Ladder of Early Learning

  As some of the most influential teachers of young children, families have the opportunity to “steady the ladder” of early learning as children gain new knowledge, one step up at a time.   This intentional teaching and learning process is called scaffolding and is like a ladder that supports children as they climb up each successive rung in a quest to build new skills and reach new heights in personal achievement and understanding.

  The ladder is an excellent way to imagine how to assist children in learning anything new from using a spoon to bike riding. Your role as teacher is to prop them up and encourage them to pursue a task while monitoring, coaching, and adjusting their steps along the way.  Although this may sound daunting, you probably do it all the time without even realizing it.

Tying Shoes

  Take, for instance, the task of tying shoelaces.  Obviously, you can’t teach your children to tie their shoes for the first time by simply telling them to do it or showing them only once.  Although they have seen you do it many times, it is unlikely that they will learn to do it on their own without some careful assistance from you.  That’s when you bring out the ladder, so to speak. 

  Many families wait until children are about five when fingers and hands are more able. Before that Velcro closures help avoid frustration for children and helpers.

"Kinderschuhe Romika 1884" by NobbiP

  First, prepare to break the skill down into very small steps.  Sit side-by-side rather than face-to-face so each step can be imitated more easily.  Use a marker to color one lace or use different colored laces so children can see how each lace moves.

"Kinderschoenen" by User:DimiTalen

   Some families like to use an adult shoe with longer laces. If it helps, tell a little story, song or rhyme to guide the process and help the children remember. Talk out loud together.  Most important, be patient, consistent, and encouraging. Although there are many creative ways to tie a shoelace like crossing “bunny ears” or “loop and swoop” you will probably be most comfortable teaching as you have been taught.  The key is repetition, little steps and stopping before to much frustration. Every child is different and learns skills at different ages even within families.

  Through this special shared experience, you are allowing children to gain confidence and build important new skills.  Soon you’ll soon glance up to see a confident child, displaying two floppy shoe bows and one very large grin.  You have steadied the ladder of learning to an early success a child will never forget.

Guest writer is educator Gail Juntunen. 

Photo: Mark Nowicki

"Kinderschuhe Romika 1884" by NobbiP - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kinderschuhe_Romika_1884.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Kinderschuhe_Romika_1884.jpg

"Kinderschoenen" by User:DimiTalen - Own work. Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kinderschoenen.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Kinderschoenen.jpg

More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest