Helping Your Child Learn

Everyday experiences are great opportunities for learning.  You can teach about shapes by cutting cheese into triangles and squares, or about textures as you play outside and feel the grass, rocks, and, if you can stand it, dirt and mud.  You don't need to buy expensive toys.  Often, what children like best are household items such as pots and pans, wooden spoons, and plastic containers.

Children also learn about making friends and getting along with others as you take a walk and talk with neighbors.  They learn self-control when they have to wait their turn to go down the slide at the playground.  They build self-confidence when they're able to feed themselves.

TV plays a limited role in learning.  Although children may learn some concepts from educational programming, and enjoy watching these shows, research tells us that children learn best from interactive, hands-on experiences - touching, feeling, manipulating, problem-solving - with people they care about.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no TV for children under 2.  If you do choose to allow your child to watch, here are some suggested guidelines.

• Watch with your child.  Make TV watching an interactive experience.  Dance and sing together.  "Extend the learning" by talking about what he's viewing and connecting it to the real world.  If the show deals with the theme of sharing, point out how this comes up for your child in his daily life.  If he's learning about colors, talk about the different color houses you see as you take a walk.
• Don't use TV/video to put your child to sleep.  This makes it hard for him to learn to fall asleep on his own.  Instead, establish a bedtime routine that includes soothing activities such as reading and singing softly to him before you put him down.
• Limit viewing time.  A 30- to 60-minute-a-day limit for any "screen time" (meaning time spent in front of a TV or computer screen) is reasonable for 2- to 3-year-olds.

You matter.  What you do makes a difference.  You teach your child self-control when you remain calm in stressful situations, such as being stuck in traffic.  Your child learns about responsibility when you pick up the litter you see on the playground.  You model helping others when, together, you take care of the neighbor's cats.  Children learn manners and respect for others when they see you thank the grocery store clerk.  They learn about trust when you keep your word.

Your beliefs and values shape what you teach your child.  Ultimately, what you teach your child reflects the values that are most important to you and your family.  For example, one parent may not like her child playing with his food, while another may see this as an acceptable way to explore and learn about different textures.  A family's beliefs and values can have a particularly strong influence on attitudes about potty training, sleep practices, the degree of independence parents encourage in their child, and how children are taught to express their emotions.  Being aware of your values and how they influence your parenting will help you make good choices as your child grows.