Parenting Technique 57 – Think “learning” all the time and remember that you are your child’s first and most important teacher.” Part IV (See Parenting Techniques 54 – 56 for background.)
Two Years to Three
While toddlers were off discovering the world and trying to experience everything possible, your 2-year-old is more selective, purposeful, determined, and even harder to manage. Your child may get attached to a stuffed animal, doll, or other object like a blanket. With an increase in attention span, his or her play will become much richer than before. Take advantage of this new level of awareness and participate in interesting play activities.
– adapted from Constructive Parenting by Sally Goldberg, p. 48
Parenting Insight…
Time to get out the simple matching games or make up your own. Enjoy the delight of sharing with your child real play and basic activities that are results-oriented. Sort the clothes together and match the socks. Divide the silverware in appropriate trays and put simple puzzles back together.
Emergent Literacy!
At home you have the advantage of access to many different kinds of hands-on interactive activities. We all know that TV and computers are right there full of all kinds of teaching games. However, it is important to keep in mind that when it comes to literacy, it must come from participating in real conversations that include both speaking and listening and from real visual experiences that consist of some form of actual reading and writing.
NOTE: Find out more about emergent literacy at emergent-literacy.com.
This is a tough age for many parents, I think. When our kids begin to crawl and walk there’s so much effort and energy needed to keep them safe…while allowing them the freedom needed to explore their world. My kids LOVE to help, like you mention. Any time I give them a “job” to do: matching, sorting, helping, etc – they love it. You’re right!
Parenting information is so often centered around what children can do, should do or are supposed to do. However, with this new series of tips, I am presenting parenting from another point of view–what parents can do, should do, or are supposed to do to bring out the best in their children. There is such a thing as the “art and science” of parenting. The “art” is your gift to combine with the “science” you come across from researchers to then be able to create your own special brand of parenting. Shara, always a treat for me to hear about how you implement so many different educational principles in your own unique way.