From the time children are born it’s truly amazing how fast they begin to grow, change, and develop. Once their senses are developed enough to fully interact in the world, one of the main ways toddlers take in large amounts of information is through their eyes. Toddlers learn so much from just watching the world around them and soaking it all in like little sponges. Here are ten visual aids for learning that help to facilitate free early learning for toddlers.
Free Early Learning For Toddlers- 10 Visual Aids For Learning
We can all learn from visual stimuli that we receive. For instance, by observing those around us we can learn what is acceptable behavior, how to do things, and where things go. Toddlers learn things like red means ‘stop,’ green means ‘go’ and a host of other similar equations based on what they see or are shown.
Because visual learning is such a large part of toddler development, it’s important to place things around the home that can help them become more familiarized with the world. The following are a number of resources to stimulate free early learning for toddlers. These suggestions can be extremely useful throughout the early growing years.
Mirrors
Mirrors can be amazing teaching tools. Children get a chance learn about who they are in an entirely different way: by looking themselves in the eye. At first it can be a little overwhelming but after a while they see they are very much like everyone else. Mirrors make fun visual aids for learning as long as the toddler is supervised so the mirror can’t break.
A Globe
It took millennia till the idea that the world was round was accepted and understood. Having a globe allows your child to begin to understand that although their main setting is the home and local surroundings the world is a fairly large place with many incredible places to visit. Having a map for toddlers on the wall is also beneficial as it allows them to see that same world in a different perspective.
Words
From the kitchen sink to the fruit bowl children learning to read and spell will benefit by having labels all around the home of various things. It’s a great way of facilitating free early learning for toddlers. It allows them to familiarize themselves with naming objects and practicing them informally. Also, if you read the same simple books over and over with them, they will begin to recognize the words on the pages. It does wonders for building their confidence later when learning to read.
Faces
Pictures of people from all different cultures smiling and happy can send a special message to our children. Thaey can see that although many of us are different, we can all be happy together.
Clocks
We carry so many digital devices we often have no need to look at a clock anymore. However, the truth is clocks are important for kids for practicing how to tell time. Put a few around the home and point out the numbers when it’s time for meals or getting ready for bed.
Art
When kids make drawings or paintings don’t just file them away. Incorporate your child’s artwork into your decor so they can see how much others appreciate them and gain appreciation of what they made. Art is not just useful as visual aids for learning. It is also useful for the practice they get making art, developing hand eye coordination, and learning about colors.
Murals
Murals can be used for many educational purposes, especially if it’s of something historical. They can be painted with a child’s input and will light up the imagination everyday. Chose a wall and paint a meadow, jungle, the sea, or sky adding animals and all kinds of fun and exciting images. Free early learning for toddlers will take place as you name the objects in the mural together and talk about the ways in which they relate or thing sounds they make.
Inspirational Messages
Adults place inspirational messages around themselves all the time but it can also be a good tool for children who need to build their confidence. These affirmation messages shouldn’t be anything overly philosophical but simple and to the point so they can be understood easily and useful.
Blocks
When kids practice building with wooden blocks they learn about weight, gravity, shapes, and more. Blocks with images or letters carved into them can be beneficial for learning about textures. Since young ages may put blocks in their mouths make sure they are made with eco-friendly, non-toxic materials. If you don’t have blocks, they can build with clean rocks too.
Magnets
It’s no wonder most of us grew up with magnets on the fridge. They are usually so vivid on the surface of refrigerators and the fact they stick to a surface and don’t fall is a wondrous feeling. Letter magnets are best for informal educational learning but those of animals and other images are also useful.
Conclusion
There are endless visual aids for learning. Everything our eyes take in are a great source of information to us whether we are actively learning all about it or just subconsciously gathering information.
Do you have some fun toddler visual learning ideas you can share? I hope you find these ideas for free early learning for toddlers helpful. Share a picture of your toddler learning at @familyfocusblog or #familyfocusblog!
Related Posts:
Toilet Training for Toddlers- What You Need To Know