He loves to read and he loves to play with toys.
Something that's become noticeable are the particular books and toys he likes most, and how he wants to read them and play with them over and over. He knows what page certain things happen and what sounds a toy makes when pressing a specific button.
Yet, each time it's new and fun. It's as if he's learning something new each time he reads the book or plays with the toy.
Repetition is the foundation of learning. We hear it all the time; practice, practice, practice.
A lot can be learned from repetition, and my one year old son, including:
1. Do what you love. My son loves to read, so he does it whenever he can. There's no rush or pressure, he reads whenever he sees a good book.
2. Find others to love something with you. My son will often grab a book, bring it to me, then sit and my lap. With a smile on his face, he knows I'll be happy to read it with. How can you refuse a happy and smiling boy bringing you a fun book?
3. Do what you love, often. My son smiles a lot, which makes myself and wife smile. The more we smile, the more my son wants to do what all of us love to do. This creates a great little circle of doing the things we all love doing.
We go for lots of walks, read plenty of books, play with fun toys, and smile and hug!
My son is a year old and he's learned a lot; how to pick out good books, turn pages, make toys talk and sing, and much more. But it's the lessons that he's taught me that are amazing. Do things you love, and keep doing them. You learn something new each time.
Are you doing what you love? Do you continue to do it? When's the last time you read your favorite book, again? Watched a great movie, for the third time? Went walking with your spouse, for the fifth day in a row? Took a walk with your kids, every day for the last two weeks?
Repetition is learning, and also a joy. Savor it, and have fun.
