Intellectual Development

Infants and young children are naturally wired to learn, even before they’re born. These little sponges learn all the time from everything that happens around them.

Would you believe that some of your child’s most important learning happens through play? It’s true! When you allow your child spans of uninterrupted time to play and explore on his own, you’re promoting the start of independence, confidence and imagination.

As a parent you are your child’s first and best teacher. Relax! That doesn’t mean that you have to ‘teach’ all the time. Learning is not about memorizing ABC’s or counting to a thousand. It’s simply about helping your child understand what’s going on in the world around him.

Just follow his interests. If your child shows you a black and yellow spider on a bush outside your door, support his excitement by finding a book about spiders at the library. When it’s bedtime, send him off with a hug and your noisy, off-key version of the Itsy Bitsy Spider!

Finally, find some ways to include your child in your daily activities. Two-year-olds can be taught to feed your pet. Four-year-olds are fascinated by stacking cans in the cupboard. Five-year-olds actually want to use toilet brushes.

Be patient and positive with your child’s efforts. Remember the first time you skied or roller skated? Well, everything is just that new to your child!