I often get asked how I "taught" my 20-month-old daughter Sophie something, such as her colors, how to count to ten, body parts, animal names and noises, or general language skills. I have a background in teaching, including a Ph.D. in education (my undergraduate degree focused on early childhood education specifically), have spent the past eleven years working in schools, and tutored for several years with a focus on early literacy. However, I don't "teach" my toddler in the way you might imagine. Teaching a toddler shouldn't look like flashcards, explicit instruction, or quizzing them. Instead, it should look like reading and connecting, play, new experiences, and having fun together. I like to make themed home learning shelves, but they are full of hands-on activities that my daughter sees as play. Learning can and should be fun and part of day-to-day life, not limited to a set time or within the boundaries of formal instruction, particularly for toddlers.
So, how do I "teach" my toddler things?
1. Read
I choose books about topics my daughter is interested in and also about topics I would like her to learn more about, such as body parts, animals, or feelings. When looking for books, I pick fairly short books without too much text per page so they hold her attention. I look for books with interesting pictures and features, such as real pictures, flaps to life, and sensory aspects.
We don't just read the books; we frequently talk about them, find or match things in the books (such as a body part, animal figurine, or something of a certain color), and relate them to Sophie's real life (e.g. "Here's a giraffe. We saw giraffes in real life at the zoo!"). We might make the face of an emotion we're reading about or take the book outside and try to find a bird or insect mentioned in it.
We read every day, usually multiple times per day, and keep books available at her level in different areas around our home. I also rotate the books available to her based on her interests, the season or holiday, etc. If you don't have a lot of books, your local library or used bookstore are great resources.
2. Play
For toddlers in particular, learning should feel like play! We offer toys and activities that teach certain skills, but that allow Sophie to feel like she's just playing. We often offer self-correcting materials, such as puzzles or color matching toys. Open-ended toys can be great for learning too. When a child is stacking blocks, they are learning about balance and gravity while also getting to be creative and design something themselves.
Often I play with Sophie and talk to her about the play. For example, if she is playing with animal figurines in a barn, I might name the animals and make their sound or ask her a question such as "which animal is the horse?" (I find that my daughter enjoys pointing things out but often doesn't like being asked to name things). I limit the amount of "quizzing" that I do, though, and try to correct by teaching rather than by correcting traditionally (e.g. "you found the donkey! The horse is right over here. Neigh!").
However, I also give her plenty of opportunities to play independently, and I don't interrupt her when she is concentrating. I respect that her play is important and that she is learning while she plays.
3. Experience New Things
A great way to teach your toddler is to allow them to experience things in real life (when possible). Toddlers learn best through concrete, real experiences. If you would like your toddler to learn about animals, for example, you might visit your local zoo or a farm to give them a foundation for their learning. If they have been showing an interest in nature or living things, you could take a nature walk in your neighborhood or at a local park or hiking trail and see what kinds of flowers, birds, and insects you spot. If you're wanting to develop their language, take a first words book and go on a scavenger hunt around your house to see how many of the items you're able to find. If your toddler is interested in vehicles or construction, find a local construction site where they can observe and learn.
4. Keep it low pressure and have fun!
Always remember that teaching a toddler should be low-pressure and fun! To them, it should feel like play and connection time with you. Avoid any teaching that stresses either of you out or feels forced. Focus on playing, interacting, having fun, and spending time together.
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