Be a Creative Parent

If you think learning can only happen in a controlled environment, think again. There is often a misconception among people that a child begins to learn only when he starts going to school. Experts say a child begins to learn right from its time in the mother's womb. And for good reason too, for perhaps this is why they say keep the mother-to-be happy.

The baby continues to learn when it is born and experiences the world right from the first cry. He learns from his experiences of seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. As the child grows he learns by experimenting. Even a rattle can be a helful learning tool for the baby. If we as parents make a conscious effort to provide different experiences to our children, they become keen learners - learning from observation and experience - a skill they will benefit from throughout life. Here are a few tips to make day-to-day activities a true learning experience for your children.

Allow them to help at home

Little children always tend to tag along with you as you move from one room to another carrying out your daily tasks. Involve your children in these activities. Have them help you tidy up. They can begin with keeping away their own toys.
Get them to help you fold clothes and arrange them in the cupboards. They do tend to mess up at times and so you will need to be patient with them.
Children not only learn to keep their things organised but also learn to sort and match in a slightly crude yet enjoyable way.

Have fun with water

Playing in water is something all children love. So why not make it an enjoyable experience?
Allow them to play in their little tub for a while before their bath. Put in some rubber toys to play. If they are the squeezer ones, they enjoy it better.
Give them containers to pour. Allow them to pour from one container to another.
Have them feel warm water and cold water while in their bath.
Children learn in their own imaginable way the properties of water, objects that sink and float and even differences in temperatures.

Take them shopping

Taking children shopping can sometimes be quite taxing.
Instead of threatening them to obey or forcefully putting them on the cart, try and get them to push your trolley for you.
Use this opportunity to show them fruits and vegetables, items from the deep freezer and other groceries.
Play an identification or an I Spy game. Allow them to touch them.
Another good idea is to get them to read the names of their favourite foods like cornflakes, chocolates, biscuits and so on.
Before long you will find them reading most labels and recognising them. This not only encourages them to read but also keeps them quiet!

So the next time you feel you should send your toddler off to school to learn, look back at the possible learning experiences you can provide in your own home environment. But whatever you do make sure you do not talk down to them or instruct them all the time. Take the 'dialogue' approach and discuss with them.