Keeping it fun

Hi Everyone!
Just wondering what everyone else does/did to keep their toddler interested in learning things instead of just playing!
I try and teach my little one as she goes naming things she picks up and points to or saying the colours of things and counting how many things she has etc. but i have noticed lately that she seems to not like looking at me when i try to show her what something is and im wondering if maybe i should change the way i am teaching her things as she may be getting a bit bored!
So what things do you do that seem to keep them interested?

Oh and does anyone else's toddler refuse to let you read a book to them? LOL

*~Zimbee~* wrote:
Oh and does anyone else's toddler refuse to let you read a book to them? LOL

I WISH!!! LOL mine loves books she love me to read to her all day if I could.

We bought some cheap flash cards from a $2 shop. (baby's first word) and sometimes I will sit with her and go through them, other times I will have them face up on the ground and say where is the star, Baby, Dog, etc.

Also we bought some cheap farm animals to play with and go through what they say.

Have you thought about just letting her play?
Sometimes adults get in the way of childrens creativity and can stifle their imagination by talking to much on a level that is beyond the childs current thinking.
A childs play is their work it is how they discover the world. If you want to encourage her learning give her time to have water play and messy play (mixing some water and cornflour together and then squishing it is fun!).
Children learning from watching, listening, feeling, tasting and doing. Let her help you with baking etc and casually throw in a few things that she find interesting. This way you can incorporate colours etc while you are having fun.
You could try reading to her when she is eating lunch and if she doesn't like it don't worry, just leave it for a while but leave the books around so that she can go to them in her own time.

I find singing songs together really fun smile We sing songs like old macdonald had a farm (so she learns the animal noises), twinkle twinkle, baa baa black sheep, round and round the garden (she has learnt to do the hand thing herself), 12345 once I caught a fish alive, row your boat (she even attempts to sing this one herself), Alphabet song, This is the way we.... *(insert whatever you are doing here)* on a cold and frosty morning (here we go round the mulberry bush). I feel she learns a lot from general music as well, she has a great sense of rhythm.

She has a huge collection of little board books that I leave in her play area so she has access to them all the time and she brings them to me when she wants it read to her. Sometimes she sits and looks at them by herself.

I think just general talking to them as well. When we get dressed I say things like put your arm in, put your leg in, put the socks on your feet. Don't make it formal "teaching" just incorporate it into daily activities smile

I think they learn a lot through playing and discovering on their own too.

Good luck grin

EmilyTheStrange wrote:
*~Zimbee~* wrote:
Oh and does anyone else's toddler refuse to let you read a book to them? LOL

I WISH!!! LOL mine loves books she love me to read to her all day if I could.

We bought some cheap flash cards from a $2 shop. (baby's first word) and sometimes I will sit with her and go through them, other times I will have them face up on the ground and say where is the star, Baby, Dog, etc.

Also we bought some cheap farm animals to play with and go through what they say.

Yeah we have book with the same sort of idea, but i do the the flash cards idea! She loves books but doesnt like the stories, loves looking at the pictures and points when she wants to know what something is or says it when she knows what it is like the "kitty"

Thanks so much for that, thats a great idea!

BellyDancingDanni wrote:
Have you thought about just letting her play?
Sometimes adults get in the way of childrens creativity and can stifle their imagination by talking to much on a level that is beyond the childs current thinking.
A childs play is their work it is how they discover the world. If you want to encourage her learning give her time to have water play and messy play (mixing some water and cornflour together and then squishing it is fun!).
Children learning from watching, listening, feeling, tasting and doing. Let her help you with baking etc and casually throw in a few things that she find interesting. This way you can incorporate colours etc while you are having fun.
You could try reading to her when she is eating lunch and if she doesn't like it don't worry, just leave it for a while but leave the books around so that she can go to them in her own time.

Hey Danni,
Yeah i know exactly what you mean! I leave her to her own devices and she is really good when she plays im not worried that she isnt learning or anything so not too worried, just want to make sure im keeping it fun for her and not giving her things to play with that are not interesting!!
Ahh the kitchen is her fav place to play! We play with the mixing bowls and wooden spoons and make lovely music! I often let her sit with me when i make things, like scones the other day but she was not too keen on touching, she thought it was too squishy!! LOL it was very funny to watch her reactions to my hands having icky stuff on them! She loves playing in the garden and we dig and play but the weather has stopped outdoor play for now as its just way too cold for her to sit out and play in the dirt atm!

I like the idea of reading to her at lunch though as we usually sit down and eat togther so that actually may be something to give a go!!

Thanks danni, really appreciate the advice! grin

[quote post="3205786" name=" just incorporate it into daily activities smile

I think they learn a lot through playing and discovering on their own too.

Good luck grin[/quote]

Ahh yes songs are much more my daughters fav thing to do also! She loves her music and her songs and we sing together a lot, she doesnt seem as interested in the actions as she does dancing to the song though! but i always still do the actions anyway just to make sure she knows she can dance along!
But yes i do like the idea of old mcdonald for the farm animal noises, i dont know how i managed to forget that song! :|

Yes she has a book corner set up as she loves to look at the books and she points to things she knows and says what they are which is so adorable to watch, just does not like it if i start reading them! She will bring them too me but she only likes it if i turn the pages with her, she will often point to things and wants to know what they are or she will get my hand and point to it so i say what it is but yeah never been a fan of having books read to her!

Yes we do the things at dressing time, i ask where do the socks go and she puts her feet in the air ready for socks and i say arms up for shirt to come off and things so i guess im prob doing everything ok, maybe i just need to not worry so much!! LOL

Thanks so much for your help, i think i agree that i should just let her go about her day, i just worry she gets bored and i like to make sure there is enough for her to do!

*~Zimbee~* wrote:
Hi Everyone!
Just wondering what everyone else does/did to keep their toddler interested in learning things instead of just playing!
I try and teach my little one as she goes naming things she picks up and points to or saying the colours of things and counting how many things she has etc. but i have noticed lately that she seems to not like looking at me when i try to show her what something is and im wondering if maybe i should change the way i am teaching her things as she may be getting a bit bored!
So what things do you do that seem to keep them interested?

Oh and does anyone else's toddler refuse to let you read a book to them? LOL

Maybe your interrupting too much? Lol. Maybe your dd is thinking " for goodness sake mum im busy playing stop nagging me about the blue car and the ten goldfish!" Lol.

Dont forget that kids learn by doing things themself as much as by us interacting with them. So many times im shocked when she says/does things and im thinking "hey! I didn't teach you that!" Haha.

You can sing songs in the car, talk about what you can see whilst taking a walk, count the chips/pieces of fruit into her bowl, sing abc in the bath and heads shoulders knees and toys whilst getting dressed.

With the book thing maybe she just wants to hold the book and turn the pages herself? Why nit sit her in your lap and let her manipulate the book while you read?

Kids learn through play. You don't need to "teach" them, they will get it if you just give them the opportuntity minus the pressure. The others have said it. Just relax. If a kid is bored with a toy, they don't play with it. They are very genuine. wink

~NoDdY~ wrote:

Maybe your interrupting too much? Lol. Maybe your dd is thinking " for goodness sake mum im busy playing stop nagging me about the blue car and the ten goldfish!" Lol.

Dont forget that kids learn by doing things themself as much as by us interacting with them. So many times im shocked when she says/does things and im thinking "hey! I didn't teach you that!" Haha.

You can sing songs in the car, talk about what you can see whilst taking a walk, count the chips/pieces of fruit into her bowl, sing abc in the bath and heads shoulders knees and toys whilst getting dressed.

With the book thing maybe she just wants to hold the book and turn the pages herself? Why nit sit her in your lap and let her manipulate the book while you read?

hahahaha well put Noddy!!! I think you are right, i think i get so worried she is bored and i should just trust that she could find anyway of entertaining herself!! LOL
Yeah i get that too sometimes she says or does something and im like hey where did that come from! LOL
I guess they are always looking and listening to everything!! LOL

OC1246 wrote:
Kids learn through play. You don't need to "teach" them, they will get it if you just give them the opportuntity minus the pressure. The others have said it. Just relax. If a kid is bored with a toy, they don't play with it. They are very genuine. wink

Thansk OC, i think everyone is really spot on! I think she is just happy with me playing with her when she wants and not when i think she needs me! LOL


Thanks so much ladies, feeling much better now after hearing all your advice! grin