What are good learning methods, to teach a todder his ABCs and 123s?

Question

This is my first time being a mother, and am not sure about what learning methods will be effective, for my toddler (just turned 2) to learn his ABCs and 123s. He didnt show interest before, but now he's taking more interest in learning, and making the effort to talk. He knows only a few words. But, I would like for him to learn the basic stuff, if all possible, before he starts K5. What learning methods can I do, that is effective on most children his age? Please, I need help with this. My husband and I plan to put him in preschool pt-time within a yr, to help with his learning (I plan to assist, by encouraging and helping him at home) and learn how to cooperate with other children, since he's our only child. Any advice, is appreciated.

Answer 1

you get cheerios or candy then keep putting one after another first put one then two,.....

or

read a picture book to your child with numbers in it. it really does teach children when learning the alphabet or numbers

Answer 2

Here are some ideas for preschool activities:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

I am an only child (now an adult), and I don't think you should be especially worried about your son's social skills.  We seem to pick it up!  Here's some info on teaching an only child.  It is about homeschooling, but also has some additional info on only children:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Good luck!

Answer 3

Oh  I love this age. I am a daycare teacher and I have this age. The way we teach it is say one letter at a time and have them mimic you. We did this with one child for a week and now he can say which letter comes next (for about 5 of them)

Answer 4

You don't need to teach a toddler the academic basics, he is not ready and it is so much easier if you wait. Get him ready to learn by reading to him and discussing the pictures and story, count things in everyday use such as the number of forks you need for the number of people eating dinner. Point out common symbols such as stop signs and the McDonald's arches and any others he sees frequently. Let him see you read to communicate the importance of reading, but stay away from formal academics or you run the risk of turning him away from this kind of learning.

Answer 5

Encourage healthy treats when you teach him and reward him after. Also try to get him to be more hands-on with the computer and television and set a time limit not more than 30 minutes or less.

Answer 6

if he seems to get separation anxiety, do not keep doing it.  first and formost, he needs his mother.  do not EVER forget that.

things that he can get his hands on.

those simple wooden puzzles with ABC's or 123's on them.  where you insert the letter into the board-you know what i mean.  as you sit down to play-do not only say the letter or number- sound out the letter-PLAY!  have fun with it.

second-hit the library.  there's a ton of stuff, specifically made for this.  again-PLAY with the little man!!!

my son and daughter both had a basic understanding at 4 years old.  i homeschool, so i went REALLY crazy with educational stuff, but all of it was free or cheap, and oriented around me getting down on the floor and playing.  i think this is something adults need to think about.

my boy is 7, and beginning basic algebra.  my girlie is 5 and helps him with his homework.

PLAY!PLAY!PLAY!  best advice i ever got!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

First of all, I'd like to point out that Tv, DVDs, Videos, etc... do not promote learning...especially for a child in the beginning developmental stages of learning. As with any child, more learning with the most comprehension takes place when the child is comfortable and having fun. Singing is an excellent way to teach and learn! Try to incorporate it with sign language (young children pick it up very easily) or mixing up the tune to the ABC's (instead of the "twinkle, twinkle little star" tune, try "Mary had a little lamb") the key is to get their minds going and constantly thinking! Kids also tend to think that "lmnop" is a single letter, so switching up the tunes will break up those letters and keep it interesting. Counting and numbers use a different part of your brain than the ABC's and Language area, so when teaching numbers, use something tangible whether it be puzzles, cereal, his fingers and toes, his ears, his nose, etc... You may notice that he prefers counting over the ABC's or v.v. and that's OK! Just keep with it and be consistent and creative. Remember to ALWAYS be positive...kids will pick up on it if you get frustrated and they'll get discouraged. Good luck!

Answer 8

Let them watch Sesame Street!

Answer 9

I'm not sure how feasible this is in your home, but I teach PreK and here's an article I wrote that explains some ways I use to teach the alphabet. You may be able to adapt many of these techniques for the home.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Answer 10

I work at a daycare/preschool, and I have a few crazy ideas that seem to work. I use things they like, like Fruit Loops! We made letters with them, they each have a handfull. Then they tell me the colors and point to the color word on a flash card...then...they can eat them! We make letters with M&M's, torn paper, and when outside even blades of grass! I use a flannel board for colors and words also. Once they know the sounds letters make, we go around the classroom and find things that start with that sound, then I write the word on the board! They get smiley stickers for finding words on such Treasure Hunts! Of course there are great kids learning tapes & DVDs also.

Well, just a few ideas!

Answer 11

Don't push it right now.  Just surround him with lots of print.  Label things in his environment, make availlable books he can look at. He will pick up on it.  

I also like the suggestions of others such as watch Sesame Street and sing songs.

Answer 12

I worked at a tutoring center for 5 years doing these sorts of things, so hopefully I can help you out a bit.

1.) TOUCH! Anything he can touch and interact with will get his attention immediatly. (Foam puzzles, blocks, magnets..)

2.) DON'T OVERLOAD! Try to only work for like 20 minutes at most at a time, otherwise all your work will be for nothing. He'll start getting aggravated and forget everything he's learned.

3.) ONLY A FEW at a time. For example, don't try teaching the whole alphabet at a time! Take the first 6 letters or so, and sing that for a week. Keep adding more and more each week.

4.) SKIPPING. Don't get frustrated if when counting or singing the alphabet if they alwayssss skip the same spot. I promise you that 99% of the children I've tutored always had one section that they ALWAYS forgot..11, 12, 13, 17, 18 , 19 ,20...

5.) HAVE FUN! Don't pressure him to death like some parents...you'll make the kid so nervous he won't know what to do with himself!

6.) GIVE LOTS OF PRAISE and REWARDS! If he sits and listens for 15 minutes and learns his 6 letters for the day, he gets 20 tokens....once he gets 100 tokens he gets a toy from the dollar store, etc.....if he doesn't participate...he loses his tokens for the day....

Hope some of this helps. Good luck!

Answer 13

Singing. There are songs for learning. Kids pick up quick.

Answer 14

It is always good for toddlers to sing. It causes the two hemispheres of the brain to work together which helps it develop and get used to working faster together, I could be wrong but I think it could make the kid smarter....if only I'd known...so any form of singing would be good, and using all the senses such as hearing others and touching...someone suggested writing the letters in sand?

Answer 15

At 2, the best thing is like the earlier answerer said - singing.  I would also add books.  Books such as Chicka, chicka boom, boom!  are great for learning the letters.  There are many CD by Hal Palmer (?) and Raffi that teach basic skills.  Playing with objects with letters in a meaningful way should come later. Kids learn the words orally first and then learn how to recognize it on paper.  

Toys I recommend - large(!) stringing beads,  large crayons to scribble with, Duplo blocks, pretend kitchen/tool sets, etc. (vocabulary development), puzzles, balls.  I'm sure I will think of more later and add to the list.  

Does the public library have toddler time?  Great, free, and educational fun.  

Parent magazine is a great resource, too.  :)