Early learning crucial for toddlers

Children start learning the minute they are born and what they learn in the first few years depends on the experiences they have.

Currently, half of all children in the U.S. who enter kindergarten have underdeveloped learning skills.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, almost half of kindergartners enter school unprepared and fall behind their peers when learning such essential skills as reading. But there are fun, easy learning games to play with young children during everyday activities, such as running errands or doing laundry, that can boost learning.

The Born Learning public engagement campaign was created by United Way, Civitas, the Families and Work Institute, and the Ad Council to help parents, grandparents and

caregivers create fun learning moments for young children. The campaign includes nationwide advertising and research-based education materials that can be adapted for use by individual caregivers.

"Experts agree that a parent is a child's first and most influential teacher and that they can foster childhood development long before a child enters the classroom," said Brian Gallager, United Way of America's president and CEO.

Here are a few tips:

+Jump right in. Playtime with a caregiver is invaluable to a child, whether talking baby talk or bouncing a toddler on a knee.

+Forget the rules. Add to a child's play experiences by creating imaginative games and finding new ways to use toys. Use blocks as flying cars and pretend to be a zoo animal.

+Take a break. Although children often learn the most when they interact with others, solitary play gives a child time to understand everything he has been doing.

+Watch out for overstimulation. Stop playing when the baby loses interest. He'll tell you when he's had enough. Read his body language.

This story is provided by North America Precis Syndicate Inc.