Children, especially five and under, are so eager to connect with adults. Here are some easy ways to build your little one's confidence and their knowledge, with some advice from the organization, Born Learning.
In the early months, learn what makes your baby happy. Whether it's singing, swinging or following your fingers, give your baby fun experiences.
Also, Connect language to everyday experiences - it helps your baby learn to speak and eventually read better.
Once they start speaking, turn an errand into a fun learning game that helps your child make sense of the surrounding world. If your child likes trucks, look for trucks as you drive and see who can yell "truck" first.
When they get older, and more curious, encourage your preschooler to help you cook. For example, if a recipe calls for three eggs, ask her to get three eggs from the fridge. She'll feel like she's helping, and counting will help develop her math skills.
Turning chores, like laundry, into learning activities can also help with your child's math skills. Ask him to identify colors, help you separate lights and darks, or count the number of socks.
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or childcare professional, you have a rewarding - and at times challenging - job of molding these tender young minds.
To learn more about how to help your child Excel by 5, click here.