But what can you do to bring out your toddler’s inner genius? What works?
That’s the topic of this post. We explore some of the tactics and techniques that you can use to make it happen. Even if they’re young, that doesn’t mean you can’t start working on them. Fun learning activities for 2 year olds can make an enormous difference to their future life trajectory.
Read To Them Every Day
You’ll want to start with the basics: reading to them every day. If you can get this right, they’re much more likely to pick up words, patterns and new vocabulary that they can deploy in everyday life.
You don’t have to read to them for long, either, for it to have an effect. Just 15 minutes per day is usually enough.
Once you have the reading nailed down, you’ll notice their understanding improves quickly. They get to hear more words than they would in normal conversation, boosting the speed of development.
Then, try to get them to read back to you. Point to words on the page, say them out loud, and then see if your toddler will do the same.
Encourage Hands-On Exploration
Next, you’ll want to explore hands-on exploration of their environment with them. If you can get this right, you can often boost things like spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. Kids learn how to use their minds to manipulate the physical world around them, which is a critical skill.
The best way to get them going with this is to provide them with things like blocks and stacking cups. These get them to solve problems, like how to build a tower without the whole thing falling over.
You can also provide them with things to clear up. For example, vacuuming spilled oats or brushing them up takes quite a lot of skill and coordination to get right the first time.
Add A Second Language To Their Life
It’s also a good idea at this stage to add a second language. Naturally, if your child is only 2 years old, you don’t want to send them to formal lessons. But if you can expose them to the sounds in their environment as they grow up, they stand a much better chance of eventually becoming bilingual.
A setup like this works best if you and your partner speak different native languages. For example, one of you could speak English and another Tagalog.
Learning a second language gives toddlers more cognitive flexibility and playfulness. They get to see the world from two perspectives, providing them with deeper insights and potentially boosting their IQ.
Arrange Playdates
Of course, if you really want your toddler to become a genius, you need to arrange more playdates. The more you can socialize them with other kids in their peer group, the better.
You don’t have to do anything fancy. Just starting small and building from there is absolutely fine.
The best place to meet is usually the park, since kids need the freedom to be able to run around. However, you can also go to other parents’ homes.
When you expose children to people of their own age, they’re forced to develop their social skills. As these improve, they become better able to navigate their way through the world and do the things that they want to do with their time. They’re less pressured in peer-based contexts, but also better able to make connections with others.
Ensure They Get More Sleep
Another basic tactic to improve your child’s genius levels is to simply encourage them to get more sleep. It sounds so simple, but it’s also so effective.
A lot of children find life so exciting that it’s hard for them to sleep. They want to be up all night playing games, watching TV, and doing everything else kids love to do.
As a parent, it’s your job to prevent this from happening. You need to ensure that they get the 8 to 9 hours of sleep they need every night for brain development.
Remember, toddlers have to go through a lot of development before they become adults. And most of that happens when they’re asleep. That’s why almost all preschools have nap time after lunch.
Expose Them To New Experiences
Another thing you’ll want to do as a parent to bring out your child’s inner genius is expose them to new experiences. If you can bring new ideas and concepts into their lives, they are much more likely to think about them in a fertile way.
For example, you could add puzzles and games like chess to their toy box. You could also start building a book library for them that they can dip into at any time.
Let your toddler choose what they want to do, but provide them with the right environment. Try not to allow them to get hooked on digital screens.
Prioritize One-On-One Quality Time
Something as simple as one-on-one quality time can also help you to bring out your child’s inner genius. A lot of parents don’t realize this, but it’s so simple and true. If you spend a lot of time with your child, then you give them the emotional foundation they need to go out and explore the world. You’re not just teaching them, but providing them with energy at the same time to explore and learn.
Play Music
Finally, toddlers are probably too young to start learning a musical instrument. But you can also play music to them to develop their ear for things like pitch and rhythm.
You’ll find that toddlers who get a lot of musical exposure when young find it easier to pick up musical instruments when they get older. This, in turn, can bring a lot of joy into their lives.
*This is a collaborative post thanks for reading
