Train up a child…

Take Advantage of Teachable Moments

We can teach children so very much if we are simply alert and take advantage of moments when a child is open to learning. A child can be so much further ahead than otherwise if we can train ourselves to watch for opportune times to teach. These moments usually take little or no additional effort or time on the part of the adults in charge of the children. Often, it is simply a matter of redirecting conversation. Opportunities for learning afford themselves at mealtime, while traveling, and various other times during the day.

At mealtime, placemats can be used that have maps, math information, ABC’s, or the solar system printed on them. These are available at Wal-Mart or variety stores. Children cannot fail to notice them and parents can talk about them while the child is eating. Another idea is to keep a little container of Bible verses on the table and say a verse before prayer at each meal. Shapes of foods can be pointed out especially in things like crackers that come in shapes of triangles, squares, ovals, circles, rectangles, or trapezoids. Alphabet soups offer an opportunity to teach the alphabet. The nutritional content of foods can be mentioned letting the child know that yellow foods have vitamin A that is good for the eyes, or that dairy products contain calcium that is good for the teeth and bones, etc.

While traveling, children can look for the letters of the alphabet on signs beside the road. Older children can play games such as “Ghost”. This is a spelling game where one person starts spelling a word and the next person adds a letter until someone ends a word. The object is to avoid ending a word. If the word is ended, that person gets a letter toward the spelling of ghost. When a person becomes a ghost, that person drops out of the game. The game continues until only one person is left. Another fun thing while traveling is to tell stories with each person adding one line to the story. Also, stopping to read signs marking national monuments is a real learning experience.

As children and adults go about throughout the day, simply singing songs instills a great deal of learning. Who doesn’t remember the teaching in some of the good songs they heard when they were a child? Our children today will also profit by the background music they can hear. When going up steps with a toddler, count the steps together. When children ask questions, give them a little extra information. At nighttime, tell bedtime stories with learning value. When reading to a child, point out pictures and talk about the pictures. Let the discussion lead into information about certain animals or whatever is being discussed.

If we can be alert to opportunities to teach our children, they will learn so very much. We will find many teachable moments if we will train ourselves to be alert for those opportunities. Time passes so quickly! Let’s not miss the opportunities to help prepare our children for the time they are no longer in the household.