For many parents, building the academic foundation in children comes with significant pressure. Teaching a child alphabets and numbers is not an easy task. However, the right preparation can simplify the process. According to child psychiatrist Dr. Srividya, academic learning becomes much easier when children first develop a few foundational life skills. Recently, the expert took to social media and shared four basic skills she ensured her child had before teaching him how to read. While these skills may seem simple, they form the building blocks for a child's educational journey.
1. Language Skills
Before children can learn to read and write, Dr. Srividya emphasizes that they should be able to express themselves clearly. 'The first skill is language,' she notes. The child psychiatrist further explains that a child should be able to speak at least a few sentences. She provides examples such as: 'I have pain in my tummy,' 'He took my toy,' or 'I want water.' Strong communication skills also allow children to participate more actively in learning environments.
2. Memory
Memory is another important skill that prepares children for academics. To determine whether a child has good memory, Dr. Srividya suggests parents teach children songs and rhymes and ask them to recite them. Remembering words, sounds, stories, and sequences forms the foundation for many future academic tasks.
3. Imitation
Children learn a great deal by observing and copying the people around them. 'The child should be able to imitate you,' Dr. Srividya explains. She illustrates with an example: 'You can say, a duck says quack, quack. What does a duck say? The child should be able to say quack, quack.' Gradually, this helps children understand social interactions and language patterns.
4. Fine Motor Skills or Hand Grip
Many parents focus on teaching children how to recognize letters and numbers, but writing them requires a completely different set of skills. 'The child should have a good hand grip and fine motor skills,' says Dr. Srividya. Advising parents on how to help children develop these skills, the child psychiatrist suggests handing them crayons and asking them to scribble or draw circles. 'If the child can do that, then you can slowly introduce writing,' she adds.
A Simple Foundation for Effective Learning
Dr. Srividya's simple yet effective suggestions can help build the foundation of developmental skills in children. As she puts it, 'Make sure the child has all these four skills because once the child has good life skills, then education comes easily for them.' After all, a child's academic future is not determined by how early they can recite alphabets or numbers, but by how effectively they learn.
