Unit 1 You and Others 74
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Children learn an almost endless amount of information during
their fi rst fi ve years of life.
Learning
is gaining information or skills
through engaging in play that provides hands-on materials. Learning
through play is important, especially during the early years. Children
learn by exploring the world around them. All children need praise and
encouragement to learn.
Infants
Infants learn by using their senses. They learn when they touch, see,
hear, smell, and taste. For instance, Aria’s parents have given her a rattle as
her fi rst toy. Aria grasps the rattle and learns what it feels like. She learns
what it tastes like as she puts it in her mouth. When she shakes it, she
learns what it sounds like.
Playing helps infants learn new concepts. They can also learn how
to control their bodies. Peekaboo teaches them that objects or people can
disappear and return. Waving good-bye and playing pat-a-cake helps them
control their hands and arms.
Infants learn to speak by making sounds. Let them know you enjoy
the sounds they make. This encourages them to make more sounds. You
can also help infants learn to speak by talking to them. They imitate how
people talk. The more words they hear people use, the more they learn.
They can also learn that people express their thoughts and feelings by using
words. See 2-17.
Encouraging infants to make sounds helps them learn about speech. 2-17