Children develop so quickly during the early years. They are surrounded by new experiences and stimulating encounters. There are learning opportunities all around them every day.
Form Positive Experiences From The Beginning
Many parents understand the importance of forming positive experiences early on.
Things like helping young children interact with children their own age, or indeed the adults in their lives are vital for forming lifelong social skills.
Similar to this is supporting young as they children engage with their environment, giving them enough structure to keep things safe, but also enough freedom to set them up to effectively navigate the world as they grow up.a safe manner.
So what can be done to help children learn and develop during these crucial early years.
Well it turns out there are many things that can be done to give children the best start in life.
While children are at home, parents can support their child’s education by creating a positive learning environment at home: This can be as simple as creating a safe space for their child to play and engage with physical objects.
There are a whole range of toys and games that can help a child develop a curiosity and understanding of the world around them.
Instil A Love Of Learning
With the right guidance, parents can encourage a love of learning by exposing their child to a variety of educational experiences and activities too.
Things like reading books, visiting museums, and participating in educational games and puzzles can really help to spark their curiosity and interest in learning.
Children may be going to nursery from as young as two years. There are many different ways for parents to expose their children to educational experiences.
There are learning centres for young children, nursery schools, sports clubs and even social clubs where children can play while the parents interact with each other.
Keep On Top Of Your Child’s Learning
Parents can support their child’s education in school by staying in regular contact with their child’s teachers and attending parent-teacher conferences.
They can also help their child with homework and provide additional support and resources, such as tutoring or educational software.
Parents can help their child develop positive study habits by setting aside regular times for homework and studying.
They can also encourage their child to take breaks, stay organised, and develop good time management skills.
Provide Emotional Support At Home
Finally, parents can provide emotional support to their child by spending time with them.
Playing with your child is immensely rewarding. It can be great for building their confidence as individuals, but it is also fundamental to building your bond together.
Spending time doing things together sets the foundations for a healthy relationship as your child goes through life.
Make Learning Fun And Engaging
Introduce your child to the alphabet by singing the alphabet song and pointing out the letters on signs and objects around the house.
You can also use educational toys and games, such as flashcards and puzzles, to help your child learn the names and shapes of the letters.
Once your child is familiar with the alphabet, start introducing simple words that they can read and write.
You can use picture books and flashcards to help your child learn common sight words, such as “the”, “and”, and “is”.
Once you notice your child progressing then help them develop phonemic awareness by playing games that involve listening to and identifying sounds in words.
For example, you can ask your child to identify the first sound in a word or to say a word that rhymes with another word.
Also try reading together too. This can build an understanding of the importance of reading and writing to your child.
Try to choose books with simple words and illustrations that match the words, and take turns reading the words aloud.
This can help your child develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Prioritise Experiences
The goal in the early years is to provide unique experiences and challenges and support your child in overcoming the obstacles.
Providing parents do this in a supportive and nurturing way, with effective interventions and support systems, children will be set to reach their full potential.