Teaching Toddlers
2007-03-23

By D. E. Herrod, B.Ed.E, M.Div

Toddlers are naturally inquisitive and have a love for learning. What children learn during the preschool and toddler years builds the foundation for future academic success. In fact for toddler each day brings multiple opportunities to explore the world and learn new things.

Language acquisition is one of the most important skills a toddler acquires. Do not use “baby talk”. Encourage and all attempts by your child to communicate. Model the language and vocabulary you want your child to acquire. Matter-of-factly correct mistakes made by your child.

Your toddler also needs to begin learning their complete name as well as the names of family members. By the time your child is in kindergarten he or she should know their complete name, birthdate, address and phone number.

Teaching self-help skills such as dressing, eating, potty training are also important for toddler. The successful acquisition of self-help skills increases self-esteem in your toddler. According to Erikson’s the crisis of autonomy vs. shame and doubt is the major focus for 18 to 36 month olds.

Toddlers enjoy helping adults. Allowing your toddler to help you do household tasks or cook provides a natural way to teach readiness skills as well as responsibility. As your child helps you put up the laundry count the number of socks, towels etc. Be sure to touch the items while counting. This reinforces the one-to-one correspondence between counting and items. Many children can route count numbers but have no concept of the number.

Teaching numbers, shapes, colors and other readiness skills should also begin in toddlerhood. The first letters your child should learn are the letters in his or her name. Do not worry about learning the entire alphabet or alphabet song yet. Being able to sing the alphabet song is not the same as knowing the letters of the alphabet. This is also a good time to begin teaching your child to write his or her name. Be sure to teach your child to write his or her name correctly and not in all capital letters. Count everything. As you are walking count the steps or count the toys as you pick them. The best way to learn numbers is to count and count some more.

So what should you teach your toddler? Everything! Take advantage of teachable moments to teach your toddler about their world. Be aware of natural opportunities for learning and teaching.