“How high can your kid count?” “Does she know her ABCs?” “Can he write his name?” “Oh, he speaks really well.” “I can’t believe she’s not potty trained yet.” Does this sound familiar? The 37,000 questions and comparisons that steal the joy of early childhood learning. Are these things all important? Absolutely. Do we put WAY too much pressure on ourselves and other parents for what our children do and do not know, and at what age? Definitely.
I was a working mom who relied on daycare to teach my kids all those big things they needed to know before school. And now I’m a stay-at-home mom, and the onus is on me for my littles, and I am terrified I will mess it up. Can you relate?
Does it feel scary to know you have to teach your kiddos all the things if you don’t send them to a structured learning environment? Here’s a secret… there doesn’t have to be a ton of pressure or a structured curriculum to teach your little ones. Here is a great bundle to teach your toddler alphabet basics, and we will dive into how everyday moments are opportunities to enrich your toddler’s mind.
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Every day opportunities
I was folding a laundry basket of toddler clothes the other day, and my 3-year-old kept messing with the laundry… you know the feeling– a tiny human making snow angels in folded clothes… I had to take a moment to gain my composure, but when I did, I asked if he would like to learn how to fold, and he was so excited to learn! I taught him how to fold his tiny shirts and jeans, and he couldn’t wait to tell his dad when he got home.
So even in my frustration, it was so impactful to set aside the inconvenience to make time to show my little guy how to fold– a skill that he will need for the rest of his life… unless, of course, he is like his dad and either a- lives out of a laundry basket or b- has a loving wife that folds it for him.
Here’s another example, when we are making supper, I ask the toddlers to find the ingredients and then help me count out what I need for the recipe.
The point is that a child needs to learn basic skills outside of the curriculum. And I promise they will be THRILLED if you ask for their help and teach them how to do the task. This is a regular thing in our home. Whether it’s the laundry, sweeping the floor, baking bread, or making supper, I allow the kids to help and teach them as we work.
Educational toys and activities
I am a sucker for a good educational printable or toy. I love to find engaging books and games that keep my children’s attention and are simple and easy to follow. Here are a few of our favorite toys and books:
- Montessori Busy Book
- Melissa & Doug Magnetic Dress-Up Dolls
- Crayola Special Effects Chalk
- Montessori Busy Board
- Counting/Sorting Dinosaurs
I really thought I was going to get my toddler to do “school” every day this fall. I was excited. I hyped it up so that he would be excited, and he was. But I quickly realized that he had very little capacity at two-and-a-half to perform workbook exercises how I wanted him to. We would do some look and finds and shape recognition, but by the time we got to tracing letters and writing numbers, he really just wanted to complete whatever he wanted on that page. So we backed off, and now he leads when we do school and what activities we will do.
Make it fun
When we disguise learning as free play, I find that the toddlers are much more engaged and interested. Learning should be fun. Dreading the instruction and learning is the last thing I want, so I try to find something I know they are interested in and turn it into education.
A great example is when we read any book. The toddlers always ask, “What can I find for you?” So we go through the pages, and I ask them to find different things for me in the illustrations. They love that. It helps them learn what items are, pay attention to details, and use critical thinking if they are unfamiliar with what I am asking them to find.
Sensory bins are the bain of my existence because they are often messy. But that’s part of the fun. When we bust out a sensory bin with kinetic sand or uncooked black beans, they use their creativity to explore the different elements. Right now, we are obsessed with color bins. Check out our color bins and how simple it was to make and get them involved.
Learning is fun, and we want our kids to know it’s ok to explore and learn at their own pace. I remember I had to count to like 10 when I was tested for kindergarten, and now kids need to be already applying simple math facts and reading common sight words. The pressure is high, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. So, while you have those little humans under your wings, make learning something they crave.
I have a ton of educational printables available in my Etsy Shop to help you get started. You can check them out here.
