The Toddler Years

I remember the first few things I consciously tried to teach my boys. They were probably about a year old and just beginning to speak, babbling sounds that resembled words. My first teaching attempt was to explain the concepts of “over,” “under,” “on top,” and “below.” I placed toys on a chair and said, “on top of the chair,” then moved them under the chair and said, “below the chair,” repeating this process.

Next, we focused on building their vocabulary. I used exaggerated gestures and clear enunciation to emphasize words. It’s a lot for a toddler to absorb—essentially learning a new language while their brains are still developing. There was a lot of talking and nightly reading, even if they didn’t seem to understand. The goal was for them to mimic actions and lip movements, pointing at words, and carefully pronouncing them.

Up until they were three years old, I didn’t stress over the written language. I wasn’t concerned if they could read or understand what was being read. Despite many businesses and schools advertising early reading and speech programs, I felt it would be a waste to push my children before they were ready.

How did I know they were ready? I used small tests with dramatic sounds like “S,” “P,” and “T” to check if they could recall these sounds. Around three years old, I noticed they might be ready for reading.

And what exercise did I use to start their reading journey? Find out in the next blog post!