An adult holds out a pink pig toy toward a young child

Module 4:
Important Things to Teach Early

Module 4: Important Things to Teach Early

In Modules 4 and 5, we will talk about the most important things to teach. Then we’ll talk about how to put them into your family’s daily routines.

Two things are especially important for every child. They are: paying attention to adults and eye contact with adults. We’ll talk about these first. Then we’re going to discuss a few things that are special about teaching very young children, including:

not encouraging your child to be too independent,
distracting your child from interfering behaviors by doing fun activities,
starting as early in his development as you can,
beginning to teach some spoken language and play, and
how to gear the difficulty of what you teach.

Finally, we’ll briefly review basic ideas that we covered in earlier modules. Even if you already understand these ideas, it will help you to read about them again.

Now we’ll review the most important things you want your child to learn. And we’ll talk about some of the best ways to teach these things to very young children. Start with the brief story, below, and then read the topics below. At the end of each section, there’s a link to the next.

Module Index

Module 4 Introduction

Paying Attention to Adults

Don’t Encourage Independence Too Soon

Distracting with Fun Activities

Start As Early As You Can

Beginning to Teach Language

Including Others in Play

Teach Skills At Or Just Above Your Child’s Current Level

Module 4 Quiz

Module 4 Vignette: Finding Ways to Increase Social Interaction Using Your Child’s Favorite Toys

By the time Carlos was three years and 2-months-old, he was already very good at making puzzles. His mother bought him two new puzzles, each with 12 pieces. He put all of the pieces in the right spots the very first time he tried. He seemed to enjoy puzzles a lot. His mother thought about giving him some beginner jigsaw puzzles with interlocking pieces to try. But after reviewing Modules 2 and 3 of Opt-in Early, she had another idea. She decided it might be best, for now, to use the puzzles he was already good at to work on increasing social interaction.

Carlos had learned how to ask for things, and to make choices, using a point. So, instead of giving him the puzzle board with all of the pieces, she gave him the puzzle board and only three of the twelve pieces. Then, she held up the other pieces, two at a time, and let him make choices. This way, he was practicing three skills at the same time. He was practicing his requesting by pointing, making eye contact with his mother, and his puzzle making skills. But most importantly, they were building their relationship with so many opportunities for pleasant interactions.

Carlos and his mother enjoyed their play times together more than before; so much so that Carlos’ mother started using other toys, like shape sorters, stringing beads, stacking rings, and color sorting games, to work on making choices and increasing social opportunities. He also really liked the colorful magnetic tiles that come in various sets, and can be built in many different ways.