Our children are born learning. At first it’s how to eat, they discover the movement of their hands, they learn to recognize mom and dad’s faces, familiar voices and songs. The first year alone is chalk full of learning; from feeding themselves, walking, to imitating sounds, and so much more. Babies don’t have to go to school to learn these things. It comes naturally. Learning isn’t limited to just books; you can educate your children long before they are ready for school.
Learning is innate. But it is a process that requires time and what is often referred to as “scaffolding” in the education profession. Scaffolding refers to how, just like a building is constructed from the ground up, learning starts with a foundation. The brain builds more connections and pathways over time. The more these pathways are used, and connections are made, the more information is retained. For example, for a student to learn about marine animals, it’s important to have some sort of prior knowledge or experience with beaches or oceans. I have read stories of inner-city kids who have never seen a beach, or a field of grass before. How are those student’s supposed to comprehend the vast size of the ocean? Or a lion’s ability to hide in the prairie as it stalks its prey? Prior experiences build foundations upon which learning can be built. This is what the early years are for!
Reading to your child, beginning in infancy, is a great way to expose them to different lands, people, cultures, and animals. Reading is one of the primary foundations for schooling. Reading increases vocabulary, and an understanding of how language works.
Zoos and museums are an infinite source of wonderful sights, new ideas, and exploration. Don’t worry about how many times you have been to the same place. Remember those neural pathways our brains create? Repetition in information creates well-worn pathways that increase retention. So, visit the zoo and look at the same animals twenty five times, or read the same books 9,458,553 times.
Nature is a fantastic place to learn and grow! Walk through the woods and notice all the different types of plants, trees, birds, and animals. Do this through every season to learn about the changes that take place.
Play is one of the biggest building blocks to a successful education. The development of imagination and creativity help build strong critical thinking and observations skills. Allow your child plenty of unstructured playtimes. The more simple the entertainment, the better! I have watched my kids have more fun with sticks and a rope, than their expensive toys. Ingenuity is born out of necessity. Let your kids develop their own games and worlds. Play at parks, play at the beach; play in the mountains, a garden, and your backyard. Each of these environments has something different to offer.
My advice is to not get caught up with the “early is better” frenzy when it comes to formal schooling. Early is not always better; but a nurturing environment filled with books, explorations, and play-time will prepare your child for school better than any work-book, or curriculum can. When they have experiences with a variety of things, they will make faster and stronger connections to new information they gather in school. These connections will develop into pathways. Those pathways will serve them all through their school years if rooted in sound and meaningful experiences.