Why You Don’t Need Another “Program”

“What app/program/computer game can I use with my child to help them learn?”

I get this question ALL THE TIME. And I’m getting it even more right now as schools will remain closed (here in LA anyways) and parents worry about how their children will learn in this new environment.

And here’s the thing, I get it. You don’t want to see your child stagnate. You want to push them but maybe you don’t feel qualified to teach your children at home.

And on top of that, as adults, we’re constantly being marketed apps and programs that will help us to improve some aspect our life. Feel stress? Download a meditation app. Want build more flexibility? Join this online yoga class. Want to “train your brain”? Download this new game. The list goes on for as long as you can scroll.

The convenience is incredible. And for adults, some of them are useful. For children, particularly young children, not so much.

I’m sorry to be the one to say that. I wish apps/programs were mega useful, I wish it was as easy as downloading an app to set it and forget it. But children are young, they haven’t had so many life experiences; they’ve barely started to explore and understand the world.

As Laura Mize says “the best app is on your lap!” and I firmly believe this to be true with all of my clients under 5.

But why?

It’s simple. We can’t turn all learning and life experiences into a program. In my opinion, sitting in front of a screen can’t replace real life, contextual learning. And the AAP and ASHA agree (you can find more info here).

Teaching our children about the world is more complicated than an app or program. We might do the same thing twice and get different responses. We might do things wildly differently and get the same response. There’s natural variation in the world and kids need to be exposed to that. Not to mention, not all children develop in the same way at the same time. Children generally follow a similar progression, but might need different help to get there.

Apps and programs don’t take that into account. And yes, your child probably will learn something from them, but will they be able to apply their learning to real life? Or will it be memorized within the context of the app? I see this all the time. Children who can answer when you ask “what color is the banana?” but they can’t tell you they want that very same banana (which to be honest, is WAY more important, because I don’t know about you, but I’ve never needed to confirm the color of a banana in adulthood).

“Okay, Kaitlyn, but what do I do instead?”

You do what you’re already doing. Are you at home a lot right now because you lost your job, are working from home, or were you already a SAHP? I bet you cook breakfast, do the dishes (why are there so many dishes?!), sweep, feed a pet, take a walk, etc. These are all interesting learning opportunities for your little one.

“But Kaitlyn, sweeping isn’t going to help my child: learn numbers, read, do math, follow directions, learn to talk, etc.” Ask me this, and I’ll disagree every time. And I bet you’re already teaching some of these very same things during every day activities, but just aren’t aware of it.

Let me be the first to tell you, or reiterate, you do not need special programs, toys, or advanced training to teach your child. But you do need to involve them, and that takes patience and a plan.

With a little time and patience, I think you can get better results, spend more quality time with your children, and learn more about each other through completing daily routines together and in the next few posts I’ll outline some ways you can involve your children in your day to teach them as you go, without adding more steps to your day. My goal as a provider is not to add more work, but to make the things you’re already doing more meaningful. Work smarter not harder, because honestly, things are hard enough right now.

Before next week, if you want to get started right away, I’d encourage you to think about what activities you like to do. What are your favorite routines? Which ones would you like to share with your child? Which routines make you the happiest? Try to identify some so that you can use them as a starting point because when you’re having fun, it’s easier to teach your child. And most importantly, when children are having fun, they’re learning.