy at the right time as toys that are too simple will bore a baby and toys that are too complex can frustrate them. Here is a few tips I have compiled for new moms to help when shopping and picking toys that will be just right for your little one.

The most important factor in choosing a toy for your little one is knowing your child’s personality and likes and dislikes. Because babies can not communicate verbally, often times it can be a little difficult for a new mom to determine a baby’s mood. This takes a little practice and each child is different, but you find after spending some quality time with them and observing them in different situations this becomes second nature. When giving a new toy to a child don’t be disappointed if you don’t get an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response, a baby may need to see a toy a number of times before they begin warming up to it. Also it’s good not to present too many toys or simulation at once as it may overwhelm and confuse your child.

Another good thing to do is to check the age recommended on the toy. Most baby companies will put the recommended age that the toy is targeted for on the box or labeling as well as simple instruction on how to get the best value from the toy. You can also check the internet and the companies sites for more information and support. Before buying an expensive item it is good practice to check online to see if there has been a safety recall for it. Sometimes companies release toys before realizing that there may be a health hazard involved, and it is always good to keep a close eye on your child whenever anything new is introduced to watch for allergic reactions or any other sorts of dangers.

Set an example for your child. As you may know or begin to notice, the first lessons a baby learns are learned by observing and imitating you. Everything from the way that you move your mouth when speaking and eating to the way you react to something he or she does. If a baby sees you dancing or swaying to the music, after too long your baby will want to be swaying and dancing along with you! If your baby is very young start slowly and show the child how the toy works a few times, and then follow with helping them to do the same action. Even if your child is not able to play with the toy by themselves, it will give them an example of how it should be played with and encourage them to practice reaching for it themselves.

Actively encourage and reward your child with smiles, kisses and touch for correctly imitating you and for putting their best effort in. Never discourage or yell at a child for not being able to do something, every movement is a learned action and it may take some time before they can reach their toy-centered goals. Also give your child some solo-time with the toy to help them practice the skill without immediate supervision, but make sure that if your child is becoming frustrated that you move on to a new activity or area of play to prevent them from being discouraged and getting upset.

Bright colors and varied textures are also very good for a baby’s development. These multi-colored and interesting toys help the baby to focus on small details and further set up a catalog in their minds of different sorts of patterns and textures. Very young children may not recognize their toys immediately but over time a child will begin to recognize and show ownership and want for a familiar entertaining toy. If your child has become particularly attached to a toy it is sometimes a good idea to either buy another one in case it is lost, or to buy a toy that is similar in a different color or style. The child will enjoy a similar toy because it is a familiar action but at the same time a different change from the usual.

In the long run, only you know best. Keep in mind that every child is different and the act of child-raising is not a perfect science. Be attentive to your child and their actions and soon you will find that play time is both you and her favorite time of the day. Children learn through playing, so help your child to expand their horizons and take time to play play play! You’ll be happy you did!

It may seem intuitive, but a study from the Netherlands suggests that screening of toddler’s language abilities, and early intervention by speech and language therapists for children who performed poorly, dramatically reduced the number of children placed in special education schools by over 30%. Early screening also seemed to improve all the children’s spelling and speech skills.

Seems obvious? But this is the first study of its kind. Any move to introduce to formal screening for all children between 15 months and 2 years in this country would only be likely after further studies, it’s probable the government would want to have evidence from children who speak mainly English, rather than Dutch, as their native language.

What can you do to improve your baby, or toddler’s language skills? Talk to your baby, tell her what you are doing when you are bathing, dressing, playing with her, talk when you are cooking, driving and tell her what you are putting in the shopping cart at the supermarket. Speak clearly with simple words and sentences, but not baby talk. Every time she hears a new word, or a familiar word used in a new way, it will stimulate the language part of her brain. Read to your baby. Sing to her. And listen when she talks to you. Even if you don’t know what ba ba ga ha means, to your baby she’s having a conversation, and to her, what she’s saying is as meaningful as what you are saying, so listen and respond.

If you are worried about her language, talk to her pediatrician.

The Dutch researchers caution that screening at an early age can also make parents worry unnecessarily, as toddlers develop language at different speeds and have a very wide range of what’s normal. At one year, my son said Ba, and Da, and Brum Brum to his trucks. It was disconcerting to hear my friend’s 12-month-old say Hat, and Doggie, and Juice, with perfect clarity. But 8 months later, he’s chattering away like your average 20-month-old.

Try not to compare your child to others. If he seems behind it’s likely he’s working on other things like motor skills, or he’s learning colors, or developing social skills. He’s probably building up his vocabulary internally and in a few weeks or months he’ll suddenly start talking away and be equivalent to his peers before you know it.

So what if you are worried about your child’s language development? Talk to your child’s pediatrician. It’s likely your baby or toddler is perfectly normal, but if there is a problem, diagnosing and treating it early will maximize the chance of it being resolved before they start school.

Have you had any experience with language, hearing and speech screening or therapy? Do you think routine screening for all toddlers is a good idea or is it unnecessary intervention?

Learning Through Senses ? The Key To A Child’s Development

(NC)?The first few years of a child’s life are full of new and exciting experiences that are absorbed like a sponge through the five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. From birth, newborns are bombarded with a busy world that they must learn to master. It is the senses that pave the way for a child’s development throughout his or her life.

“From birth, parents must choose toys and learning tools for their child that are fun and enjoyable to play with and that also foster sensorial growth to ensure a more complete development process,” says Dr. Kathleen Alfano, leading child Researcher and Director of the Fisher-Price Child Research Department.

A baby can start to develop hand-eye coordination, watch moving objects and be able to distinguish color and form within the first few months. Toys that will help develop these skills include the Peek-A-Blocks line from Fisher-Price – a creative and fun alternative to classic building blocks. Different series of these clear, stackable blocks are filled with everything from cute animals to fun shapes and foster the development of different senses. Touch Sensations blocks are made of different textures for baby to explore and Sound Sensations include blocks that ring and squeak.

Finding toys that will stimulate a few senses at a time are also helpful in sensory development, as a child will have to learn that in most situations, combining senses are crucial to perception. The Winnie The Pooh 1, 2, 3 Exploring Tree from Fisher-Price will keep a baby engaged and captivated from the time he/she can sit up to the time he/she can stand. Along the base, basic infant activities nurture hand-eye coordination, while Winnie The Pooh sits atop the tree among a flurry of soft, bright butterflies.

Introducing a baby to sounds, bright colors and action-based toys will make playtime more fun and enjoyable and is a good way to enhance a child’s creative abilities and imagination from an early age, teaching him/her to unlock the wonder and excitement of the world around them by simply making “sense” of it.

- News Canada

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How Children Learn

Nurture and Teach
The single most important thing caregivers can do for a child is provide a nurturing environment. By doing this, we influence children?s brain development and their ability to learn. Introducing nurtured children to learning opportunities every day will help them become happy, well-adjusted adults. In all stages of child development, each experience builds on the one before it. The most basic foundations can serve as the basis for the comprehension of more complex ideas in future years.

Learning Begins at Birth
We are born with billions of brain cells ? in fact, all we will ever have. What is missing is a large amount of connections ? synapses ? between those brain cells. Synapses start developing based on a child?s experiences. Children?s brains develop faster from birth to age three than any other time; and more learning takes place during this time than any other. The more learning opportunities parents provide for their children from birth until school age, the more synapses are made. The connections will serve as a pool of knowledge for a child to access in later years.

Because children?s earliest experiences affect how they will think, learn and behave, helping children learn from birth to school age is a crucial activity. Parents and other caregivers can create a strong foundation for learning by providing a nurturing and rich learning environment from the very beginning.

Children Seek Learning Experiences
Not only do children need to be physically active, it is their nature to look for opportunities to learn. They participate in learning by using their senses and asking countless questions in order to more fully understand the task at hand.

Creating a Learning Environment
Children enjoy learning when they can master an activity. Begin with a simple task and expand or complicate it after your child has enjoyed some successes.

Create a safe and secure learning environment. This will help children do their best learning rather than distract them. Key to creating this environment is treating your child with respect and caring.

Where Do Children Learn?
Children learn everywhere from school to the doctor?s office to the grocery store. As do adults, children learn from interacting with others and watching their parents? behavior. Kids are highly influenced by the people in their lives, especially adults who they are close to.

Not All Children Learn in the Same Way
In the book Frame of Mind, Howard Gardner described his theory of multiple intelligences. We all have a certain way we prefer to learn. The seven multiple intelligences Gardner points to are interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, logical-mathematical and linguistic. We have the most success teaching our children when we can recognize their style of learning (as well as our style of teaching) and incorporate activities accordingly.

Playing and Learning
The main way children collect and process information is through play. Play is the repetition that reinforces old skills and encourages new ones. Because play is enjoyable, children?s minds are open. Children are capable of much learning through play because they are very receptive and relaxed. Take advantage of this benefit and select activities that are fun and educational. Your children will learn, and you will both enjoy the experience.

About The Author
Shelley Ruiz is a homeschooling parent and the owner of Magic Lark Learning which provides parents and teachers with resources for making learning fun, including a free quarterly online journal of poems and stories for kids. anything@magiclarklearning.com.