HYDERABAD: Mothers are considered to be the first and the best teachers for a child. But many are confused about what they can teach them at the age when they are still learning to walk steadily. Mona Singh, from Sesame Street Preschool suggests a few tips one can follow before they begin formal education
Being independent
This can be done by setting daily routines for the child and giving him/her opportunity to do simple tasks like moving objects from one place to another, placing spoon in a bowl, brushing, eating by self.
Being social
Simply by ensuring that your child is exposed to other members of the society by setting routines like social outings, evening park visits etc can help the child develop social skills.
Being responsible
Create an opportunity for the children to be responsible by giving them tasks, or objects like plants or pets to take care of. As they become the care giver to that plant/pet, they also learn what responsibility is.
Inculcate love for learning
Expose the child to age appropriate books like bath books, board books, picture books from time to time to inculcate love for books.
Training to lose and win gracefully
Play games together as a family and expose the child to the rules of games, taking turns and accepting the outcome gracefully. Playing simple games like catch and throw, peekaboo, spot the colour and many more can help the child learn skills like sharing, collaborating, taking turns and understanding outcomes of games.
Developing critical thinking
Instead of presenting solution to every single problem that your child faces, let him/her look for solutions to a problem. This can be done by simple activities at home like playing obstacle games, hide and seek with objects etc.