Ask Sherrin Blog

Sherrin talks with Gary Hargrave on 4BC about

• the effects of routine bed times on the brain development for toddlers,
• reading to your children at bedtime, why reading earlier than normal may not produce greater success later in life, and
• respond to your child’s unique learning needs.

Sherrin says that it is really important to establish routine with youngsters like going to bed early so that their brains have the sleep that is needed for excellent brain development and functioning and so that you establish good routine habits that help children feel more secure in themselves. Reading to your children is a great bedtime activity to close the day well, spend quiet time before bed and to bond with your child. Immersing your child in a language laden environment helps them with reading and maths later on. If you have a child who is showing signs of early development foster their natural curiosity to learn and absorb new things so that you fulfil their needs. Parents of bright children and early developers are often criticised for ‘pushing their children and putting them under too much pressure.’ However, I believe that it is wrong to stifle natural ability and natural exploration; respond to their unique needs by giving them lots of activities where they can learn about words and maths – because they naturally want to. “Stimulate their learning curiosity and imaginations rather than holding them back,” Sherrin says.

 Dowload the show here: Sherrin on 4BC 15-06-10 .mp3