Infant Education

Parents may have varying opinions on when to start infant education.If there’s one thing all parents can agree on, it’s that you want the best for your children. You want your child to grow up happy, loved, confident and independent. One of the ways you can help your child to achieve these goals, is to make sure she gets a good education. As parents compete to give their children the best education from an early age, some experts argue that childhood is being squeezed out of existence, so where should you draw the line? How soon is too soon for education?

What counts as infant education?

Education doesn’t need to be academic, and it doesn’t need to take place in a school. Your child has been learning new things ever since the day she was born. Everything your child experiences play a part in her education. Seeing education in this new way can help to reevaluate what is considered to be infant education.

Being the teacher

As the parent, you are your child’s biggest influencer and greatest teacher. Everything you say and do, especially do, is learned by your child. Children learn and play through imitation. You may notice that your baby mirrors your facial features and repeats sounds, this is her way of learning about social interactions and language. Your toddler will play at being ‘you’. She will take on your role to her toys – mothering them, cooking for them and reading them stories.

Teaching real skills

Simply by living your life, you are teaching your child valuable skills for the future. By interacting with her in a respectful way, you are teaching her to respect others. By showing empathy when she is upset, you are teaching her to empathize with the feelings of others. You are modelling behaviour for her all day long, and this means you must be careful about the things you do and say. Your child will be just as quick to pick up negative behaviours.

Everyday learning

Learning doesn’t have to be boring, here are some fun ways to include education in your daily routine:

• talk about it – as well as improving your child’s language skills, talking to your child will also enhance her understanding of the world around her. Narrate your day to your child, talk about the things you see and do, pointing out colors and numbers along the way.
• listen – you may be surprised at how much your child already knows. Listen to what she has to say, and answer any questions she may have. Don’t dismiss the why questions, instead embrace them and use them as a teaching opportunity. If you don’t know the answer, look it up together.
• follow your child’s lead – the best way to encourage your child to enjoy education, is to let her lead the way. If she shows an interest in nature, find ways to teach her more about it. Go for nature walks, collect objects you find along the way, and create an art project with them when you return home. Embrace your child’s natural interests, and follow her lead when she chooses new ones.

Creating childhood memories can help with infant education

Try not to worry about your child’s education, let the professionals focus on that when your child reaches school age. While your child is young, you should focus instead on building childhood memories. Go for walks, build dens, have adventures, explore, laugh and play together. Never underestimate the power of play, it offers great opportunity for learning.