I seldom meet a parent who doesn’t know the early years are critical for children’s healthy development. As parents, we are our children’s first and most important teachers and influencers. Dr. Chapman and Ross Campbell, in their book, The 5 Love Languages of Children, reminds us, “Small children love to learn. They are born with an innate hunger for learning that remains strong. A careful observation of infants and toddlers reveals that most of the activity is not merely child’s play; rather, our little ones are working at learning a new skill. Once they learn to talk, their minds are filled with questions every day. Observe your child’s play, and you will see what makes them the happiest and what holds their attention the longest; you will likely find that it is an activity in which she is learning.”
How do we help cultivate optimum learning for children? Children learn best in a learning environment that supports healthy cognitive growth and allows them to follow their interests. A learning environment that is engaging and geared to items children find appealing is only part of igniting children’s interest, curiosity, and learning. It’s just as important to stand back and allow your children the freedom to explore and make their own discoveries without intervening. Becoming too involved in children’s play and overpraising isn’t what’s best for children’s development.
