| Learning toys for toddlers and developmental | | | | Mistake 4: Reading in Private |
| educational activities are important for encouraging | | | | Solution: Make sure your child sees you read regularly |
| and developing the naturally inquisitive minds of the | | | | each day. Don't make taking time out to read a |
| youngest children. However, even if you are a | | | | personal activity or quiet time for you alone. Don't |
| conscientious parent who buys the most highly rated | | | | just read in your bed after your child has gone to |
| toys and books, there are critical mistakes that you | | | | sleep or before they wake up. Let them see that |
| are probably making that could keep your child from | | | | you love to read! |
| being ready to learn. | | | | Mistake 5: Not telling stories to your child |
| You have probably heard at least some of these, but | | | | Solution: Tell stories to your children all the time. |
| here are 7 of the most common mistakes along with | | | | Often, we get into a mindset where we are always |
| positive, corrective steps that you or caregivers in | | | | lecturing our children. At the earliest ages, we tell |
| your child's life can take to help your toddler or | | | | them how to go to the potty, to be careful, to play |
| pre-schooler become an enthusiastic learner. | | | | nicely and that carries into the teenage years when |
| Mistake 1: Not Reading to Your Child Every Day | | | | the stakes are even higher. Get into the habit now |
| Solution: Read to your child at least 20 minutes a day. | | | | of talking to your children about the things you see |
| Discuss each book that your child reads while you are | | | | or people you meet during the day. Share your |
| reading together. This reading time doesn't have to | | | | opinions about current affairs and your personal |
| be all at once. At home, we have a set of 5-Minute | | | | challenges and triumphs. As you've often heard, the |
| Bedtime Stories books that essentially are summary | | | | toddler mind is like a sponge-I swear the more |
| plots from my youngest son's favorite movies (Cars, | | | | stories I tell my youngest son, a two-year old, the |
| Finding Nemo, and more). It's easy to pick one up | | | | more his vocabulary grows! |
| and get some quality reading time in with him, even | | | | Mistake 6: Not watching TV with your child |
| when I'm busy and working under deadlines. | | | | Solution: Of course you have heard that you should |
| Mistake 2: Buying the Wrong Kinds of Books | | | | limit TV watching, especially for children under two |
| Solution: Buy and read picture books with your child. | | | | years old. It's probably more important to be wary of |
| Make sure your child's books have lots of pictures! A | | | | the kinds of shows your child watches. Even |
| recent study by researchers from the University of | | | | cartoons on kid networks can be racy or bizarre. But |
| Michigan and Northwestern University (Gelman, | | | | no matter what you allow your child to watch, don't |
| Waxman and Kleinberg 2008) has found that the | | | | let them watch TV alone. There are so many images |
| very common parent-child activity of picture-book | | | | and messages that they are exposed to during |
| reading may be the most effective way to | | | | television shows and commercials. Watch shows |
| encourage early knowledge and cognitive | | | | together and explain what they are seeing. It's a |
| development. | | | | wonderful learning opportunity. |
| Mistake 3: Hiding Books from Kids | | | | Mistake 7: Not encouraging and participating in |
| Solution: Keep all kinds of reading materials around | | | | unstructured play |
| the house. While it's great to keep a tidy house, | | | | Solution: Encourage and participate in unstructured |
| leave the books out! Make it easy for your child to | | | | play with your child. Over the past two decades, |
| find something to read. When growing up, all of my | | | | research has consistently shown that highly |
| mother's books were easily available on bookshelves | | | | structured learning environments work in opposition |
| in the living room. I was exposed to many books - | | | | to the natural learning processes of pre-school |
| some of which I didn't understand at four and five, | | | | children. Unstructured, self-directed play at that |
| but it sure encouraged my love of reading. As I got | | | | age-range leads to the development of problem |
| older, I re-read the books I was exposed to at a | | | | solving, literacy, creativity and social skills. |
| much younger age. | | | | |