Learning Tools

Children learns from baby and as they grow older, they learn the cause and effect in everything that they do. Zoos and parks are perfect kids’ learning tools because they teach about animals and nature. Learning tools do not need to be an item. Places and situations make the best lessons. Let them help in the kitchen to learn math skills. Even tidying a room teaches life skills.

The easiest way to begin understanding kids’ learning tools is by the educational toys they play with. Kids’ learning tools are simple. Look for child driven toys that can be played with in multiple ways. Like I have listed before shape sorters, building blocks, open ended games (the rules can be adjusted to fit your child’s age and level), puppets, tent, balls, musical instruments, stuffed animals, trains, cars or dolls, puzzles are toys that they needed in their toolbox.

Another example of kids’ learning tools are children's books. Books open a whole new world to children and teach them about both familiar and unfamiliar situations, people, animals and events. Make sure you to have age appropriate books. Don't expect your toddlers to treat books gently. Their curiosity may incline them to take a great book with flaps and rip them off to see what will happen. As the children begins to read, encourage this challenge with easy readers and phonics books but do not stop reading to the child. Hearing your voice and spending time together is another tool that the child will take with him forever.

Children need to express themselves. Art provides kids’ learning tools of creativity. Children will learn different ways to express ideas, appreciate the beauty of the world around them and have a fun outlet of painting, gluing, and drawing. His hand-eye coordination will also improve as he works on projects.

Teach Respect

In the Philippines, “respect” is one of the most important behaviors, parents and teachers consistently teach to children. What to expect at toddlers? As I said from my previous blog, toddlers have an oppositional behavior and teaching respect will need years of continuous teaching and practice to learn how to show it.

Listening is one of the good examples of respect. It can be hard to wait patiently for a toddler to have his say, but it’s worth it. Let them feel the respect by getting down on their level, looking at them in eye and letting them know that you are interested and you are listening of what they are telling you. It is also the best way to teach them to listen to you, when you are talking to them and by that you will gain the same respect that you show them. Don’t make them associate respect with fear by threatening smack them if they didn’t listen.

Teach them good manners by saying “please” and “thank you” to show care and respect with others. Tell them that you appreciate them when they are polite and tell them also that you don’t like it when they boss you around. Always say “thank you” and “please” not just to your kids but to others as well and they will learn that these phrases are part of normal communication to both your family and in public.

If the child is being naughty by pulling you, call you names or even hit you just to get your attention, talk to them face to face… “We do NOT hit or talk that way in this family (or in this house)”. Tell them that if they want or need something, ask it with respectful manner. “If you want me to watch a video with you, just ask me nicely. Say, ‘Daddy, can you watch a video with me?’” We cannot always ask kids to follow us, because that is normal, there are always disagreements. Remember that when the kids won’t do what you asked them, it doesn’t mean that they are disrespectful -- they just have a different opinion.

One of the best ways to show respect is to be equally kind and firm in your discipline. Kind shows respect to the child and firm shows respect for what needs to be done. If your toddlers throws tantrum in daycare center and say that they are not going in, and none of your strategies work, just stay in one place and let them until they stop. After that ask calmly if they are ready to try again, then go back to daycare center and before you leave explain that you will be back to pick them up. They will learn that tantrums will not change the fact that they are still going to their daycare center.

Praise the child when they show politeness as much as possible, by saying specifically why you praise them. “Thank you for saying please when you asked for your book” or “thank you for saying thank you to your friend for giving you a biscuit.” Be precise, so they will know what they did why you praised them and they will see that their efforts are worthwhile and appreciated.

Teach Generosity

• Toddler Battles

Some of the biggest toddler battles with both parents and friends are fought over sharing toys. This is normal because their happiness are sometimes based on their possessions. Toys are part of their comfort zones that they will not just share to anyone. Sometimes they do proto-sharing, they are willing to let their friends look or touch their possession as long as they are still holding on to it.

• Show it How

The most effective way of teaching children is by showing a good example. During snack-time, ask, "Do you want a slice of my apple? Let me share it with you." and you can also say "Daddy might also want a slice apple, let's share it with daddy. Always use the word "share", so they will learn what it means and to aware them of others' needs.

• Appreciate

When children share, even if it's proto-sharing, appreciate them by telling "I'm happy you shared your toy to me (sibling or your friend). They'll be happy too. They'll be proud of themselves for sharing and that they please you, and in time generous behavior will come out naturally.

• Set Aside

If you know that the child have this precious or new toy, and some friends are coming over for a play date. Tell the child earlier to keep it and tell the child that they can keep it because it is special to them, but explain that all other toys will be for all to play and share.

• Avoid Punishment

Don't make such a big fuss if your child didn't share. Let them know, gently, that you are disappointed. Tell them "maybe next time you are ready to share". Remember that it is normal. ;)

• Learn from Friends

They will learn as well to share from friends. Try not to get involve with every little battle over toys. They will learn to compromise when their playmates go away because of their selfish behavior.

• Time and Support

Try to be patient, if sharing remains a difficulty for your child. Look for the reasons behind this behavior, as I have said before, they maybe possessive of this precious thing because of he feels secure with it. Give them all the love, time and support that they need to work through it and keep the sharing lessons for later.

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