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It's Never Too Early to Foster a Love for Learning
Special To The Truth
It may be too soon to
start thinking about sending your baby off to kindergarten,
but kids are never too young to develop a love of learning.
The way you play with them during the early years can enrich
their development substantially, say early childhood
experts.
“Brain development is
never more rapid than in the first few years, so these
formative experiences during infancy and preschool are
extremely important,” says Lise Eliot, Ph.D, an early
childhood development expert and member of the Expert Panel
at VTech, a leader in age-appropriate and developmental
stage-based electronic learning products for children.
Certain games and toys can
truly engage children, giving them a head start in learning.
Whether your child is an infant or preschooler, there are
many ways to encourage growth and development through
playtime.
Language
Children use words to
express themselves, but also to learn about the people and
world around them. Reading helps build their vocabulary, so
read to your children daily until they can on their own.
Also, consider toys like
the Lil’ Speller Phonics Station, which features fun sounds,
melodies and animations that reinforce vocabulary and
encourages interactive learning. With help from the toy’s
Spelling Bee feature, kids can learn to spell more than 200
common three-letter words.
Math
Math can be fun,
especially if the foundation is set early. Help kids learn
to count while identifying objects. For example, “how many
doggies are in the park today?”
New toys, such as the
Chomp & Count Dino from VTech, can also help kids get
excited about math. Play in food or counting mode and the
dino responds with sounds and phrases, introducing colors,
numbers and shapes. Kids can answer the dino’s questions by
feeding a specific food or number of pieces to show what
they’ve learned.
Music
Music can stimulate a baby
even before they’re born, so be sure to continue the
exposure to help form a well-rounded education. Baby and
toddler music lessons can improve verbal skills, motor
skills and increase confidence.
For an at-home
alternative, consider the Grow-Along Music Center, which
lets children pretend to be musicians. As they sing into the
microphone, five colorful lights correspond to children’s
voices, or they can play with wacky voice-changing and
amplifying effects. Rock out with three instrument buttons
that play guitar, drum and saxophone sounds.
Get Moving
Physical activity is a key
building block to coordination and motor skills, and hones
brain pathways for smooth, purposeful movement. If little
ones are too young to play catch, simply sit on the floor
facing each other and roll a ball back and forth. For
infants, soft building blocks and other toys can encourage
motor development.
You can also encourage
movement with toys like the Sit-to-Stand Smart Cruiser,
which transforms from a floor play toy with detachable
steering wheel activity panel to a ride-on toy. It features
driving, learning and music modes that introduce animals,
opposites and first words.
More early learning tips
are available at www.vtechkids.com.
It’s never too early to
instill a love of learning in children. The sooner you get
started, the more you can help enrich their development.
Courtesy StatePoint
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