Parents Are a Child's First Teachers

May 31, 2006

2006-05-31T19:32:00.000-07:00

As a teacher, I feel that my responsibility is to offer as many ways as it takes for the child to learn. Saying it exactly the same but louder or faster will not necessarily get the message across. So saying it differently or giving another method of learning may be what it takes. If this method doesn't work, we try another....and another....and another until the child learns.
So although talking is extremely important, it may help to use visual stimuation or tactile stimulation to help the learning process. Pointing to objects on the printed page or objects in the room as you talk helps the child to connect auditory stimuli with the visual object. Using books with textured pages provides an additional opportunity to associate words with physical objects. Or try making your own books with textures easily available from craft departments.
It's hard to tell at a young age which type of learning will be most effective for the child. Offering all of those methods will multiply the possibilities for learning. Talk, talk, talk, but don't forget those hand and facial gestures as well as craft supplies to enhance learning opportunities.

May 28, 2006

2006-05-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

Words! Words! Words! They may be a limited way of expressing ourselves, but they are the best system we have for now.

So you are talking to your child. Even reading to him or her. Feel free to add words to the story when you think it will enhance the experience of the book. Young children have a limited attention span, so you'll want to stretch it any way you can.

For instance, I was reading my first book, Froggy Hollow, to my grandson when he was 1 year old. One of the lines is "Two frogs splash water in your face." After reading this part, I pretended to spash/flick water off my fingers and into his face. While I did this, I said "Splash! Splash, splash, splash!" It didn't take long for him to pick up this phrase and splash his own fingers at me. So I have become Grandma Splash! He reminds me of it every time I see him.

Words are one of the things that connect us as human beings. They give us opportunities and challenges for communicating thoughts, emotions, ideas and creativity with each other. It may not be a perfect process, but until something better comes along.....talk, talk, talk.

May 27, 2006

2006-05-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Today is my dad's birth date. I need to tell him thanks for all of the times he helped me learn about life on the farm. He was the best at giving me metaphors and examples to explain exactly the point he was making. He was not a highly educated man. In fact, he was retained 2 years in grade school...mostly because he was too shy to answer. However, he continued on continuing on to finish high school. So my point is that parents do not need to be extreme intellectuals to teach their children well. They only need to be willing to provide educational opportunities to their children. Talking is one of most important things that parents can offer their children. Verbalization while working, playing, reading, or whatever will give the child an opportunity to build a much needed vocabulary. As with learning a foreign language, first we learn the language by listening to the words spoken. We hear the words and know what we are hearing. Then we learn to verbalize it ourselves. It's a natural progression which holds true for children learning a first language. So as a beginning process for educating your child.....talk, talk, talk.