Leading Your Child's Learning

As a parent, you are one important leader in your child's learning life.

Important routines and structure for learning start as soon as you bring your newborn home.

The toys you buy, the books you read, the music you listen to, the television you watch, and programs you download all contribute to your child's learning, interests, and world view.  Hence, it's important to be deliberate about the choices you make, and what you expose your child too.

Quickly your child will begin to affect your choices by his/her needs, interests, and desires. Children will gravitate to some books and toys more than others, some music more than others, and some programs more than others.  That information is telling about who your child is, and what they will be.

But only exposing your child to that which he or she is interested in could be limiting; at young ages it's best to expose your child to a broad menu of places, people, and things.  Let them know what's out there in the world of learning.  Yet, don't structure their time too much as children need time for play, exploration, imagination, and problem solving.

As your child's first teacher, you have a substantial responsibility to get your child started in learning with enthusiasm and positivity--the foundation you set will make an important difference in their later success and learning appetite. Enjoy the journey.