Your Learning Child

Some experts believe that learning begins before birth. Talking to your baby while he's still in the womb enhances the expectation of parenthood and helps you bond with your baby at an early stage. After birth, your child learns when he acquires new experiences and information that shape his personality, abilities and actions.
 

Learning at Age-2

By his second birthday, you will find your learning child becoming something of a 'super helper'. He will want to get involved in the chores you do, thinking everything's a game. Enjoy it and praise lavishly when he picks up toys or puts things in their places for you.

Constructive learning opportunities include sorting clothes by color while saying the color word many times. Also, show your learning child different uses for the same things, e.g. using a spoon for digging and eating.
 

Learning at Age-3

At around age 3, he'll transform into a 'butterfly', flitting about to make friends with adults and children alike. Mostly using three to four word sentences, he has something to say about many things.

This is the time when true conversations begin with your little one. Use these moments to also act out and recite rhymes, sing counting songs and read favorite stories (letting your child fill in frequent words). Go on walks and look at insects, sticks or interesting rocks. Talk about everything you see and explain how things change over time.
 

Learning at Age-4

By his fourth birthday, the 'questioner' in your learning child will awaken. Prepare for the barrage of questions: "'Will it grow? Where does it go? How come? Can I see? Where can we go? How does it work? Why? Why? Why?" He now speaks in longer sentences, uses "I" correctly, knows his full name and those of everyone in your family, and lots more.

So competent, he loves feeling in control. So, let him make choices (like what book to read or TV program to watch), join him in any kind of arts and crafts, and say silly things, only to let him catch your 'mistakes'. Also, talk about feelings a lot - his and yours.
 

Learning during Pre-school Years

When your learning child enters pre-school, he will be ready for the challenges of complicated toys, books and adventures. In time, he can confidently identify basic colors and basic shapes; count from memory; express complicated ideas; make up wonderful stories (sometimes confusing make-believe with the truth); and speak clearly, except for some hard-to-pronounce sounds.

You will be amazed at how much your child has learned and accomplished in so little time. Your little 'expert' will certainly remind you of his accomplishments. However, he still needs you to help him along with activities like having him act out made-up stories with mom and dad as audience and providing times to spend with other children the same age. Since your learning child is just starting to reason things out, be patient and accept the notions he insists are right, however strange they may be.

By the time your child enters primary school, he should be a relatively independent person. Keep talking with him and he will keep sharing his experiences with you - what he learns, how he's doing in school, the friends he's made, his ideas about things and his feelings.

Once you made yourself a part of his growing up; now he makes you part of his life. This is one of the greatest privileges and rewards of positive parenting.
 

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