Children are natural learners. Almost from the time a child is born, he is learning new skills and developing an understanding of the world around him. Learning is a natural behavior, but there are steps you can take to help your child learn skills more easily. Spend time with your child every day, and teach him new ideas and ways to apply his knowledge.
Read Together
"Reading is the key to learning in all school subjects," and strong reading skills are vital to your child's long-term success, according to Education Northwest. Pick a set time each day to read to your child. If your child is not reading independently, read both picture books and short chapter books. Reading above her intellectual reading level helps her grasp new concepts and learn new facts before she is able to read at a higher grade level. As she learns to read, ask her to also read aloud to you every day. At the end of each session, ask her reading comprehension questions.
Focused Practice
Children can use computers to enhance childhood learning abilities if you closely supervise your child and stay involved during his computer time, says Douglas H. Clements, Ph.D., professor of mathematics and computer education at the State University of New York at Buffalo, in an interview with Scholastic's Early Childhood Today. Find one or two computer programs that focus on skills your child needs to develop. In addition to computer time, practice handwriting and comprehension by dictating short passages to your child. Sing songs that teach early learning concepts. As your child gets older, work with him by using flash cards to help him learn arithmetic, spelling words and grammar concepts. Short, focused practice sessions may be more effective than long, tedious sessions.
Play Games
Playing games is a fun, low-stress way to help your child learn. The Alabama Cooperative Extension suggests you begin with simple games like Simon Says when your children is between two and four years old. Once she enters elementary school, teach her more complex games, such as Sorry and Clue. In addition to playing board games together, invite other children over and help the group play games together. This teaches your child how to play cooperatively and enables her to learn skills from her peers. Play math games like number bingo, word games like Scrabble and skill games like chess. Set aside one night a week as game night. Serve healthy snacks, and play games as a family.
Relational Learning
Knowledge of letter sounds and mathematical skills is important to your child's learning success, but perhaps equally important is teaching him ways to connect what he learns in school to real-life situations. The PBS Parents website suggests asking your child questions about current events like natural disasters and expanding his understanding of the events. Use an atlas or globe to locate the area on a map, and teach your child about the people who live there. This teaches him to look beyond what he hears on the news and research information on his own.
