Needless to say, parenting is a rollercoaster. It’s filled with heartwarming highs and frustrating lows, especially when it comes to teaching your little ones. Toddlers and preschoolers are like sponges, absorbing everything around them, so most parents feel the pressure to provide the best learning experiences while juggling other responsibilities.
It’s true: you’re working, you’re parenting, and you have to do the unpaid labor around the house, so how can you make life a little easier? You can’t always give your kid an iPad and expect them to binge-watch YouTube videos about learning content.
Sure, supplemental is fine, but that’s all. So, with that all said, teaching your young children is not just manageable but enjoyable. It’s about doing it properly so you don’t have to do a juggling act. With all of that said, here’s exactly what you need to know!
Start By Incorporating Learning into Daily Routines
One of the easiest ways to teach young children without it feeling like a chore is to weave learning into your daily activities. You have to keep in mind that toddlers and preschoolers learn best through play and exploration, so turn everyday tasks into educational opportunities.
Cooking and Baking
Why not let your child help with simple tasks like stirring, measuring ingredients, or setting the table? You can use this time to teach them about numbers, counting, and even basic science concepts like mixing and measuring. When you’re allowing all of this, not only does this make the process more fun, but it also transforms routine activities into valuable learning experiences.
Grocery Shopping
It would be massively helpful if you were to involve your child in making the shopping list and finding items in the store. This can help with literacy (recognizing words) and math (counting items). So, all you have to do is walk through the aisles and talk about the different colors, shapes, and sizes of the products.
Technically, this (the same goes for cooking) can help with listening comprehension– something else that every young child needs to improve before starting school. So, overall, this interactive approach makes learning a natural part of the day.
Household Chores
So, another thing you’ll want to do would be to assign age-appropriate tasks such as sorting laundry by color, matching socks, or tidying up toys. Basically, the sooner you teach this and instill this in your child, the easier this will be on you in the future, and for their future teachers too. Now, it’s not like they can wash the dishes or mop the floor, but they do need to get into doing chore.
So, these activities teach sorting, matching, and responsibility. While yes, chores may not seem exciting, but they offer countless opportunities for learning and skill development, all while keeping your home in order.
Try and Create a Fun Learning Environment
Needless to say, kids are naturally curious and thrive in environments that stimulate their senses and curiosity. So, you’ll need to transform your home into a space that encourages exploration and learning. It doesn’t need to be a full-on transformation like a classroom, but it does need to help your kids at least.
Learning Corners
By all means, you need to do this! It’s easy, it’s cheap, not much of an effort anyways. So, you’ll just need to set up small, dedicated areas for different activities like reading, arts and crafts, or building blocks. Make these corners inviting with colorful decorations, comfortable seating, and easy-to-reach supplies. Overall, a well-organized space can make learning more appealing and less chaotic.
Consider Rotating Toys and Books
Toddlers and preschool-aged kids get bored really fast, basically with everything. So, in order to keep things fresh and exciting, rotate the toys and books available to your child every few weeks; this prevents boredom and sparks new interests. By introducing new materials periodically, you can sustain your child’s enthusiasm and curiosity.
Sensory Bins
This is more geared towards toddlers rather than preschool aged kids, but it can still be great for that age too. Fill containers with various materials like rice, sand, water beads, or pasta, and let your child explore textures and practice fine motor skills. But why go through this effort? Well, sensory bins are excellent for engaging young minds and encouraging independent play, giving you a bit of a break as well.
It’s Okay to Embrace Technology (In Moderation)
Screen time or no screen time? Screen time for kids, especially when learning and keeping entertained, can be great for parents. It gives you a chance to just decompress and do what you need to do around the house (or anywhere else).
So, it’s about balance. If you are a millennial, then you’ve probably also had screen time as a kid; even teachers would have screen time and make it educational. These were usually entertaining, too, right? Well, that’s the key here.
Educational Apps and Games
There are countless apps designed to teach toddlers and preschoolers fundamental skills like letters, numbers, and problem-solving. Just make sure to choose age-appropriate and high-quality options. These apps can be particularly useful when you need to keep your child occupied while you attend to other tasks.
Interactive Storybooks
Digital storybooks with interactive elements can engage children in reading and comprehension. They can tap on words to hear them pronounced or explore illustrations that come to life. This interactive element can make reading more engaging and help develop literacy skills.
Video Calls with Loved Ones
Use video calls to connect with family members and friends who can read stories, play games, or share fun facts with your child. This not only teaches social skills but also keeps relationships strong. It’s a wonderful way to include extended family in your child’s learning journey, especially if they live far away.
Just Acknowledge That It’s Tough
Honestly, parenting and teaching toddlers and preschoolers may be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Yes, by all means, there is a lot of work that truly goes into all of this. But at the end of the day, you have to do it. So, just remember, it’s okay to have imperfect days – what matters most is the love and effort you put into nurturing your little ones.
