For the first birthday of The Learning Site, we had chillicon pizza and smoked sausage pasta for dinner. We also blew an imaginary candle on black sambo, wishing more preschoolers will be able to use our free learning materials in the coming years.
the pizza and the sweet sambo,
the imaginary candle,
the graphic designer
and his cook.
Toddlers have a battery of questions prepared for adults. They may suddenly ask, “Why does corned beef have no corn?” “Why is the blue sky so high and the ocean so deep?” or “What do ants do during winter?” Their genuine, never-ending inquisition is charming, but adults run out of answers and they get exhausted, too.
The reason why kids ask questions is very simple – they need answers. As they cultivate awareness, they get curious of movements, structures, colors, of the mere existence of things around them.
This reaction can be considered a natural human tendency. When people see something new, they raise questions until they are cognitively satisfied. This principle is applicable to toddlers, too. For them, the sound of an electric fan, the sight of a rainbow and the concept of heaven are simple wonders worth investigating. Adults may consider them trite, but since kids have just started to explore the world on their own, everything appeals to their senses.
Asking questions is a form of communication. Hence, when tots start to get inquisitive, take it as an opportunity to explore what’s in their mind. If the questions have underlying implications, don’t just let them slip away. Do they seem too preoccupied with the cartoon characters they see on television? Perhaps their attention can be diverted to games that promote social interaction. If they ask, “Why does Daddy always come home late?” evaluate the time you and your spouse spend with the kids.
Patience in providing truthful answers is another good way of dealing with curiosity. The University of Michigan researchers had found out that kids who hear a good explanation would most likely agree or make a follow-up question. Those who feel dissatisfied repeat their original question or provide an alternative answer. This finding suggests that adults must not deprive kids with the process of active learning.
The next time kids ask you a question, stay cool and answer it in a manner they will understand. Your effort and gentleness will be greatly appreciated.
A toy can serve as a great medium for learning. Most people assume it’s meant to entertain kids, but the not-so-emphasized fact is, it supports the idea of make-believe. With toys as props, kids imagine an actual scenario and build a conversation from it. This is a great way of preparing them for their life ahead because they get to develop the qualities or abilities listed below.
Using toys in a dramatic play allows kids to put themselves in the shoes of the people around them. For instance, when they play with a cooking set, they take the role of a mother preparing dinner for the family. When they frolic with attractive flowers, they can pretend they are gardening in the yard or selling bouquets at a shop. When they play with cars, they pretend to be drivers caught in the midst of a traffic jam.
This paves way for the development of empathy, a very important quality in enriching the emotional intelligence of a child. When they understand the importance of a role, they develop a sense of respect, and they learn how to deal with people in a courteous way.
Children are still in the process of building their vocabulary and constructing sentences. To minimize this communication barrier, kids can utilize toys to let them express their thoughts and emotions. When a girl hugs a doll or a life-sized stuffed bear, it’s a clear indicator of affection. When a boy imagines a Titanic-like ship sinking in the sea and comes up with an idea of lifeguards swimming to rescue passengers, it helps him convey the concept of survival. They may not eloquently express what they think and feel but with the assistance of toys, they can arrange their thoughts and manifest what’s going on inside them.
Children also have the potential to think outside the box. If you give them a toy monkey, they can imagine it climbing a tree, eating a banana, twirling, riding a cloud, taking a shower, playing with a dog, etc. If you give them blocks, they can arrange them to form a house, a robot, a train, a table, a spaceship or anything that comes into their mind.
This implies that experimenting with toys is a great exercise for enhancing their creativity. It stimulates their brain and brings out their amazing ideas. As a positive consequence, kids will be more prepared to face challenges, adjust with the environment and make future decisions. They will gradually acquire self-confidence and control over the things happening around them.
In a nutshell, using toys that support active learning lets kids explore reality in their own manner. This forms part of their emotional, verbal and cognitive development. Enough time must be spent for make-believing and playing around with toys for they bring not only fun but also awareness of the complexities of life.
Children are very picky eaters and it is often hard to convince them to stay away from junk food. Preventing them from munching candy bars is often a challenge for every parent. Some parents tend to tirelessly remind their kids to eat right. While it is effective to some cases, at times this strategy just doesn’t work.
Teaching your kids to eat healthy food will depend on your kid’s age. Older children can be taught about the food pyramid, but younger children like preschoolers do not have a concrete idea of how it really works. Take advantage of the fact that these children are very visual. If they are very picky with food, catch their eye with a very attractive food plate or fun place mat.
Every meal should be fun for the child or else they will lose their appetite. Besides presenting them a very attractive plate, you also have to make the experience enjoyable. Forcing the child to eat will only make them dreading every meal. This pushes them towards the idea of sweet, enjoyable snacks. Entertain them with a story about the food that they are about to eat. Tell them food facts to stir their interest.
Just because kids cannot fathom the food pyramid doesn’t mean you can’t introduce the recommended daily diet to them. Create a meal plan for your kid involving all different food groups and the required amount for every group. Introduce healthy food for children slowly but creatively.
It’s also a great practice to set an example for them. When you spend time eating healthy food with them, it gives them a sense of approval and encouragement.
Cooking is a pastime that parents can share with their children. It gives them an opportunity to bond and at the same time it can be a start for fostering the love for food and passion for cooking. Parents can start teaching cooking to kids as early as three years old. As soon as the child starts becoming responsible and starts to help you with doing your chores, you can start teaching them how to cook.
Start teaching your kids very simple chores that they can perform in the kitchen while you are cooking. You can show them how to wash fruits and vegetables and have them follow you. Cooking food that requires cutting and using knives during preparation can be put off when they’re older.
Baking is a very good activity that they can do in your kitchen. It is safer for very young children because they do not need to come in contact with sharp objects or anything else that could harm them. Have them help you in putting batter into their containers or making shapes out of cookie cutters. You can also ask them to help you roll things on your baking sheet, but keep them away from your oven or its hot surface.
If you’re teaching your child how to prepare food and how to cook it, make sure you also teach them about cleaning up. Ask them to help you wash the plates that you used in preparing the food. You can already designate them to clean the area that you have prepared your food in.
Remember that throughout the whole activity, you need to always keep an eye on your child and supervise them. There are many things in the kitchen that could cause them injury. Always observe safety precautions when teaching cooking to kids.
