It is an inborn instinct in us to try things out ourselves and this starts at a very early age. Have you noticed an infant being fed who tries to take the spoon from you and tries to use it himself without success or even tries and repeats the words that you use until a baby language emerges that we can surprisingly understand? Well, this is what self discovery is all about and it is by watching and looking at those around them that a child will start his voyage into learning.
There are lots of educational toys available for children, no matter how young, to feel and touch and by so doing understand the textures and feel of materials and things. Gradually colours, numbers and shapes come into the equation and this is when mathematical concepts and related skills are nurtured. Toys and books are the first things that children use to learn from and these can be freely given to them to arouse their curiosity and their interest. How to build things, how to coordinate colours and shapes is all part of this learning.
Reading becomes an important part of every child's growing up years. Introducing them to reading books and stories is what every parent should make an integral part of every child's growing up. The thrill of watching them start to put words together to form a sentence is wonderful for every parent in addition to making the child feel confident and eager to learn more. Make learning fun so that it doesn't become a chore, rather a fun time between you and your child which he looks forward to.
Teaching them spelling is the next step to this learning process and the more the learning tools are given to the child to use and understand, the more interest will be generated. As a parent be there to guide and support and help when they need it and surround the child with all sorts of learning tools to make everything around him or her a new thing to discover. Use word games, cut out words from magazines to make sentences and use the television as a tool to teach rather than a tool to pick negative behaviour from.
Activities like drawing and painting can be a creative pastime in addition to being an educational tool for your child. Teaching them to make things like birthday cards and gifts for their siblings and friends is a good way to enhance this creativity. Going for afterschool classes like dancing, singing or learning a skill are wonderful ways to have fun while learning something new.
Social skills are important for your child as this is when the foundation is being laid for them to deal with all kinds of people. Encourage meetings with other children and let the child handle situations himself unless parent intervention is necessary. Playing with a group of children and making yourself a part of this group is part of the learning process and if your child feels secure and loved this confidence will show in all his activities whether alone or with others.
Teach your child about the environment and what it entails. Learning to cope with busy streets and busy shopping malls and learning to stay by your side and not running off are some of the things most parents need to teach their children. Similarly learning the value of money as they get older is very important as they learn to earn and save. Giving them household chores and pocket money as reward teaches them discipline to look after their rooms and belongings and the value of money earned after hard work.
Instil an interest or hobby in your child to help him learn something new but using his own efforts. Whether it is stamp collecting or making a scrapbook, encourage him to spend some time on his hobby regularly. It doesn't have to cost the earth, the main thing is the time spent together and the outcome of that effort.
Remember to be patient and kind as children can get irritated and throw tantrums when things don't go their way. This is the time when it is your adult behaviour and patience which will go a long way in teaching them how to behave well. Rather than screaming and shouting back at the child and making an already volatile situation erupt, ignore the tantrum and be firm. Gradually the child learns that this attention seeking behaviour is not one that should be adopted, it is their good behaviour that earns them love and rewards. And do give a lot of that to encourage self respect, self acceptance and confidence building in your child.