Children are flimsy by nature so adult care and guidance are crucial in a child’s upbringing. Childhood is often reflected in adults depending on the care and parenting acquired by infants or toddlers. If children receive helpful experiences, it predisposes them to better adulthood. In order to attain a better society, there is a need to devotedly choose what orientations and directions we give to our children. Therefore, this paper seeks to pinpoint what can be done to improve both infants’ and toddlers’ physical and intellectual competencies.
Children learn mostly by occurrence and acquaintance above all other ways of learning. Mental and physical developments in children are concomitant. One activity can influence a child both intellectually and physically. For instance, when children are swimming in the presence of a teacher or a supervisor, the swimming activity itself enables them to develop the muscles in the body; at the same time, they learn how to follow commands which in turn improves their mental dexterity.
Handing books or any other reading materials to the toddlers make them admire the books. As they grow with guardians or teachers who are always reading to them, the children discover the need to study. The desire to study prompts them intellectually while they are learning to read the books, and thus there appears the desire to study.
Mothers are always advised to talk to their children in a clear language as if they were conversing with another adult and not with a child. This practice facilitates language development in children which becomes handy for them as they begin going to school; this enlarges their knowledge of vocabulary and makes them understand and easily follow the instructions by a teacher at school.
Teachers should cultivate a culture of constant rational engagement in children. This practice will improve and develop the children’s intellectual aptitude. For example, if children are taught and asked to count physical things and especially those that appeal to their appetite, they will develop mathematical skills that will be useful to them at school and further in their real life. Children can also develop the logical capacity by engaging in simple arguments and putting questions that trigger their developing minds to think logically.
Physical competence in children is achieved typically in sports and other muscle involving activities. For instance, soccer is a physically engaging bustle, but for one to calculate distances one needs specific knowledge. The know-how of distances and the possible move of the opponent is not just a physical activity, but an intellectual and logical one.
Mental and physical activities are indispensable in infants and toddlers. Children who have diverse experiences seem to be competent both rationally and physically. The mastering of different activities reduces the instances of the children being embarrassed, hence improving their self-image.