It Is Never Too Early to Learn
It is official … I am the old mom. This is evident to me every day at preschool drop off where it feels I am the only woman without a baby Bjorn, a bucket car seat or a belly bump. Usually, my twins are the only ones putting up a fight, literally rolling on the ground outside the classroom. I can only imagine the other moms are thinking, “Wow, five kids, you would’ve thought she’d have it figured out by now.” No such luck. But, I do feel I have some veteran mom knowledge to impart.
The boys, who turned three a couple of months ago, want to read and learn about big numbers. They ask questions incessantly about “How many this?” and “What starts with ‘R’?” My third child was the same, curious to the point of annoyance. Rather than blow off this inquisitiveness, I did my best to respond and encourage. It wasn’t always easy, and in weak moments I did resort to my this-conversation-has-to-end answer. “Because God made it that way.” My goal was never to advance her academically, but to help foster her natural love of learning. She went to Kindergarten reading and is now a lover of books, an inquisitive kid and a well-rounded student. I will take some of the credit for this. Lord knows, I take all the bad credit for any of their less than admirable traits.
Whether you have a curious child or just want to promote early fundamentals, here are five tips which work for me.
1. Let them dial your phone. Kids love to push buttons and no matter how many toys they have, they will show more interest in your stuff. Teach them their numbers by letting them “help” you.
2. Get The Letter Factory on DVD. This is hands down the best learning video I have come across. If your child is into letters, he or she will watch this one over and over. On walks and in the car, I sing the song with them. It’s pretty catchy, and if you have seen the video, you know how useful it can be.
3. You don’t have to set specific time aside. Show them things and ask them questions as much as possible. When driving, point out shapes, colors and letters. In the kitchen, talk about what your are doing. Show them the numbers on the measuring cup. Challenge them with questions like, “I need to use three eggs. I already broke two. How many more do I need?” Spell the things you use. Just hearing you say, “Cup. C-U-P. Cup.” will plant the seed that words are made of letters.
4. Read to your kids as often as you can. Yes, you may have read the same book over and over and over and … Do it again and try — I know it is hard — to do it with enthusiasm each time. The repetition is essential for word recognition. Point to common words and say them slowly. See if he can point out words like “the” “and” “I” and “but”. If you don’t yet have school-aged kids, these are called sight words and mastering them is a great foundation. Your child does not need to know how to sound these out, just to recognize them.
5. Do not underestimate your toddlers. Everything is new to them. There is little difference between learning the word “watermelon” and the word “exceptional”. You can speak to them as you would speak to an older child, just be prepared to answer the follow up questions, like, “What’s esseptional?”
I don’t drill my children with information, but I do speak to them about things and concepts others may think are beyond their understanding. I don’t demand their interest, but I do encourage and respond to their curiosity — at least on the days I am not really tired. This old mom may not know much, but I do know this precious time, when they are little sponges, is short. Before you know it, the little kid who thinks you have all the answers will be the big kid who thinks you know nothing. The truth, of course, lies somewhere in the middle.
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