Tips for teaching toddlers

[Discopanda]

My DD (2 and 8 months) is quite bright, really into books, colouring, starting to recognise numbers but I want to do a bit more alphabet work with her. Does anybody have any tips for helping toddlers to focus when you're to have a bit of learning time? BTW, she has plenty of playtime, I just try to squeeze in educational activities a couple of times a week and we're constantly talking and naming and counting things.

TBH I wouldn't bother, if she doesn't want to focus on things at 2 then thats fine there is plenty of time for that when she is older. For now just stick with the playing and the talking and she will pick up plenty

I have a 2 and 3 yr old and I tend to just change activities/game if they start losing focus. letterland is a good book to learn names of letters with lots of pictures to point at and also learn about.

I had the Letterland ABC when I was little!

No point in trying to "make her focus" imo. When she shows an interest, go with it, but don't make a big deal of it. My dd is 2y 3mo and obviously pretty switched on, she is very interested in letters, numbers and writing and we spent ages on a walk last weekend loitering around street signs while she quizzed us on the sounds. Totally unplanned but fun for her.

(I am a primary teacher, btw, and the thing we always say us best for a child's literacy is to be talked to in interesting language and read bedtime stories.)

I'm a primary teacher too. Just stick mine in front of alphablocks and sesame street a few times a week. The rest of the time I read, play and talk. DS would definitely never 'focus' unless it was his own agenda. DD never would either. I didn't teach her any phonics and she's flying in year one.

Numtums (old) really is brilliant!

Yeah, the old Numtums really helped with her number. Can't stand the new one.