Young children are like sponges in the way they absorb information. Learning for them is fun and easy as they practice toddler skills with every little activity. Often, they simply need to be provided with the right activities and environment and they will thrive and flourish. It’s easy to think that the ‘real’ learning starts when they begin school but that simply isn’t true.
Everything is a learning experience at this age and there are so many fun, exciting educational activities you can do in these early years. Not only are they fantastic for all areas of their development (from language to improving motor skills) but they really give your child a head start when starting in formal education as many of the foundations for their learning are already in place.
Here are some toddler skills you can do with your preschooler which are great for preparing them for school and the wider world!
Practical skills
There are a range of practical toddler skills that it’s so worth working on with toddlers and young children before they reach school age. These are all things that help them to become more independent, and if you’re sending them to a mainstream school then many of these will be expected. They include:
Potty training
Being able to go to the toilet independently. This includes being able to know when they need to go, use toilet tissue, flush the chain and wash their hands. After your toddler is confidently potty trained you can start encouraging them to use the main toilet and encourage them to do more and more by themselves. It’s a process so it will take time.
Getting themselves dressed
Being able to get changed in and out of their P.E kit and back into their school uniform after physical education is important. Give them the opportunity to get themselves dressed each day and undressed and into their pyjamas each evening. It takes longer compared with just doing it yourself, which is tempting when you’re tired or in a rush. But allowing them the chance to master these skills means that by the time they start school they can get themselves changed with confidence.
Eating
Unfortunately, there are many cases where children reach school age and are still eating baby food or being fed by caregivers. Unless your child has additional needs, there’s no reason this needs to be the case. Neurotypical children have the ability to safely feed themselves by the time they reach school age so work on exploring different foods and practice cutlery, table manners and sitting at the table.
Get your child involved in cooking with age-appropriate tasks, sit together and eat meals and talk about different foods and nutrition to pique their interest. Child nutritionists now recommend putting the ‘main course’ and ‘dessert’ type foods for each meal all on the same plate or serving them together.
As children, many of us had desserts withheld and were used as rewards for eating things like vegetables which can actually cause fixation on the ‘treat’ foods and lead to overindulging. Serving them together means they’re less likely to fixate on sweets and will be able to regulate themselves when eating them in the future since they’ve never been put on a pedestal.
Fitness and stamina
Exercise never needs to feel like a chore for your child. With so much energy, all they need is a safe space to run around. Regular trips to the park or soft play centers will allow them to move around, climb and build up essential muscle strength. You could try out different activity classes and sports, follow your child’s lead to discover their interests and find out where they’re naturally gifted.
A love of the outdoors
In many cases, maintaining an active lifestyle will naturally lead to a love of the outdoors. Spending time outside is so beneficial for children, not only will it lead to more exercise but it’s beneficial for the mental health of both adults and children alike. It’s fun and provides lots of learning opportunities.
You could go on nature trails and point out different plants and animals, there are free worksheets you can get on Pinterest and tick things off along the way. You could paddle in the river or use a fishing net in a rock pool to see what you can find. You could jump in muddy puddles in your wellies, you could collect interesting rocks, leaves, shells and feathers and use them to make different crafts once you get home.
Being in nature is calming and grounding and fostering that love of being outdoors no matter what the weather will set up your child for success in the future.
Simple academics
Working on some simple academic concepts with your toddler can really pave the way for future success. It doesn’t mean your child needs to be doing algebra, keep it simple. Reading together can encourage a love of reading and books. It helps them to concentrate, follow a story and even understand which way we turn the pages and in which direction we read the words on the page.
Scribbling and drawing can help with things like color recognition and how to hold a pencil. Counting and the alphabet can be made fun with songs and games, there are plenty of resources online. Look into providing rubrics for different subjects such as blocks, flashcards, word games and more, and incorporate these into your routine.
Chances are, you do these sorts of things already with your toddler without even considering that they’re valuable learning experiences. But if there are any areas you think you’re lacking in, spend some time and give your toddler the chance to practice and master these skills. Keep it lighthearted and fun!
What skills is your child working on at the moment?