Top 15 Best Ways to Educate Children Under 2 Years Old

If you want your child to put away their toys after playing, instead of simply saying 'Put away your toys,' try saying 'Please put the red robot into the basket.' This way, your child will have a clear understanding of what to do and how to do it.

Children under 2 have limited language comprehension, so they won’t understand if something needs to be put away or where it belongs if you only give a command without specific instructions. Therefore, it’s important to say what you want them to do and guide them through the process.

A child's inner energy thrives when their senses, motor skills, and language development are activated from birth. By 18 months, children should be walking as much as they can. Constantly carrying them, hugging them, or keeping them in strollers and cars all day will prevent them from learning to move on their own.

At two years old, children have an overwhelming urge to move. Their limbs and body won't stay still, and restricting this can hinder their development. When encouraged properly, children can develop impressive physical abilities. For instance, in Japan, children are taught to walk daily from the age of two, which not only boosts their physical growth but also aids in cognitive development.

Your child may not know how to read yet—it's true! They might not even speak clearly. But that shouldn't stop you from setting up a little bookshelf for them. There are plenty of books for 2-year-olds filled with adorable pictures and illustrations. This is a fantastic first step in nurturing their intellectual development.

Each day, you can 'read' with your child by letting them enjoy the vibrant pictures and telling them stories from the pages. You can point out numbers to count, name the animals or objects in the book. This approach helps build vocabulary, stimulates imagination, and promotes cognitive development for children of all ages.

Put away the tablets and smartphones. Instead, look for brain-stimulating games to play with your child. You could shape clay together, color pictures, arrange wooden blocks into towers, or put on a puppet show while telling stories with stuffed animals or dolls. These games subtly encourage the development of logical thinking and problem-solving skills for the future.

Curiosity and the desire to explore the world around them is crucial for a child’s intellectual growth. You can capture their attention by introducing new and interesting things in their environment, encouraging them to observe, experience, and explaining things in simple terms.

It may sound complicated, but here’s an example: a parent can hold the child next to a piano and press the keys to produce different sounds. When the child becomes curious and excited by the sound produced when they touch the keys, let them explore by pressing the keys themselves. While doing this, you can explain, “This is a piano, sweetheart.” Does the child not understand? No worries! By the time the child reaches around three years old, they may surprise you by explaining to someone else, “This is a piano!”

In everyday situations, you can encourage your child’s imagination. For example, if your child carelessly throws a stuffed bear after playtime, you can say, “The teddy bear is feeling sad because you left it behind.”

You can spark imagination when your child sees a bird flying, watches the rain fall, or looks at a painting. The more they imagine, the more they expand their minds. Make sure to spend time taking walks in the park, pointing out animals and plants along the way, as this will also help boost their creative thinking.

Dr. Martin J. Drell states, "If you show your child that you are angry, you have already failed. In that moment, your child will either act out more or become fearful of you." Instead of expressing anger or shouting, try speaking firmly to let your child know that certain behavior is unacceptable and explain the consequences of continuing such actions.

Of course, your child might not fully understand the issue the way parents do, but that shouldn't stop you from explaining and talking to them about their actions. The way you communicate, including your tone and delivery, can help your child recognize their mistakes and understand the importance of apologizing.

Don’t forget that a serious gaze is a powerful tool. When talking to your child about the mistakes they've made, look them straight in the eyes and begin the conversation with sincerity. Your eye contact will help the child focus, understand the gravity of their actions, and show that it's time to listen to you.

However, just like with tone, don't use an angry stare. Instead, look at your child with a serious expression. They are interpreting your thoughts through your gaze, not being scared by it.