We are delighted to have a guest post from Carlo Pandian abut how parents and children can learn together (we particularly like the part about food as this is highly topical for us on the Lilypad at the moment with a weaning baby!)
All parents want the best for their youngsters and will try to do everything they can to give them the life they deserve.
Learning starts from a young age as children learn to distinguish the difference between mum and dad, as well as learning to walk and later developing numeracy skills.
Children are naturally curious and inquisitive as they learn about the world they live in and parents should try to encourage this in all aspects of their child’s life. During the early years, children form attitudes towards learning which will last a lifetime. Their explorations could bring pleasure and success as they become more creative, adventurous and decisive.
Children also start making their own choices, which instinctively bring them satisfaction. Whether this involves choosing which t-shirt to wear or toy to play with or what food they want to eat, children are motivated by their instinct. They are also motivated by others around them and highly influenced by what adults tell them or make them do in an effort to please another party. These motivations come from rewards, which are provided by someone else.
Nursery can be a great starting point for a child as it can help them learn about what motivates them and develop decision-making skills as well as social skills. There are a wide number of nursery resources available for adults who wish to harness the inquisitive mind of a child.
Arts and craft activities, for example, could be an excellent source of inspiration for parents and those working in the education sector looking to help children develop their skills. Painting and colouring helps children to express themselves and there are a number of researchers who have found a connection between colour and mood. By using colours, children can translate how they feel and their emotions. Children could gain more self-confidence by being able to choose the colours they wish to paint or draw with. In addition to expressing their feelings, children can learn to distinguish between colours and shades.
Children can also take this skill outside of the nursery and use it in everyday life. From the green leaves on a tree to the white clouds in the sky, children can quickly learn to distinguish between colours. The numerous early years resources stretch far beyond painting and colours. Another helpful learning source which children see every day is food.
As children learn about food they also digest information about tastes, textures and smells. From a young age, children can identify what foods they like and do not like. Initially, the majority of babies start off eating soft foods and liquids which are easy to swallow and digest. As they grow older they might become more adventurous, trying harder foods with different textures.
Learning about eating habits is important for children, as they will carry this throughout their life. Learning about different foods is also good for children so they can learn about health and the difference between why some foods are considered good for you and others bad
High drama ensued .... of course!