Passive vs Active learning
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Exactly the same as Lizzie, we do lots and lots of talking 😂. Even on walks we count birds, say animal names, say the colours of flowers, count our steps etc. they pick up so much subliminally at this age so I do think you should introduce it, it’s far easier than waiting and having to teach with intention and hoping you can keep his attention long enough and regular enough x
I don't know what is right, I am not qualified to say so. With my baby I do intentionally teach him words and every three days I introduce a new word. He learnt some organically as well. He knows and actively uses more than 20 words in Italian and English. I don't know whether I am pushing too much but he seems having great fun 😅
When my sister was little (15 year age gap) I loved teaching her colours and numbers etc. So I have looked forward to doing that with my LO now. So I think I do actively teach him things like that. We are doing phonics atm.. X
We teach words in books and play lots of finding games where I challenge him with more complex words as we go like lighthouse, cranes etc instead of things he sees every day. He starts by learning to find objects then later starts to copy saying them then later starts to tell me what things are. We’ve also started on learning letters and pointing them out in books but he’s always been fascinated by words so I think we’re pretty early to be doing that. Other than that it’s a lot of talking about the world, explaining day to day things, pointing out colours and counting things. (He can’t count properly or reliably point out colours yet so it’s just me doing it hoping he’ll pick it up! Sometimes he just repeats what I say!) I don’t think teaching always has to be structured at this age. A lot of it happens naturally when we read or talk. I think the only structured teaching we’ve done is drawing him letters and talking about words that start with those letters.
Active learning is the most effective way to 'learn' at any age. Children are little explorers, and that's how they learn (so are adults tbh), so I'd just keep doing what you're doing
I have an elder child so I’m in the habit of just literally speaking aloud to myself in every aspect of life 😅 I.e. getting dressed, getting washed, cleaning up, cooking and so on. Literally everything they show an interest in “it’s a carrot, it’s orange, it begins with C for carrot! How many carrots can you see? 1…2…3!” Making the mundane “fun” 😬