How a Toddler Learns
Young children are naturally inquisitive. It may seem to you that your toddler is compelled to explore and touch everything she can. Her horizons are broadening daily, and there is much for her to discover. With so much that is still so very new, there will be no other time in her life that she will be this eager to learn. Capitalize on this enthusiasm, and nurture this inquisitiveness through both your attitude and the activities that you plan.
Sensorimotor Exploration
Young children learn best through direct sensory and movement experiences. If you wanted to teach your toddler about camels, you could try a few different teaching techniques. To your child, the information that a camel is a quadruped mammal that mainly resides in desert regions of Africa is meaningless. Nor is showing her a photo of a camel a very effective way to develop an understanding of what a camel is. Instead, you must engage your child in a quest to learn about camels. The best strategy would be to take her to the zoo, where she has the opportunity to see, hear, and touch an actual camel.
Flashcards were once a very popular way to teach young children. Sometimes you will still see television demonstrations of “baby geniuses” who, with the help of flashcards, can name the state capitals or identify photographs of past presidents. You should know that these children have been drilled with memorization exercises and do not have a true understanding of the facts they are reciting.
According to psychologist Jean Piaget, toddlers are in the sensorimotor stage of development. During this stage, a toddler learns best through direct, hands-on, concrete experiences. The capacity to learn through pictures, symbols, and abstractions does not develop until a child is six or seven years old. This is the reason that you will not find any ditto or worksheet activities in this book. Instead, each activity is geared to take advantage of the way toddlers learn best — by playing, by touching, and by having fun!
Other Ways to Learn
Your toddler learns in three main ways: through direct instruction, through imitation, and through sensorimotor exploration. Through demonstration and verbal directives, for instance, you can help your child learn basic skills, such as how to brush her teeth. You are a powerful role model for your child, and your actions speak louder than words. Other behaviors and skills, therefore, your child will learn by imitating you. The most effective mode of learning, however, is through trial and error in sensorimotor exploration. Lessons that are relevant and that engage your child as an active participant will have the greatest impact.
