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True. I just question doing it (too much) at such an early age, if only because every time they play when they're 2 years old they're also probably learning as

True. I just question doing it (too much) at such an early age, if only because every time they play when they're 2 years old they're also probably learning as well. Just last night my daughter was putting Hotwheels down a ramp in different ways, trying to do 2 at once, etc.

lelanthran 3y ago
Sure, but I'm not advocating for "too much". My toddler has a routine - everyday we have a lesson at a particular point in time. No exceptions. But ... I use my discretion. The minute he gets bored, or fidgety, or stops paying attention during the lesson (assuming that he wasn't so before the lesson), I end the lesson. I also change up the lesson plan if he seems (prior to even starting the lesson) irritable or in the wrong mood - "Today we are going to draw a picture of a car/toy/garden/etc". This means that some days our lesson is 5m, some days it goes on for 40m (reare, but it happens), some days we learn to read something, some days we simply stroll in the garden examining bugs and the different colors they come in, some days we learn to write new words. It's not a game[1] to him, it's a lesson, and it's not the lesson that's important, it's the routine. My intention is not primarily to teach him, it's to normalise the concept of homework before he reaches the point that he gets given any. And, yeah, the routine is initially forced. Just like brushing teeth. Or bedtime. Or eating vegetables. After a week or too, there's no longer any actual bribing, cajoling, pleading or threatening going on to make him come to the lesson room. Now, it just happens. Without the initial enforcement, things like lessons, brushing of teeth, baths, etc just wouldn't happen, so even the most progressive minded parent is still going to have to enforce stuff on the kid, whether they like to think of themselves as a non-forceful parent or not. [1] Games are negotiable, games are optional, games are always fun, games are played at any time. Don't make the mistake of letting the child think of the lessons as a game; it makes it difficult to enforce the routine later. Instead, make the lesson fun, while making sure that the child does not confuse it with "game". And yes, this is my second child. Calling lessons/learning a game really was an eye-opener for me with the first child.

lelanthran 3y ago

Sure, but I'm not advocating for "too much". My toddler has a routine - everyday we have a lesson at a particular point in time. No exceptions. But ... I use my discretion. The minute he gets bored, or fidgety, or stops paying attention during the lesson (assuming that he wasn't so before the lesson), I end the lesson. I also change up the lesson plan if he seems (prior to even starting the lesson) irritable or in the wrong mood - "Today we are going to draw a picture of a car/toy/garden/etc". This means that some days our lesson is 5m, some days it goes on for 40m (reare, but it happens), some days we learn to read something, some days we simply stroll in the garden examining bugs and the different colors they come in, some days we learn to write new words. It's not a game[1] to him, it's a lesson, and it's not the lesson that's important, it's the routine. My intention is not primarily to teach him, it's to normalise the concept of homework before he reaches the point that he gets given any. And, yeah, the routine is initially forced. Just like brushing teeth. Or bedtime. Or eating vegetables. After a week or too, there's no longer any actual bribing, cajoling, pleading or threatening going on to make him come to the lesson room. Now, it just happens. Without the initial enforcement, things like lessons, brushing of teeth, baths, etc just wouldn't happen, so even the most progressive minded parent is still going to have to enforce stuff on the kid, whether they like to think of themselves as a non-forceful parent or not. [1] Games are negotiable, games are optional, games are always fun, games are played at any time. Don't make the mistake of letting the child think of the lessons as a game; it makes it difficult to enforce the routine later. Instead, make the lesson fun, while making sure that the child does not confuse it with "game". And yes, this is my second child. Calling lessons/learning a game really was an eye-opener for me with the first child.