Teaching Our Toddlers

I've really been looking forward to this week's topic because I so believe in the importance of education and want to make sure I'm doing all I can to raise Lydia to be a godly, bright, and well-mannered young lady who knows and runs hard after the Lord . With little exception, moms who stay at home are the greatest teacher of their toddlers. Yet, all the wordly knowledge without regard to God is meaningless. Psalm 78 talks about it like this:

". . . we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done (v. 4). . . so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands" (v.6-7).

So, this is what we're to do, but how?! Deuteronomy 6:6-9 has this to say:

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

What does all this look like in our home? Well, first and foremost, I am so very thankful that I can be with Lydia all day and be there to share with her in all the situations that arise. As far as teaching her about the Lord, we pray before meals, at night, and all throughout the day. As I voice a prayer to the Lord I'm learning to say it outloud so she can be involved. When we look at pictures we lift up a prayer of thanks; as we're out walking along the sea we thank God for His goodness; as I make bread we talk about Jesus as the Bread of Life, etc. When my heart overflows with thankfulness I share it with her; when we need to pray for something/one, we stop and pray right then; even when we need a parking space we pray and then thank God when He provides! We also read from her children's Bible each night.

As for as other learning opportunities, I try to talk to her - a lot. If I'm cutting veggies, I'll either have her on the counter watching and talking, or she'll get her play food, knife, and cutting board and do it alongside me. We play color games, sing songs, use Leap Frog to learn her ABCs, read lots of books, and do creative things like coloring, finger paint, and play dough. We group her stuffed animals by type or by color, etc. When we're out I'm pointing out things we see and she's like a sponge sucking it all in. Now, she'll usually spend our time out pointing at everything she sees telling me what it is.

I've tried to search online for further resources but haven't found much of anything for her age (she just turned two). I would LOVE to have suggestions! I want to do a better job with helping her memorize scripture. And, I feel like I need more creative ideas of fun games to help teach her things.

Well, that's a few things we do in our house. We really hope you'll share what you do to help teach your toddler!