The World According to my 3 year old...

Yes, I'm still on my whole soap box about the fact that parents are a child's first teacher. Perhaps I should add something to that title after today...

My 3 year old attends a local, private, Lutheran preschool. An excellent school that we've been very happy academically, socially, emotionally, and spiratually with over the last several years as both she and her brother have been in their program. Like most 3 year olds, who are in an older 2s class, (she has a fall birthday) she's worked dillegently this year on her colors, shapes, counting and more in addition to potty traning. Ally tends to be too busy being social to pay attention from time to time in class. We knew this from an early age; so it isn't a surprise that she understands things she learns very quickly, but needs reinforcemnet/ reminders to solidify it in her deeper understanding.

This time, I found a "teachable moment" to be born out of desperation. She was about two seconds away from visiting the bathroom for an "uh-oh" as she calls it at the restaurant we went to tonight for dinner. Instead, I quickly pulled out my iphone and found an app titled "Teach Me Toddler". It was a much needed lifesaver that definetely occupied my daughter's time productively. She worked on colors and shapes independently, counting with very little help from me, and was asked to pick out letters/ letter sounds which was brand new to her. Even though it was brand new to her, the program was repetitive and friendly. She and I worked through those types of questions together.

Proud to report that when she went to bed tonight, she could still tell me the name of the letter S, the sound, and write the letter with her finger in the air. Wasn't anything I intended to do, but it was a moment in time that provided itself as an opportunity to teach or reinforce what my daughter had already learned.... Maybe I should add, 1st Teacher AND perpetual reinforcer...

Of course, we all know that our kids begin learning the day they are born. Even the things we don't want them to learn. Like when my 6 year came home from Kindergarten and said "Mommy, guess what new word the kids are using at school?" Of course, it began with an f, so I won't be repeating it on this blog. But, I did become my son's "teacher" when I taught him that a.) we don't use words that we don't what they mean and b.) we don't use that specific word because it means disgusting things.

Understand that when I say you, as a parent, are your child's first teacher, I do not mean you are responsible for the bulk of your child's learning. I do however, imply that your child or children will learn ten times more and their understanding will be so much deeper if you support your child's learning in even the smallest of ways.

Let's start with basic, most important, yet most enjoyable for all... READ TO YOUR CHILD. Start today; whether your child is 7 days old or 7 years old- start today. Young, preschool and toddler aged children enjoy extremely short books that rhyme with lots of pictures and for them to be read in very fluent voices with fun voices. As your child begins to age and reach 4 years, begin to bring in books that involve more and more of a plot.

While reading, you can include more skills that just reading/ listening. Ask your child to tell you what happened in the book once you are done, who the characters are,  where the story took place, etc. Go back through the story looking for rhyming words, words that begin or end with a specific sound. As your child begins to read to him/ herself you can take turns reading to one another.

Enjoy this time. Relish the time with your child. As we all know, they grow too quickly. Make this a special time with your child to make memories.