Toddlers see and experience the whole world as one big classroom. The perfect time to set up a foundation for any future skill is this period of their life. Reading, counting, and mastering new concepts is something they are very interested in and your support can really help their development. The most important thing for you as a parent is to recognize your kid’s interests and make them educational in some way. There are plenty of fun learning activities for your toddlers.
If you are interested to learn more about this topic, this is the article for you. Here are some great, modern educational tips you should try this year. We guarantee your toddler will love them.
Start Using Educational Apps
Whether you like it or not, kids live in a digital era and love their smartphones and computers. Responsible parents try to limit the screen time, especially for toddlers, but sometimes you just can’t avoid it. The important thing is to control the content they are watching and make sure they learn something from it. This is why parenting experts advise downloading a few educational apps on your phone and offer them to your kids whenever they insist on using your smartphone. These apps are like fun games and they don’t even realize how much they are learning. Vivid colors, moving pictures, animals talking, etc. are fascinating to your toddler.
There are many apps for toddlers on the market. Some of them are completely free and others aren’t expensive at all. They can teach your child about reading, spelling, colors, numbers, shapes, or some basic routines. Some of the games may help them identify patterns and shapes while others develop their fine motor skills. Counting games, matching games, games about completing letter sequences, slingshot games, racing games, maze-solving games, connect-the-dots games, etc. are just some of the interesting ways your toddler can learn.
Separating Objects By Type or Color
Studies have shown that a vital part of early math is comparing, observing, and contrasting various objects. Kids naturally love doing that. This learning activity is extremely fun for little kids and you should encourage them to practice it through playing.
For example, you can ask your toddler to group their toys by color or to sort their stuffed animals by type (dogs on one pile, cants on another, bears on the third pile, etc.). Make a game out of doing your laundry. Your toddler can help you separate the socks and identify each color. You can also show them different-sized objects and ask them to separate them.
Around the age of 2, your toddler will be able to understand the difference between more and less. This is a very important skill for them, as it affects their math abilities in the future. You can ask them which pile has the most toys and which one has the least on a regular basis, as a part of a game.
Read With Your Child
Reading to your toddlers is very important. It teaches them about morals and enhances their creativity. Regular storytelling sessions are a fun habit to create. You can read different stories and then discuss the characters and what they think about them. You can even ask them to interpret the story in their own way, for example – they can draw it.
Bedtime stories are favorite entertainment for many toddlers. Stories can keep them occupied for days and they boost your child’s imagination. Not to mention that they show your children the importance of books and reading at a very young age.
Finger Painting for Color Recognition
Finger painting is a fun activity for toddlers but it also helps them learn. Exposure to colors is important and through this interesting game, your kids can learn to name each color. Once the picture is done you can continue by asking them to find certain colors around the house. Make sure you choose colors used in the picture and talk about different shades.
Help Them Develop Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve large muscles in the arms, legs, and torso and they are best developed through running, throwing, walking, lifting, kicking, etc. They are essential for body awareness, balance, reaction speed, and strength, so it’s very important for your toddlers to develop them properly.
Take your kids to the park and let them use playground equipment. Children need to jump, crawl, climb and hang on monkey bars. Let them run free and don’t be afraid to let them use ladders. They help them strengthen their arms and improve their balance.
As a parent, you can contribute the most to your child’s development. Make sure you stimulate your kids and let them learn through fun activities, in a playful manner. That way they won’t consider education a chore in the future and they will keep thinking of learning as an adventure.