“Playing School”
When you consider what subjects come easiest for yourself to learn, there is likely something within those that you find enjoyable. It could be learning the guitar so you can play like a favourite musician, learning a new dish to impress your partner, or how to fix small engines and appliances.
On the other hand, consider what was very hard for you to learn. It is probably something like Calculus, computer coding, or for some that previous guitar example might fit a little better in this category. You have very little background knowledge to draw from, or the teaching method is dry. It is a cycle of passive and then frustrating experiences that test your resolve until you call it quits.
Your toddler is no different, though they are not quite at the discrete math learning stage just yet. Children aged 18 months to 4 years old are still learning about the world around them, and starting to figure out their own place within that world. Allowing them to play with educational toys, create art work, and interact with others will allow them an immersive learning experience in which they are engaged and developing.
With calculus, music, cooking, pretty much anything, there is a language that must first be learned before you can even understand what you don’t know yet. Understanding the unique symbols, measurements, and rules are all the building blocks to mastery. Your toddler is learning all this about something you’ve likely taken for granted by now: day-to-day life. Playing in the bathtub (while supervised) will help them soon be able to pour their own juice. Painting and art will teach them finger dexterity and lay the foundation for when writing is later taught.
The “Flow State” is an amazing place for learning. You are fully engaged, almost reacting without thought, and time seems to change pace. It is when you are faced with a challenge that is just out of your comfort zone enough where you can overcome it, but not so much that it would frustrate you. Learning through play is a great short-cut to the flow state and will allow your toddler to learn in a fun and lasting way.
This is also an incredible time to nurture imagination and creativity. By singing, dressing up in old clothes, imagining whole worlds, your preschooler can learn a lot. Problem-solving skills are built by imagining alternative solutions and possibilities. Put simply, giving your child sufficient room to be creative will make them smarter when they are older.
Learning through play is a vital part of development for all children. This is especially true during the ages of 18 months to 4 years, as they lay groundwork before kindergarten. Help your toddler develop their creativity from a young age and one day, they will be able to learn Calculus better than you could.