How young should you start teaching your child?

I'm of the belief to let kids be kids but I do teach through play. For example, when my son was 1 we would sort the different blocks and put them in the right holes and they were also different colors. By doing that, he knew his colors and shapes before he was 2. Also, we have that leapfrog letter thing on the refrigerator and he pushes it all the time. He is learning his letters through that. He's in preschool too. They have the same thoughts of teaching him through play. I think it's a good idea to have them learn that way. It's making it fun for them and not pushing them.

The best way (proven by experts) to teach your child is to incorporate it into play. Why do you need to set aside a specific 15-min a day? Read her book after book after book about colors and shapes. Give her blocks to play with that incorporate the colors and shapes. Sing the ABC song with her so she learns her alphabet like every other child, through song. Give her crayons....she should be coloring like crazy by now. My daughter could hold a pencil the correct way at the age of two and would scribble with it, holding it correctly until she learned to write her name, which she did at the age of 2. Just let them go with the crayons...if she writes on the walls or floor make her clean it...she won't do that again. Play with her...over the day working on the colors and shapes and the ABC song. Don't set aside a certain time, just incorporate it into your play and with books.

My daugther is now 1 year old and we started inroducing books to her even when she is still inside mu womb. When she was still inside my womb, we use to read Dr. Seuss books for her. Then we inroduce her to different pop up books, flash cards and educational board books like brainy baby when she was 4 months old. What we do is everytime we read books to her, we play around so it would appear to my baby that we are playing instead of studying. hat way, we already develop in her to treat books as toys so she will learn to love books at a very early age. Which is really working because it is pretty evident now that she is 1 year old her love for books. I think the earlier you teach your kids, the better. Kids' minds are like sponge. They can easily absorb anything that you feed them so we can easily teach children.

Well my wife and i started very early on. Playing games with our son and speaking to each other as "mum" and "dad". it wasn't long before he called my wife "mummy" and he learns very nicely. I also used to hold is hands allow him to walk, of course he was only standing up because my hands was holding his but now he can stand up and take a few steps. When hes abit older we're going to teach him a few fun the little things. I think it's best to start earlier as you can capture there thoughts and they enjoy learnings. Kudos! ~Joey

yes you know when your baby are ready to teach the basic things that the baby should learned. many babys now a days is very responsive to every things that thet saw around. and i think that this children in a very young age is now capble in teaching the basic things. i am also a mother and even you did not teach them you will notice that they are doing things that they did not did before you will discover that they want to explore all the things they see, around... your a good mother keep it up!!!

Age 2 is agreat time to start teachingher. I am a teacher, bythe way. I thuink you should just do it naturally, as things come up. Dont set a 15 min block or anything. LIke when you are playing, ask her what color things are or count how many of something there is. Stuff liek that. At her age, its all fun to her yet she's learnign too. HTH

Babies as young as 6 months are being taught to swim..It's never too soon to start teaching things; but, little things fo little minds.:)+

i think its a great ideal.if you start early she will develope skills at a early age that is good because you will be helping her when she start kindergarden or pre-school.but dont push her to much with being a 2 year old she has to go though potty training an thats going to take time if she isnt broken already..but any way 15 minutes a day with her will help her alot if she like to read an looks at books i think she ready to learn.

Everything you do with your child, you are teaching her. You are teaching her personal hygiene when you bathe her. You are teaching her to nurture, when you love on her. You are teaching her nutrition when you feed her. You see what I mean? I never set aside specific times of the day to teach my girls. Everything was a learning adventure. I would point out signs, play "I spy" and see who would find a specific color or letter or shape. At 2 years of age, it was all fun and games for us. Now the older one is 7 and the younger one is 5 and we are still having a blast. Instead of pointing out letters while we are driving, I will ask them: "what does that sign say?" or what does that shape mean (like a stop sign or a yield sign) what is that shape called? Octagon or triangle, etc. My 5 year old came home last week with her "journal" from school. She is in kindergarten. It made me laugh to see that every page had the drawing of the weather and a weather report and when she wrote about the weather, she used the word "precipitation" How many 5 year olds use that word? Ha! So using correct grammar, challenging them, isn't a chore to me, it is fun.

you know what could be a really good idea..i think that you should teach your child while she's playing so it will be a fun experience..^_^

With all three of my children I have done this from birth! Sounds daft but things like walking downstairs I always count them, if she has an apple i'll say red apple, or green grapes. My youngest is only 2 and hasn't got the patience to sit for long. But I agree with you they are more than ready to absorb as muchinformation as you can give them at this age. It's just a case of finding out how best to do it with your child.

I don't think it's too young. When my daughter was in her highchair, I laminated the alphabet with colors on the tray,and we would go over them all the time. Don't listen to the nay sayers, as long as you make it fun, it will be fine. Think about it...Are you doing harm by teaching her basics? No. :)

The child's learning stage is very important and as I see it it depends on the ability of the child's brain to learn things.As a parent it is very important that we are aware of that ability so that our works will not go to nothing.We, as a parent teach and the child as he learn things.

Well first of all who ever says your toddler is just a baby is full of s*** when my daughter was 2 she could sing her ABC's in french and english 123 french and english also you teach them when they start 2 repeat words or say them you should have been on the ball along time ago instead of taking peoples advice that tell u shes a baby.

I think they aren't too young as long as they show some ability. I have a three month old grandson. The sunshine of my life by the way, who is already trying to talk. He is also very strong physically. We try to encourage him asmuch as possible.

I agree with you and although i believe that children work at their own pace this is definately not too young. My oldest was counting to three at 10 months and she could talk like you wouldn't believe. She is now 5 and almost finished grade 1 and will not be 6 until May and she can almost read by herself! I think that you should continue this. My baby however is almost 29 months and is just starting to talk better but has been off of a bottle well over year ago and has been successfuly potty trined for over 2 months now! My nephew that is 25 months now can do his entire ABC's and i thought that this was incredible so i too am going to take your advice here and do the same with my little one also!

I think it's a wonderful idea. I taught my daughter when she was about two years old. It was very fun for us both. It's easy to teach a child when the child wants to learn. And you can tell when they are ready when they want to sit down and watch you. Now my son is three years old, and he won't sit still long enough for me to teach him anything. So i figured that he's not ready yet. But my daughter is now 5 years old and she's ready to go to school.

Your child is never too young to learn! And don't just focus on 15 minutes a day, make it part of your routine to take the "yellow" box out of the cupboard, to "close" the door, etc.. We started very young with my middle child, she just turned 4 a couple months ago, but she can count to 60, recognize and write her numbers up to 20, Write the alphabet, write her name, knows our phone # and address, etc.. and thanks to shows like Dora we 're working on some Spanish too. I have a feeling they'll need it when they grow up. I color with my 16 month old, more like scribble; LOL but I think it's good to keep your kids minds stimulated at every age.

no she is not a baby. i think it is a very good idea for you to start this early. she will learn early and hence will keep ahead of others her age. this will help her build up her confidence. go ahead...start right away. and try to make it real fun for her, joke around dance play with her while teachjign so she looks forward to those 15 mins everyday.

i think the best way would be to start off with stories and bring in colours and others shapes in it.. also different sounds would also help them learn better..all u have to do is. give them the colours and ask them to do what they want to do.. even if they do something try to see how their mentakl picture is and develop on it.. do those things which they love to do.. like reading books or colouring.. then compare that which u teach with that which is available.. like show them apple for a apple picture i book like that..