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Medford/Somerville, Mass. -- While toddlers have a lot to learn between the ages of one and two, their parents may not be using the most effective methods to teach them. Fred Rothbaum, an expert in child development at Tufts' Eliot-Pearson School, told Parents Magazine that verbal explanations are not always the best strategy for teaching young children what is allowed and what isn't. "One-year-olds have some rudimentary use of words and a little comprehension," Rothbaum told Parents Magazine's 1.8 million readers. "But language on its own is not a powerful way to communication with a 1 or 1 1/2 year old." The reason, he said, is that toddlers often are unable to grasp even relatively simple words and explanations. For example, Rothbaum explained that the concepts of "hot" and "the passage of time" may be too difficult for toddlers to understand. He also told the magazine that toddlers haven't developed the ability to utilize what is often refered to as "common sense" or anticipate what others want, making it more difficult for parents to teach young children important lessons. Parents need to be consistent in their messages to toddlers, but they also need to be realistic, Rothbaum said. Because some behaviors are just too much to expect from a toddler, parents mush be sure to take preventative measures. For instance, he points out, toddlers instinctively put things in their mouths to find out more about them. Rothbaum advises parents to make sure barrettes and other potentially harmful small objects are kept out of children's reach. Posted 12-14-00
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Language
May Not Be Most Effective Way To Teach Toddlers 