Finding Magic in the Mundane: A Guide to Teachable Moments

You've heard the expression “children are like sponges”, and as the parent of a toddler, you’ve probably seen the extreme accuracy in that. As adults, we sometimes forget the incredible wonder with which children experience the world, and sometimes discount their ability to remember details. Little minds see the world with so much curiosity, and you as their parent are the first line of defense when it comes to satisfying that curiosity. Below are some ways you can foster your child’s growth and help them learn from even the simplest experiences.

Answering questions

Toddlers are notorious for asking the world’s most daunting question: why? Sometimes it can be a little tricky navigating a child’s mind, but the most important thing we can do as caregivers is to answer their questions as truthfully as possible (within reason, of course). When “why?” has been asked for the millionth time and you’ve exhausted all possible responses, a great way to encourage deep thinking in the mind of your little one is by giving them the good old Uno reverse card; ask them what they think about the situation. This gives your child an opportunity to think deeply and critically, as well as express their own thoughts. This will also open the door for dialogue between you and your child and has the potential to expand their vocabulary and literacy.

Reading

It is undeniable that books have a huge impact on the education and development of children. Reading fosters growth in literacy, imagination, empathy, problem solving, cognitive skills, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and so many more crucial developmental fields. An article by Child Mind Institute points out that children who are read to daily are exposed to at least 290,000 more words by the time they enter kindergarten than those that are not. Isn’t that incredible? Keep in mind that learning doesn’t have to be strictly academic; fiction books are at just as much of a capacity to educate your child as non-fictional ones. Authors such as Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, P.D. Eastman, and Giles Andreae have written fun and engaging books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers that can teach them important knowledge outside of their ABCs and 123s.

Imaginative play

Children learn best through playtime. Being an active participant in your child’s play satisfies not only their need for parental attention but also gives them an opportunity to explore many different ideas. Their imagination is a vast sea of possibilities, and by observing and participating in their play, you can learn about their interests as well as their personality. It is true that when children engage in imaginative or dramatic play, often times they imitate things that they see or experience in their daily life. This tends to be their parents, siblings, teachers, and community members. Children can learn so much about social interactions and emotional regulation through this type of play. Academics are something that children will learn as they age and move through school, however social skills are something that are best taught in the early years in order to produce confident and competent young people.

Outside play

Children have a natural affinity for being outdoors, and many child psychologists and educators believe that they learn best by exploring nature. In fact, the word “kindergarten” comes from the German word kinder, meaning children, and garten meaning – you guessed it – garden. Friedrich Froebel, the creator of the first kindergarten, had a philosophy that is similar to the modern 4-H philosophy; hands-on learning, as well as free self-expression, creativity, social participation, and motor expression. Through outside play, children can learn about the natural world around them as well as learning empathy, respect, and their own physical abilities. Engaging in outside play allows a child to explore their own environment, learn about their place in the world, and gives an opportunity to gain knowledge in math, science, language, literacy, art, and so many more fields. This can be as simple as making mud pies in the backyard or going on a walk through the park!

Children are constantly learning, and their brains are constantly working to make sense of the world. As their parent, you are their very first – and most important! – teacher. We can easily get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our day to day lives, but our little ones remind us to take a breath and stop to play in the dirt. You never know what you’ll learn along the way! They can teach us just as much, if not more, than we could ever teach them.