When it comes to learning, toddlers are like sponges. They soak up information and knowledge at an absolutely astounding rate. One minute, they are babbling and barely able to pronounce a few words. Then, one day, you turn around and they are speaking in full sentences. This same type of phenomenon exists when it comes to learning numbers, animals, colours and all sorts of other things.
So, just why is it that toddlers are so good at learning? There are a few reasons, and I’ve outlined them below.
Brain Development
One of the major reasons that toddlers are so good at learning is that their brains aren’t fully formed yet. In particular, toddlers’ prefrontal cortex is not developed the same way that it is in adults. Now, the prefrontal cortex is where memory is stored, which is very useful for adults. In fact, it allows adults to remember and recognize all sorts of objects, concepts and other useful information. But, it also means that adult brains are less flexible and inventive relative to toddler brains, and this can inhibit learning.
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Another reason that toddlers learn things at a rapid clip is that they love repetition. If you take your toddler to the playground, they might ask you to push them on the swings for three hours without getting bored. Or, they might want to go down the slide so many times that you lose count.
This love of repetition has major benefits when it comes to learning. For example, let’s say that as an adult, you want to learn sign language. You might get a great book on sign language and review all of the different signs once or twice. But, after a little while, adults tend to get bored with the repetition and seek stimulation elsewhere. Toddlers on the other hand will be content, and in fact delighted, to go through the book over and over again. Naturally, this really helps the new knowledge to sink in.
Open and curious minds
Young kids are like explorers, and every day brings a new adventure. Every time a toddler steps outside, they are bound to learn something new. One day, they might notice clouds in the sky and ask what they are. Another day, they might see a stop sign and want to know more about it.
Toddlers are observing and noticing new things all the time. So, it’s quite natural for them to ask a nearby adult all sorts of questions throughout the day. By adulthood, most adults are not quite so curious about the world. A toddler’s curiosity and willingness to ask lots of questions is one of the key reasons they are so good at learning.
Take advantage of your child's natural love of learning.
Since toddlers are such great learners, it can be a really good idea to expose them to all sorts of new and stimulating experiences. If you want to help them to learn about art, you might get them some toddler crayons or an easel. If you want to teach them about animals, you might get a book on the topic, or just bring them to the zoo and push them around in a wagon to see all sorts of animals up close and in person.
Whatever your little one is interested in learning about, there are usually fun ways to help them dig deeper. And, there are very few things in life that are more fun than watching a child learn about the world.
Ryan Howard
Author Bio: Ryan Howard runs "Smart Parent Advice", a site that provides parenting advice for moms and dads. Ryan writes about all of the different ups and downs of parenting, provides solutions to common challenges, and reviews products that parents need to purchase for babies and toddlers.