Making Learning Fun
I was a high school math teacher in another life and loved it. I personally love doing math but also understand that not everyone shares my enthusiasm.
So much about teaching is learning people, how they learn, and what motivates them.
Some of the most difficult students to teach are the ones who decided a long time ago that they just ‘aren’t good’ at math or they consider themselves dumb. They gave up before the year even began.
When I had kids I was determined to make learning fun from a very young age. So today I am sharing a little about my mindset when it comes to learning and then some practical ways I implement learning into our daily lives.
Around my daughter’s first birthday I started doing flash cards and books with her. We started doing 15 minutes of learning time together each day and it was a great way to bond together. She is now six and we still love to sit down and learn together.
My daughter is doing a university model for Kindergarten. She attends school Tuesday & Thursday and I teach her at home the other three days. I love that I get to be involved in her education.
My son just turned two and is wired much different than my daughter. He is on the move 24/7 and is a lot less verbal at this age than my daughter was. I have needed to find a different approach to learning time with him because he does not enjoy sitting still so we learn through movement.
My Personal goal for teaching Toddlers
- Create an atmosphere for learning.
- Teach them to sit and focus for a few moments at a time then gradually build the amount of time.
- Teach them that learning is fun.
I think it is also important to note that it is not about the results. Most of the time, there is little to show for your effort. But be comforted in the fact that your children are absorbing it all even if they are unable to show it outwardly yet.
Tips for learning time during the toddler Years
- Keep learning fun. There is zero need to put any pressure on your kids at this stage of their lives. Keep things fresh and try lots of different activities. Next week, I will be sharing lots of resources for toddler learning fun.
- Keep learning constantly. There is a lot of dead time with your kids. Use it. Stuck in the car at a red light? Play eye spy. Look for colors and shapes and letters. They’re all around you. Waiting at a restaurant for your food to come? Have your bag stocked with a book and coloring supplies. While you’re on family walks, talk about what you see and God’s amazing creation. Create space for curiosity and exploration.
- Keep your expectations realistic. Remember every child is different. Do not compare. Some days are better than others. If your child is not feeling it that day, that’s ok. Move on and try again tomorrow. You want learning to be fun and the moment it is not, it is time to find a new activity.
Whether you stay home with your children full time or work outside of the home, spending 15-30 minutes a day with your kids is very doable. It should be an easy going bonding time not a structured situation. Learn together. It is so fun to see how quickly they soak up knowledge. Next week, we’ll talk about specific activities and I will share some of my favorite products.