Hellobee Boards

My kids go to a daycare that is on the pushy side of early learning. There are flash cards and worksheets occasionally. As previously mentioned you can't force a toddler to learn. If LO doesn't want to look at flash cards she'll simply go away. She loves worksheets. She thinks connect the dots are magic.

I have straight out laughed when told my DD wouldn't sit for circle time at 10 months. With all her 'academic achievements' I just smile and ask what fun things she did that day.

If it stops working for us or LO seems stressed we would definitely leave. I just don't think we're ruining the kids yet.

@Orchid: yes, children can learn letters without you directly teaching them. I have 2 to prove it. They hear it once, never forget it, and don't need repetition. 2% of the population is like this. I did not care or expect my 1 year olds to learn them, but they did, and would point to signs, lettered clothing, a pillow with letters, anything, and ask "what's this‽" and then scream out the answers. It was bizarre, but it's not impossible and I've had a hard time with people who state it's simply not possible without repeated instruction. It is not the norm, but it is not impossible either.

@mediagirl: Thanks for sharing that article. I thought it was a good read.

I usually just take cues from my kids. I do spend a lot of time doing what they are interested in and I think from that they just naturally learn things which is great.

I do seriously think Endless Alphabet taught my oldest one ABCs. Haha. Also Umizoomi taught him numbers. It was what he liked to play with and what he wanted to watch. I was okay with that.

@ShootingStar: seems pretty harsh to call the blogger crazy. Like yet another iteration of Mummy wars.

I think it depends on the kid as well. My son was in daycare until 2.9 when he started preschool. He loved his daycare but he really loves and thrives in preschool. Especially when they learn something new. He wants to know how to spell everything. If I give him crayons and paper he will write letters and words instead of draw. He even makes letters out of blocks/Legos.
We don't push learning on him but he really enjoys it. He read me a book last night by sounding out words & I was shocked.
I worry when he gets to kindergarten he'll get bored easily.

@daniellemybelle: @plantains: Crazy may not have been a good choice of words. However, I do think that some of those toys are not age appropriate. Several of them are recommended for 3+, if not higher. And the blogger in question does not even have a 2 year old yet. So to write an entire blog post sounding like an expert and recommending toys that require skills most 2 years old may not have, is ill advised to me.

I'm not saying anyone here shouldn't be buying letter or number related toys. I'm saying a blogger shouldn't be recommending non age-appropriate things when they aren't an expert and do not even have a child in that age range.