Early Learning Stimulation Tips
by Robert Titzer, Ph.D.
Use Multi-Sensory Learning with Your Child
When your child shows an interest in a particular topic, try to help her learn
about that topic using as many sensory systems as possible. If your child is
interested in learning about flowers -- let him see, smell, touch, and even
hear the gentle sound the flower makes brushing against his ear. This type of
learning is usually more interesting for the child. It's also more effective,
possibly because extra synapses are formed among the various areas of the brain
receiving the sensory information.
Try to incorporate multi-sensory learning for your child whenever you can --
even when your child is learning a primarily cognitive task. For instance, our
reading video uses this type of learning by allowing your child opportunities
to see the words, hear the words, perform some physical action related to many
of the words, and see and hear images representing the meaning of those words.
This type of learning is very appropriate for young learners who are still discovering
how their sensory systems work. It may also reach children who may be primarily
visual learners, auditory learners, or kinesthetic (movement) learners.
Respond to Your Baby
An important skill for parents is the ability to respond to the interests of
their infant. Carefully observe and listen to your baby, then respond to her/his
interests. For example, if your baby is looking at her toes do not talk with
your child about whatever you happen to be interested in at that moment. Instead,
follow the attention of your infant and talk with her about the people and objects
that she sees.
Responding to your child's visual attention will help him understand the world
easier because he will simultaneously have multi-sensory information. The baby
looking at her toes could be told, "These are your toes." This means
the infant would simultaneously have visual (seeing her toes), auditory (listening
to you say "these are your toes"), and haptic (feeling you touch her
toes) information. This helps a young baby develop a very elaborate idea of
"toes".
These types of responsiveness activities may also increase his IQ. Several
studies have found a positive correlation between parents' responsiveness and
their children's IQs. Additionally, parents and their babies may be happier
when they are on the same page.
Cause & Effect
Infants younger than 4 months of age do not have many opportunities to control
their environment besides crying for food or other needs. You can give your
infant an opportunity to make a change in the environment by placing your baby
in a crib with a mobile made of soft materials hanging above her. Instead of
having the mobile move continuously, connect the mobile to the infant's ankle
with ribbon. This will enable your baby to control the mobile by kicking. When
your baby kicks the mobile will move.
In numerous studies, infants have learned the contingency between their kicks
and the mobile's movement. Three-month-old infants learn to do this in a few
minutes. Babies often smile and giggle while doing this task -- possibly because
they enjoy having some control over their environment. I have observed babies
as young as six weeks enjoying this task and learning a little about cause and
effect.
This task is recommended for infants between the ages of 6 weeks and 4 months.
IMPORTANT! Make sure that an adult observes the infant at all times during
this exercise so the baby does not get the ribbon tangled around his body. Check
to ensure the mobile is secure before connecting the mobile to your baby.
Categorizing
A fundamental building block for intelligence is the ability to categorize.
You can stimulate your child by grouping animals or objects that are similar
in some manner. For instance, your child's toys could be grouped by color, size,
shape, material, or function. Young children generally enjoy sorting activities.
Categorizing activities can easily be added to your daily routine. For instance,
you can show and describe how you sort laundry to your young infant. Older infants
and toddlers would probably enjoy helping you sort the laundry. Simply show
and tell your young baby that, "This is a sock and this is a sock. This
is not a sock."
Your baby should enjoy the activity because she/he will be able to see you
sort the clothing, hear your voice, touch the soft clothing, and smell the clean
clothes. These types of multi-sensory activities help your child learn.
