Italk Library
Early Learning
Italk Library
Early Learning
A child’s early years play an essential role in the kind of adult they grow into. Young minds are easy to mold and need the right direction to be happy, functional, independent adults. The three areas of a child’s development…
The first advice we can give to parents is to observe their child in doing their homework and to pay attention to any “alarm bells” of a DSA.Recognize and accept that their child may have some school difficulties (and maybe…
Today, parents and educators observe with pride and wonder children who still can not speak or walk, but with skill and security distinguish the remote control from the air conditioning and quickly turn on PCs and mobile phones, identifying without…
How to Enhance Your Child’s Learning Ability in their Childhood
A child’s early years play an essential role in the kind of adult they grow into. Young minds are easy to mold and need the right direction to be happy, functional, independent adults. The three areas of a child’s development that we will discuss are physical development, Intellectual development and Social development. All these areas can be nurtured through various methods such as educational games, one on one discussions, simple physical exercises etc. Here are some easy tips to follow in your day to day lives with your young-lings.
Physical development
Physical development includes the changes in a toddler’s physical maturity of the body, size and physical abilities in coordination. Gross motor skills refer to the child’s ability to use large muscles. An example of that might be a toddler learning to stand by leaning against objects. Then there are fine motor skills which refer to a child’s ability to use small muscles, specifically their hands and fingers e.g using a color pencil.
The trick to developing a child’s physical strength lies in the little things. Let your child grab and carry easy objects around the house.They could even do simple chores like cleaning surfaces. This lets them develop grip and strength. Walking with objects also helps children improve their balance. It is very important to let your children run and play in open spaces such a parks. Lastly, be sure to give your child a proper diet that aids not only their growth but their strength as well.
Intellectual development
Intellectual growth or in other words the physical growth of the brain, includes learning to use language. It entails the ability to reason and solve problems by organizing thought and ideas.
The first and most important tool that will help you develop this skill is discussions. Have long conversations with your children even if you feel that they do not fully understand. Answer their questions and do not dismiss them. Help them understand why, how or what. Discussions with your child can also develop their moral and emotional skills. It makes them feel more informed, feel loved and attended to. At an early age start reading books to them and as they grow older, with them. Reading is key in learning language.
A young child has the capacity to learn up to 6 languages. Another method of developing linguistic skills is to let your children watch informative cartoons. Cartoons stimulate both the right and left side of your child’s brain. Of course over indulging in cartoons or unsupervised screen time can be harmful also. Lastly let your child develop all five senses by playing sensorial games. Let them feel different textures, smell and taste new things rather than shutting them down because of a potential mess or so on.
Social Development
Social skills start developing as soon as your child is born. Take your children out to gathering and crowds so that they feel comfortable around people. Of course be cautious of who they interact with. Children do as they see.
In order for your children to learn social skills you must demonstrate to them what these skills are in your daily interactions. Take your children to the park or a child care ballarat where they can interact with children their own age. Let them interact with animals or even get them a pet. This helps them develop social skills beyond just having to hold a conversation. With pets one learns non-verbal language or gestures which is just as important as verbal communication.
Although each child is born with preset genes that determine factors of their development that they might not be able to change but nevertheless behavior can be developed through nurturing. So remember to give your child lots of love, attention and support !
Advice for parents
The first advice we can give to parents is to observe their child in doing their homework and to pay attention to any “alarm bells” of a DSA.Recognize and accept that their child may have some school difficulties (and maybe a DSA) is the first step to help you because it allows you to intervene and support it.
If you think you have a child with learning difficulties, you should contact specialists who can do a DIAGNOSIS and ascertain if it is a DSA.
If there is a diagnosis of DSA, it is necessary that the parents inform the school of diagnosis and deliver it to the secretariat to be registered . This will allow the school to activate all indications to protect the right to education for students with DSA, as expressed by the law 170/2010.
Once the problem has been given a name to the diagnosis of DSA, many parents wonder how they can help their child achieve the full autonomy he needs to regain confidence in himself. Over the years, the ever deeper knowledge and experience of those who have already passed through it have made it possible to draw up a sort of advice that we hope will be useful.
First of all you must be aware of the fact that your child is dyslexic and that this is not your fault or the school’s fault or the child’s fault. Dyslexia is characteristic, as can the color of the eyes or hair. Accept it and try to grasp the positive aspects to face it to the fullest.
Your child is the first person who knows he has a particularity so talk to him, ask his mood and feel his feelings to understand the facets of dyslexia so as to enable him to become aware and help him acquire more autonomy.
Even if your child is dyslexic this does not mean he does not like reading. It is important to read him often books of fiction and of various kinds so as to help him to enrich his vocabulary but also to be able to interact with his peers on the same topics of interest to them. If you can not read for him there are audiobooks and books in digital format that compensate for the lack of time that often haunts us.
When you read do not do it considering your child a passive spectator, but make it participate and engage in reading reading together.
The child with DSA, like any child, is very curious. So try to talk to him as often as possible and deal with any kind of topic this will allow him to satisfy his curiosity and to always feel part of the family life as a relevant person and who can make his own contribution. This is very important for its psychological development and for the growth of its self-esteem, often undermined by the negative view of itself.
In the game with your child you prefer card games, or table games such as monopolies, memory cards, puzzles, etc. They help to develop concentration and to maintain attention. They are very creative and imaginative children so allow him to play with pongo, plasticine, glue, etc .. you will help them to develop the fine dexterity. Do not neglect the rhymes, the nursery rhymes, the songs they allow to train the memory.
When watching television, always be with your child and comment on what you see.
Try to highlight your child’s ability and qualities, promote activities where he excels. Always try to show him his strengths.
EARLY LEARNING: LEARNING FROM SMALL IS EASIER!
Today, parents and educators observe with pride and wonder children who still can not speak or walk, but with skill and security distinguish the remote control from the air conditioning and quickly turn on PCs and mobile phones, identifying without problems the right button to press (the so-called digital natives ).
ARE WE FACING SMALL GENES ?
Children – even very young ones – are “bombarded” by information and stimuli coming from the reality that surrounds them and simply repeat the actions they see adults doing. They are like sponges and they learn continuously, regardless of our real educational purpose, and for this it is important to provide them with the right stimuli.
The first years of life are fundamental for learning and it is a big mistake to think that a newborn does not understand “why it is small”, since in reality it already has unimaginable potential and an exceptional capacity for comprehension and assimilation. We must not forget that intelligence is also the result of the opportunities provided and of the stimuli coming from the surrounding environment and that the brain “grows with use” . To those who believe that learning at an early age may represent an excessive effort and that can steal something from childhood, scholars reply that for children learning is the most beautiful, unconscious and at the same time natural activity there is.
They are greedy and eager to know , attracted by the news and full of satisfaction and joy when they show their progress. We are adults who, over time and with our attitude, we lead them to believe that studying is just a boring and hard work.
HOW CAN ONE STIMULATE THE INTELLIGENCE OF ONE’S CHILD ?
Obviously, you can not go to the desk and give lessons in the “classic” way and the parent should not charge the child with excessive apprehensions and expectations, or personal ambitions. The purpose of early learning is not to become the first in the class, but to have the opportunity to transform one’s potentials into knowledge and skills. The starting point is the scientific result that after two to three years learning to read, to speak a foreign language or to get to grips becomes more and more difficult and this means that, paradoxically, when the child at six years officially begins his course of study, the immense learning capacity of which he was gifted at birth is already beginning to decrease.
STIMULATE TO READ
As for READING , it is important to favor a pleasant meeting between the book and the child from the first months of life . This will not only encourage the acquisition of the skills necessary to learn how to read and write, but will also help to create a special moment to share with mom and dad.
At the beginning the child will participate in the reading only trying to nibble the pages or to appropriate the book, but then slowly begin to observe the figures and feel through the different materials of which the game books are designed specifically for the little ones . Pages cardboard, of cloth or wood, noises and rustles coming from the sheets, windows that open and allow to animate the reading … The first books allow a multisensory reading . The child will love the rhythm of the stories he will listen to and learn to read the figures and then the words associated with them in an almost natural way, recognizing actions and objects familiar to him and learning to know others. According to the Glenn Doman method (founder of the Institutes for the Development of Human Potential) children are even able to read single words at one year, sentences at two years and entire books at three years.
STIMULATE TO LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Even LANGUAGES are learned much more easily and with more success in preschool and in addition to songs, rhymes, games and multilingual cartoons, are increasing the foreign language courses for mothers and children. The ear of the little ones is much more attentive and their mind is much more open and malleable, which allows learning the right pronunciation and intonation, a capacity that is reduced by growing.
