Wednesday, February 2, 2011
What's the secret?
As I observed many people working with toddlers in different settings, I noticed that successful teachers and parents seemed "tuned in" to the toddlers. They were able to pick up and expand upon what the children do naturally, building upon children's interests rather than constantly restricting and prohibiting them, while at the same time setting consistent and appropriate limits. They were not so much preoccupied with "teaching" children and cramming endless facts into their young heads as they were in sharing in child's joy of discovery. They encouraged, arbitrated, explained and demonstrated a knack for providing just the right challenge to the young explorers.
Toddlers
Toddlers are learners. They seem to spend every waking moment trying to figure out how the world works. As they develop new skills like climbing or walking, they have to find out just how far that skill will take them, and practise it over and over again. Being around children of this age requires energy and attention because our little investigators can get into trouble quickly. However, being exposed to toddlers has the inevitable result of reminding the adult of what is wonderful and exciting in life.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
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