Entering toddlerhood
Toddlerhood is an age that can be as entertaining as it is exhausting for parents. It is especially at this age when children learn with all their senses. Hence, as guardians, it becomes significant that we channel their energies in a way that is beneficial for them and introduces them to the various tools in skill development. At this age, children start to realize their independence and test boundaries. This is also the time for immense language, imaginative and interactive development. Therefore, early childhood education focusing on activities that can tap onto the child’s current developmental milestone is what would be engaging for them.
Toddler skills to focus on
Children learn something new every day. From realizing the use of their hands as infants to developing language skills enough to convey their thought, it only takes them a couple of years. Early years education, when planned and implemented well, can mean the difference between helping the child master these skills and the child finding these difficult to manage. The major skills that toddlers essentially try to master during this time can be categorized as below:
Language skills – every day your child learns a whole list of new words, phrases, and tones. The more exposure they get in this, the better and easier it is for them to learn and master language skills. So, what can you do to help? Talk a lot to them. Point out things, name them and tell them about it. They may or may not say those words right away, but rest assured, all this information is being stored for later use.
Recognition – textures, numbers, alphabets, and colors. Children develop through their sense of touch, so it is only appropriate to give them ample opportunities to experience all these concepts through various textures – soft, rough, shiny, smooth, and so on.
Pretend play – one of the easiest and most convenient play options that you can engage your child in is pretend play. There are no set rules in this, no specific tools required, just free reign for your child to be imaginative and create and play out various. Open-ended, non-structured toys further help in making this a fun experience.
Painting – Apart from the obvious introduction and recognition of colors, painting also helps in problem-solving and motor-skills development of the child. It is a medium of expression without words. Thus, it acts as an effective stress buster and helps nurture their creativity. This also helps children master their hand-eye coordination and hand, wrist, and finger strength.
Organization – Engaging children in the daily household chores is an effective way to instill responsibility and make them feel significant. Sorting vegetables, folding laundry, arranging dishes etc. are some of the many ways in which children can contribute to the daily functioning of the house.
How kindergarten plays a role
While there are a lot of activities that can ignite and nurture a child’s passion to learn, it is difficult for parents to always be able to manage the high levels of energy that they come with. This is where a kindergarten setting proves to be a major advantage. An international kindergarten like Dibber International Kindergarten, would be able to offer your kids the social setting to interact with other children of the same age group while also focusing on the various developmental areas that they can develop and master. With an international and mainstream curriculum to choose from, children get access to a wide variety of activities in secure spaces to explore and learn at their own pace. When children enjoy the journey of learning, their relationship with education will be lifelong, joyful, and permanent.
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