A child often needs a little help before performing a new gesture or a new task, such as putting on clothes, drinking from a glass, cutting up, asking a friend to lend him a toy, counting or throwing. He also needs help to do some learning.
How To Encourage The Desire To Learn?
To develop his confidence & desire to learn, it is necessary to help the child do something by himself, without doing it for him. It is called shoring.
It is, therefore, a question of accompanying the child affectionately by observing his actions & directing him according to his requirements. As the baby progresses, the support they receive gradually decreases. He is thus encouraged to practice his new know-how alone, which allows him to develop new skills. It helps him to become more and more independent.
It is important that this accompaniment is done in a pleasant context and that the child has enough time to practice & grow his independence. He then gains confidence in his capabilities & learns that his parents, or any other person who assists him in his learning, are there to guide him warmly when he needs it.
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Child’s Motivations and Abilities
For example, if your child plays with trucks. You can name them to enhance his game when the situation is right. You can say to him: “You are playing with the cement mixer. Do you know what it is used for in a construction site? »
You can also take advantage of your child’s interest in motivating him to learn more. For example, if your child shows little interest in numbers but loves songs and rhymes a lot, you could sing them rhymes that involve numbers (e.g., “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, Violette, Violette” and “10 sheep, nine sparrows… a green mouse”). Thanks to these nursery rhymes, your child may become more motivated to discover the world of numbers.
Difficulty Performing A Task
Your child may not be able to complete a task, even with your support (e.g. cutting a sheet with scissors). If so, it may simply mean that he is not “ready” for this learning. Do not insist because it may make the experience unpleasant for him.
To help your toddler in this situation, you could add scissors to the playdough box and observe if your child uses the scissors with something other than paper. You could also use clothes, pegs or other everyday objects to stimulate his fine motor skills. It is important to stay in the context of play and provide appropriate challenges for your child.
How To Support Your Child’s Learning?
There are several ways to support your child in scaffolding to support him in his learning. Here are some examples to help and guide him.
- Break the task down into several simple steps. For example, it is sometimes difficult for young children to dress themselves. You can teach him first to put on his socks, then place his shoes to distinguish the left from the right, and then put them on. When your child has mastered one stage, accompany him to another.
- Encourage your child’s initiative when he manages to button a few buttons or put his shoes on the right foot, For example. Encouragement is important to give him confidence.
- Make it easier for him by doing a part he can’t do independently. For example, you can hold the bottom of his coat’s zipper so he can pull it up himself. With this little help, your child will experience success. You can then name the actions you take so that your little one can later imitate you to tie his coat himself.
- Gradually reduce the support you offer your child to encourage him to practice his new skills. If, for example, he manages to put on his shoes correctly and tie his shoelaces, do not do it for him (unless your child does not feel able to do so for various reasons). However, give him the time to do so in a pleasant context. The next step will be to support him to learn to make the loop.
- Encourage your child to ask questions. For example, he shows interest in his block tower by saying, “You built a big tower. Do you know how many blocks you placed? So you take advantage of the opportunity to get him to count blocks. Pay attention to the numbers he names, and when he’s finished, add a few: “after seven, it’s…8, 9.
- Make suggestions if needed. For example, when your child tries to feed himself, you can make him a proposal to guide him. Observe your child’s attempts first, as he needs to experiment independently. If he can’t do what he wants, you can show him with words without doing it for him. For example, if your child tries to feed himself and the food falls out because his mouth is not open enough, suggest that he open his mouth wide. You can show him how. Comment on his actions and value his efforts.
- Act as a model in a game. You can have fun dressing one of her dolls together. This game can lead him to reproduce the same steps when he dresses.
- Draw your child’s attention to a particular item, for example: “Did you see that line on your glass? Pour milk up to this line. Your child then learns to recognize clues that will guide his actions.
- Complicate your toddler’s games by playing with him. For example, if he is playing with toy food, ask him if he would like to serve a customer. If he accepts, take on the role of the customer in the restaurant and use his memory or improve his language by ordering a starter and a main course. You can also take the opportunity to use polite expressions to be a good role model for him. For example, say, “Hello, I’d like to have carrot soup as a starter and spaghetti with meatballs as a main course, thank you!”
- If you take your child to the grocery store, take the time to involve them. He will be more motivated if some of the purchased items are used in a recipe you will soon be cooking together. For example, encourage your toddler to remember two things you need to buy. He exercises his memory. For example, if you buy baking powder, you can say to your toddler, “Look, it’s the baking powder. You have to put it in the muffins to make them swell. » You can also point out how the different products are grouped in the grocery store (e.g. fruits and vegetables, meats, fish and bread).
- Accompany your child to new challenges. For example, when he is motivated to remove the small wheels from the bicycle, encourage him and reassure him that you will do it together. Then give him directions to support him: “Look straight ahead, I will hold your bench a little while you pedal. » If he falls, encourage him by valuing his efforts. Above all, agree to follow his rhythm.
- Introduce new concepts to your child. When you tell him a story,
- For example, stop to explain certain words: “Do you know what “persevering” means? Listen to what your toddler tells you, and then give him the answer if he doesn’t know the word.
