A Love of Learning

"These are lots of things a parent can do to help a child develop a love of learning and searching - things that will carry through as a foundation for a life of joyful and successful learning. Most of these are things a parent does at one time or other anyway. A bonus is that your child will be getting a good foundation for later studies, even picking up some elements of reading, writing, and math!" - Lilian Jones

Here are some activity ideas that Lilian provides:

• Tell stories or read a lot of wonderful books.
• Go to children's book readings at the library.
• Take leisurely walks, observing every wonderful little bit of nature out there.
  
• Look for faces and animals in the clouds.
• Listen for the farthest away sound you can hear.
• Listen to children's audio tapes together. Make your own together as well.
  
• Watch sunsets together.
• Put up a bird feeder outside a window where you can see all the different kinds of birds coming and going.
  
• Go out and observe the night sky together.
• Plant a little garden or grow some plants in pots.
  
• Introduce your child to music, songs, dancing, instruments.
  
• Learn and say rhymes together.
• Encourage them to have fun learning about their bodies.
  
• Provide a sandbox or sand table and sand toys, including figures of people and animals.
• Make and play with bubbles.
• Make playdough and other fun art materials.
• Do finger-painting, and paint simple pictures with watercolors.
• Set up a little play store area with play food.
• Provide large and easy to handle blocks made out of small boxes and shoe boxes.
• Set up some shelves, boxes, or hangers where there are costume elements that your child can easily access for pretend play.
• Allow for plenty of relaxed play and independent activities.