Children
are watching more television than ever. Conditioned to screen time,
it’s no wonder that many toddlers enjoy watching cartoons or
playing games on mobile devices. According to the University of
Washington School of Medicine, toddlers that watch three or more
hours of television per day are 30% more likely to not be able to pay
attention to school. Several other studies have demonstrated that
passive screen
time can hurt learning abilities.
Although
it may be tempting to succumb to your children’s desire for the TV,
it’s also important that you take an active approach to their
education. “Choosing a school that focuses on active early
development is a great way to give your toddlers a nudge in the right
direction, and ensure they have fun while learning,” says
Montessori
Preschool and Daycare
in Spring TX. “But it’s also important that you build upon that
foundation outside of school hours.” With that in mind, here are a
few ways you can help your children have fun while learning:
Create
a Sensory Bin
A
recent trend in toddler activities is sensory
play.
Sensory play stimulates the child's senses, and this is important
during early development stages. They’re easy to make at home, and
it allows your children to explore their senses within the confines
of their own home. You’d be surprised at how much a simple sensory
bin can engage your child and keep them busy (in many cases, it will
keep them more occupied than traditional toys that capture just a few
minutes of attention at a time). Check out a few ideas for sensory
bins here.
Through
these sensory creations, they can imagine, explore, and learn—all
while engaging their senses. By manipulating small objects, they’re
improving their motor skills. As they manipulate different sensory
materials, they’re also learning about cause and effect, which
improves science, math, and logical reasoning skills. You don’t
have to use just bins, either. Bottle and bags also make great
sensory objects. For example, you might fill a bottle with glitter,
water, and beads, or fill a freezer bag with squishy putty.
Engineering
Toys
Engineering
tools help toddlers develop important learning skills, like problem
solving and critical thinking. They ignite curiosity, and allow
children to learn as they play. For example, Duplo building blocks
from Lego teach children fine motor skills and help develop
creativity. Boon Bath Pipes can be put together to create water
funnels on the bathroom walls. As they get older, they’ll be able
to play with even more advanced toys, going as far as building their
own working robots and moving vehicles.
Take
Them to the Bookstore
Encouraging
your toddler to sit down while you read to them can be frustrating.
With shorter attention spans, you’re never guaranteed that your
toddler will actually listen and retain information. However, you can
get them excited by involving them in the book purchasing process.
Children become very happy when they are actively involved in their
own decision-making. Allow them to pursue the children’s books,
choosing titles that interest them most. Many bookstores also have
reading hours for children, which puts them in an active learning
environment with their peers outside of the classroom.
Get
Them Involved In a Sport
Playing
sports not only has immense physical benefits for children, but it
also helps them learn a variety of important
lifelong skills.
They’ll be able to better understand the ability to follow
directions, hone their motor skills, learn communication and
teamwork, and develop interests that shape their future.
They’ll
also develop important social skills as they play with their peers.
Dancing, martial arts, gymnastics, soccer, and t-ball are all great
options for toddlers. What’s important is that the emphasis is on
physical activity and fun; they’re too young to understand the
aspect of competition, so coaches will focus on having a good time as
children learn a variety of gameplay and developmental skills.
CONVERSATION