As parents, we all want our children to be healthy, happy, and successful in life. We see so much potential in the eyes of our little ones, and all want to do whatever we can to help them get a head start in life by teaching them the fundamentals. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for some parents to find the resources and knowledge to do this, and that leaves so many infants, toddlers, and preschoolers unprepared for the new world of education that they will face for the next several years.
That is why it is important for parents to find different ways to provide methods of education for their children in a way that will be both age appropriate and entertaining. In this article, I want to take the time to reference some of these methods and also provide you with some information as to why I feel “The Car Video” that we created works to help educate and entertain your young child.
Parents looking for simple but effective ways to help give their child a good head start on learning should:
Make sure to read to your child on a nightly basis- There are multiple benefits to reading to your child on a nightly basis. Spending special time with them allows you to create a special bond that will hopefully carry on through adulthood, is able to relax your child, and can help improve your child’s imagination, intellect, and expose them to language, which can help him or her have a large vocabulary. Reading to your child is important, and you can make the activity fun by involving them in the story, giving them a variety of different stories, and by providing books in settings where they will be seated for a long time (i.e. road trips, doctor appointments, etc.).
Communicate with your child- This one is often overlooked, as we all communicate with our children, but it really is important for parents to take the time to make sure they are chatting with their children to promote language and communication skills. This process should begin when your child is an infant, and can involve you responding to their baby talk like you’re having a conversation with him or her, saying the names of various objects you’re holding in view of the child, and even singing simple songs that your child may like.
Allow your child to be curious- Curiosity is an important part of childhood, and although sometimes we may worry about letting our children go too far, we need to make an effort to let them explore the world around them and encourage them to do so. If you see your child reaching for something or trying to figure out a problem, be sure to make an effort to be positive and encouraging (unless the activity is potentially dangerous), and to give them support in figuring out problems, but only after you have let them attempt to figure it out for themselves.
Limit television time, and make sure programming is educational- Seeing as how we’re selling a DVD targeted at children, it may sound a bit contradictory for us to tell you to limit television time to your young one, but it is a very important tip that parents should follow. PBS indicates that 74% of infants and toddlers have watched TV before they turn two years old, and children under the age of 6 watch television about two hours per day. This limits activity time that could be spent playing with toys, reading, or doing other constructive activity, and really should be monitored by parents.
That’s not to say that television is necessarily a bad thing. There are many good educational programs out there for children that teach fundamental learning skills and can give your child a bit of extra learning time. Our Car Video goes through and teaches colors, numbers, and shapes as well various interesting fact about cars and the places they travel. Videos such as this are beneficial, but even then it is important to make sure that you take the time to turn off the tube and find other constructive things to do with your children.
These are just a few things that you can do to help give your child a boost in the learning department. The internet is full of resources for you to research and find different ways to help educate your children. Of course, we also want to hear what you have to say, and would love it if you took the time to tell us what special things you do with your special little guy (or girl) to promote learning in the comments below.