“We saw you and Mom reading. That’s why we read now” Marchem told me last week.  Judson and Marchem saw me reading the Bible and books about business, education, and biographies.   ln kindergarten Judson drew a picture of my workplace with the caption underneath, “when I grow up I will supervise people, fire some people and come home, eat dinner and read books.” Wow, he remembered hearing me speak about how I had to fire someone. So, not only were my two sons watching me, they were listening as well. 

Our influence as parents is more than we know. That knowledge brings with it a responsibility. The early years of child development are fast and furious. Their brains are absorbing non stop new information-sounds, words, objects, people. Most of the physical things they learn and do are hard-wired in the brain. Our words of encouragement and reinforcing the things they are doing and learning provide  fertilizer for their brains and bodies to grow.

Dave Lavinsky, co-founder of Growthink wrote this comment, “ I grew up in a household where education was everything.And after being brought up in a pro-learning environment, I have learned the value of education and constantly seek more education.”

Learning begins in the home with us as parents. What we say and do lays a foundation. What are some of the building blocks? A few suggestions:

PLAY – get on their level and do whatever they are doing. Find the child in you that loves to play. 

TALK – share with them the little things that you are doing.  I  took my sons to run errands with me. I’d tell them where we were going, what we needed to do,etc.

LISTEN - from your heart to what they are asking and saying. Pay attention, no multitasking! 

READ - all the research proves this is the best way to guide their own reading. Read the books that you liked as a child. Go to the library and let them pick books they are drawn to. Let them see you reading.  

LOVE - Love them as your children and as human beings. Communicate your love for learning. What excites you will transfer to them. 

What have you learned from your parents?

What are you teaching your children?