by Trudy Brown

Created on: October 27, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2011

A parent is a child's first teacher. Whether you intend to continue your child's education at home or to send them to traditional school, it is important for parents to lay a foundation and inspire a sense of curiosity early in a child's life. Teaching your toddler doesn't have to mean formalized lesson plans and structured play. In fact, it shouldn't mean those things. There will be plenty of time in the years to come for regimented, structured education. The toddler years are full of natural curiosity that can be encouraged and guided by an involved, patient parent to help a child learn the basic concepts that will help him or her be prepared for preschool and kindergarten. Teaching your toddler should mean quality time spent together interacting and talking in a meaningful way.

*Talk to your toddler

From your conversation alone, toddlers learn the basics of communication and vocabulary. Label everything around you with your words. Point out the colors of your child's favorite toys and the shapes of objects in your child's bedroom. Familiarizing your young child with shape and color words is as simple as that. When you put away the silverware or pick up toys count them aloud to your child. The more often he hears the number pattern, the more likely he is to remember.

*Sing songs with your toddler

At this age, even when they can't sing the words by themselves, children love songs. You can see their faces light up at the melody of a familiar tune. Make the most of that rapt engagement by teaching your toddler songs that will help him learn. Sing the alphabet song slowly while you point to the letters in a book or on the wall. You'll be amazed by how quickly your child begins to try making the sounds himself. For numbers try singing "Ten Little Indians". There are wonderful websites devoted to creating songs for every teaching need. Two of the best are can teach and songs for teaching. You can find a song to teach anything from hygiene to foreign languages.

*Play with your toddler

Sit on the floor with your toddler and help him fill up a shape sorter, color a picture, read a book. Just by participating you make his play time more educational because you naturally narrate the names of the shapes in the shape sorter and the names of the crayons you're using to color. When you read together, point out the pictures. Encourage your child to pick out any shapes or colors he sees, have him count the number of animals or cars on the page. Discussion builds understanding and practice breeds confidence. When you give your child the opportunity to explain and demonstrate a concept to you, you are teaching him in the very best way possible.

What should a parent teach a toddler? Anything that can be taught through well-spent togetherness. You shouldn't have to open up a calculus book or try and demonstrate quantum physics; you should simply be a loving parent who interacts with your child in a way that is meaningful. Best of all, by spending time talking, singing, and playing with your toddler, you are teaching them the most important lesson: that you love them and consider them a number one priority.

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