What do you do everyday to educate your kids?

My boys are 2, and I am trying to find a common ground of things to teach them. We learn our body parts, we have flashcards...and before we moved, we had poster boards full of things, like pictures of people they know, colors, shapes, weather, etc. Now I have to find them. Since we moved in however, icannot seem to get a handle on things here. We JUST set up a play area. My inlaws moved in, so I have been doing more with them. I HATE putting my kids in front of the TV but I find myslef doing that a lot.

I know I need to get my *** in gear for the sake of thier mental health, but I thought Id ask around. What do you do?

 

I read to my girls evyer night. We also have puzzles, lacing shapes, peg board, geometric shape sorter board, and lots of leap frog products. They also have an easel to paint and draw with. I take them to the park and to My Gym. I think it is more the interaction than the items thouygh. I just bought a book, "Teaching Young Children" that is suppossed to have 300 activites to do indoors, outdoors, during travel time, in waiting rooms, etc.

Nursery rhymes are good to do. I just try to take any moment that lends itself to being teachable and do it. I am going to start pointing out opposites soon, and have done concepts like big and little, up and down, etc. Whatever is around you can be used to teach.

 

This is a great question and I can't wait to see what people say so I can grab some ideas. These are some things I do:

-I've started singing about clothing and body parts to the tune of The Farmer and the Dell. For ex.
The socks go on the feet
The socks go on the feet
Hi Ho the Derrio,
The socks go on the feet
I also do it with The pants go on the legs, The shoes go on the feet and the shirt goes up on top, etc.

-I sing a lot of songs to them all day (habit from teaching kindergarten, I did everything in song)
-I read to them everyday
-I try to label and talk about various things I'm doing throughout the day
They have tons of educational toys (most of them in fact)
-and I talk to them a lot!


And I'm guilty too of putting them in front of the t.v. but I am selective about what they watch. However, I just couldn't be "on" from 6am until 7:30 pm so the t.v. is the only thing that gives me a break during the day. They are often on opposite naps and one of my dds doesn't take a second nap anymore so I always have a baby with me. We watch some shows and then I put on music so they can play with their toys and me and then I put on another show and them we play again. On days when we go out, obviously there is a lot less t.v. but it is my sanity saver!!!

 

I do read to them a lot...we have a play room and have puzzles, easles, train table, etc. I just feel like thier day is being wasted though you know?

 

here is a good website:

http://www.learnonyourown.com/education/toddler.asp

 

i have been wondering this alot myself lately.... I cant wait to hear the other responses

 

QUOTE(Saiynee @ May 9 2007, 11:02 PM) [snapback]249463[/snapback]
I read to my girls evyer night. We also have puzzles, lacing shapes, peg board, geometric shape sorter board, and lots of leap frog products. They also have an easel to paint and draw with. I take them to the park and to My Gym. I think it is more the interaction than the items thouygh. I just bought a book, "Teaching Young Children" that is suppossed to have 300 activites to do indoors, outdoors, during travel time, in waiting rooms, etc.

Nursery rhymes are good to do. I just try to take any moment that lends itself to being teachable and do it. I am going to start pointing out opposites soon, and have done concepts like big and little, up and down, etc. Whatever is around you can be used to teach.



Do you have an Author I tried finding this book at libraries and I cant seem to find it.....

thanks

 

Now that you put it like that, I feel like I do nothing! I point out things in our everyday life. Like right now we're sort of working on colors, so I ask what color something is, or I tell them the different colors of objects. We watch Signing Time every day, so they pick up stuff from that. I read them books and also have started showing them numbers, they know a lot of body parts so we work on that. I guess nothing formal, maybe I'm a slacker. :unsure:

 

You all might want to check out www.enchantedlearning.com

It's an incredible website but geared more towards pre-schoolers and kinderkids. Has TONS of educational and arts and crafts activities.

 

I think, like many have said, books are great. And songs are great -- itsy bitsy spider, where is thumbkin, etc (because they are so interactive). Of course, the ABCs (sing it 10 times a day!).

Talk about everything around you, shapes, colors textures, I spy with my little eye...

Play with clay, the dollhouse, dress their dolls, anything crafty, and talk about it, how things feel, etc.

Ask questions, encourage dialog...

 

QUOTE(Snittens @ May 9 2007, 08:07 PM) [snapback]249537[/snapback]
Now that you put it like that, I feel like I do nothing! I point out things in our everyday life. Like right now we're sort of working on colors, so I ask what color something is, or I tell them the different colors of objects. We watch Signing Time every day, so they pick up stuff from that. I read them books and also have started showing them numbers, they know a lot of body parts so we work on that. I guess nothing formal, maybe I'm a slacker. :unsure:


I did pretty much the same thing. I personally hate flashcards unless they are used for learning math facts--and that is coming from a special ed teacher. And despite no routine/scheduled learning, my boys are going to Kindergarten, one of whom reads and does math at a 2nd grade level--so I don't think not having a formal routine for "learning" harmed him in any way. Kids have plenty of time to learn. Toddlers and preschoolers learn through play and experience. Just every day experience is what they need--enjoy those early years, don't stress out over teaching them, and it will happen naturally!

 

QUOTE(sharongl @ May 9 2007, 09:25 PM) [snapback]249607[/snapback]
Toddlers and preschoolers learn through play and experience. Just every day experience is what they need--enjoy those early years, don't stress out over teaching them, and it will happen naturally!



Thats a good way to put it!! Thanks!!! I still would like something more to do with them then just winging it everyday...but I should learn to be a little less preoccupied, and work on having fun with them!! I know Im good at that...

 

We live, that is what I do everyday to educate my children. Seriously, we just go about our day and they learn. I do alot of the things mentioned, read books/sing songs/I spy with my little eye/puzzles/board games/outside play but I have never done any of it with the intention of teaching them something just living.

 

QUOTE(Dianne @ May 9 2007, 09:00 PM) [snapback]249765[/snapback]
We live, that is what I do everyday to educate my children. Seriously, we just go about our day and they learn. I do alot of the things mentioned, read books/sing songs/I spy with my little eye/puzzles/board games/outside play but I have never done any of it with the intention of teaching them something just living.


I kind of have the same philosophy. We go grocery shopping or run errands. And sure we try and make it to maybe a library story time, and we have a weekly mommy and me class we go to, but I do not do anything structured to help them learn. They learn through experiences. That means no flashcards, educational DVDs (like Signing Times), or anything like that. We just go about our days, and they are usually packed!

One disclaimer though...I do try and make sure that I get a balance in of gross motor and fine motor activities. For example, we might do puzzles, but then we move on to riding tricycles. Then we might do playdough, and then do some dancing/playing music. Hannah could sit and do fine motor activities all day (coloring, stickers, playdough, puzzles) and Ben would be perfectly happy to run up and down the hallway all day. So I try and provide lots of opportunities for both.

 

I count the steps in our house when we walk up them. We count the things in our cart when we shop and we practice colors all the time. Other then that I don't really do anything except take them out play with them and talk to them. They are two...seriously do we need to start formal learning that early. I am a teacher and think that at this age it is more about their experiences and playing. I don't want mine to be burnt out by the time they are 10. That is one of the reasons we chose the childcare center we did. I felt the first was too rigid and structured for two year olds! It seemed more like regular school.

 

QUOTE(bkimberly @ May 10 2007, 12:47 PM) [snapback]249967[/snapback]
I count the steps in our house when we walk up them. We count the things in our cart when we shop and we practice colors all the time. Other then that I don't really do anything except take them out play with them and talk to them. They are two...seriously do we need to start formal learning that early. I am a teacher and think that at this age it is more about their experiences and playing. I don't want mine to be burnt out by the time they are 10. That is one of the reasons we chose the childcare center we did. I felt the first was too rigid and structured for two year olds! It seemed more like regular school.

YES! I agree totally and am a teacher too! I ran across a book that I keep meaning to buy "Einstein Never Used FlashCards". I advocate flashcards for my 9-12th graders to learn the COPIOUS biology vocabulary but not for babies!

We look at colors in the store, count groceries and rocks and bugs outside and our toes and name everything in our yard, but NOTHING formal!

 

Nikki, there really isn't an author, it's a teachers resource book from the Evan-Moor company. I noticed it in one of my catalogs. I just ordered it yesterday, and haven't seen it yet, so I can't even say how good it will be. Here it is on amazon (this is where I ordered mine). They seem to have the lowest price for the used books.

http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Young-Child...5892&sr=8-1

 

My favorites are: when pushing on the swing we count in english and french and we do the alphabet. I find pushing on the swing so boring, so this passes the time and teaches something.

We Love books at our house so we do a lot of reading throughout the day and at bedtime. 2 books at bedtime - a new one and then always Goodnight Moon.

I don't know how I would survive without nursery rhymes and singing songs to keep one busy verbally while I do something with the other. Or when I pop out of the room.