Your child’s learning environment

In the previous post we dealt with the role of parents, let us now take a look at the environment. What does an environment conducive to your child’s growth and learning look like?

Early learning depends to a great extent on the people and things in a child’s immediate environment. Some of the factors that contribute to a positive environment include personal acceptance of the child’s behaviour by adults, a predictable environment and reduced external stimulation.

There are things that make early learning difficult: fear and uncertainty (sometimes brought on by adults in the home) and passive absorption of continuous sensory stimulation (such as television), among others. You will probably have come across homes where busy adults leave a child sitting in front of TV for extended periods. You probably know how a busy maidservant can give your child a bottle and leave them in front of a TV while they work away in the kitchen.

It is what the child takes to school and not what they get there that enables learning. A stable home and family provides a good foundation for education in the future.

Some practical suggestions for parents

From birth to 18 months

• Most teaching happens as you go about household duties. Help your child develop senses with which to learn (touch, hearing, sight, etc)—mimic sound of animals, let him play in water, see flowers, listen to music and so on.
• A restricted playpen may be used from time to time, but allow freedom in the house or outside.
• Sing to your son or daughter, play recordings of lullabies. Bath time or bed time is a great opportunity to play quiet music.
• At 3 months you can take baby on tour of the house to show him/her objects of various sizes, shapes, colours, textures
• When the weather allows, take the child outdoors to explore nature and other objects outside
• Have a special activity time (20 or 30 minutes) every day, if possible.

1 year to 3 years

• Allow the child to work with you. In their world, there is no difference between work and play. This may require you to work slowly and with patience, but it is the best preschool education you can give them.
• Give the child finger food to eat and teach them to chew thoroughly
• Encourage independence: have the child help dress, undress and bathe him/herself.
• The child should learn to care for his clothes and keep his drawer neat.
• Shortly after 2 years, the child should be able to wash own hands and brush his teeth. They can also put away their toys.
• Introduce the child to rhythm and melody by using bells, clapping hands and moving hands.
• The child needs to sleep 12-14 hours daily.  (Source: Raymond S. Moore, et al, “School can wait”, Brigham Young University Press)

We shall consider some more suggestions in the next post.