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Studies claim that the door to a child's learning abilities should be opened within the first three years of life. Children, even infants, are always learning by listening and observing the people and objects around them. Children have a natural curiosity and try to mimic or repeat things that they hear. If you want your child to be an avid learner, you, as the parent, need to be an avid teacher from early on. How does a parent go about teaching a small child? The first thing you can do is talk to your child and read to them. Children learn to speak by listening and trying to imitate the sounds. The more often you talk you child or read to your child, the more opportunities they will have to learn and repeat the words.
Several studies have shown that the best way to teach your child to read at an early age is for you to begin reading to them at an early age, from infancy. What other ways can you get your young child interested in learning? Young children, especially of the preschool age, are more interested in playing and having fun than they are sitting down to learn something, The best way to teach them is though play. There are several ways to help your preschool child learn while still having fun.
1. Using Rhymes
Young children may not have the attention span to follow a detailed story. However, most children enjoy the melody of rhymes. Dr. Suess books are a favorite of most children. They are simple to understand and use silly, rhyming words and phrases to teach colors, shapes and numbers. You can use these types of books to grab a young child's interest in reading and in learning.
2. Songs and Music
Children also enjoy songs and music, and can be taught with these methods. Children have been singing the ABC song and the Ten Little Indians song for ages. Popular TV programs like Barney, Sesame Street and The Tele-Tubbies use music and songs to entertain while teaching. Teach your children these learning songs, they will be learning without even realizing it, they just thought they were singing! Singing is also a good way to help build a child's memory skills. They will want to learn the song so they can sing in themselves.
3. Encourage Creativity
Encourage your child to be creative. You can get the creative juices flowing at an early age with the use of silly putty, Play-Doh, clay, crayons, paints, and markers. Using paints, crayons and markers not only teaches a child to use his creativity, it teaches them dexterity, how to hold and use the pencils and crayons. Silly Putty, Play-Doh and clay also teaches a child coordination by urging them to use their hands, eyes and their mind to create an object.
4. Answer Questions
We all know how youngsters love to ask questions! Why? How? Where? Indulge them! Use their curiosity as a teaching tool. To get them interested in a subject, trying asking them a question about the topic. For example, if you want to teach them the colors, you could say, "Do you know what color you shirt is?" Instead of trying to tell them something that they didn't necessarily want to know, you have gotten them interested and willing to play along.
5. Games
Children of all ages love games. You can use board games, computer games or games that you made up, to teach your preschool children new things. Playing board games will also teach them patience, they will have to wait their turn to roll the dice or move their game piece. Sportsmanship can also be taught with board games. Life skills including patience and sportsmanship are taught just as counting and ABC's are taught.
You can use these methods or many others to get your preschooler interested in learning. Getting them onto the path of learning at a young age will help develop good habits throughout their learning years. Your child's personality will help determine what learning method works best for them. If your child likes to draw and color, use that as a method of teaching. If music and songs get their interest, incorporate that into a way to teach them. With a bit of patience and practice, you will be able to lead your child down the path to a lifetime of fun and learning!
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