I often hear parents of young children say that kids need to be in “school” (pre-school or a large care center) with lots of formal activities to get the full benefit of learning, but I have discovered over the years that’s not entirely true.
The kids in my care have fun playing as well as learning with friends. One of my goals is to teach the children love and respect for others, as well as for themselves, and they learn much just by interaction with me and with each other. They learn patience, manners and how to treat their “fellow man” (or in this case, “fellow child” :)) and much more than that, really … many things that we don’t even realize and/or often times take for granted.
Just through play, children are actually developing both small and large motor skills; they learn to follow directions (i.e., please first pick up the blue blocks, then the red ones, yellow, etc.), how to follow simple rules, to be helpful, to share with each other and so much more.
So please, don’t ever worry that your child isn’t learning. I’m very big on teaching these little ones the rights from the wrongs, as well as all the social skills we all have to learn to become a positive, loving part of society.
