“Repetition is the secret of perfection.” – Dr Maria Montessori
Understanding the Importance of Repetition for Toddlers
If you have a toddler between the ages of 1 and 3, you’ve likely heard “again, again!” This is because young children thrive on repetition. Let’s explore what happens in their brains during repeated activities.
In children, neural connections are formed through energy. New tasks require more energy to create these connections. Adults, on the other hand, have well-established neural pathways due to previous experiences, repetition, and practice. Think about how we ride a bike, drive a car, or solve simple maths problems effortlessly.
Why Repetition is Crucial for Children
Repetition is essential for building and strengthening neural pathways in the brain, which supports learning and development. Here’s why repetition matters:
- Strengthens Brain Processes: Repetition fortifies the brain’s neural processors, enhancing learning capabilities.
- Mastery and Retention: It helps children practice, master, and retain knowledge, providing reinforcement opportunities.
- Memory Improvement: Repetition improves the ability to memorise information.
- Self-Discipline and Reflection: Through repetitive activities, children learn self-discipline and critical reflection.
- Coordination Skills: Repeated movements enhance coordination.
- Differentiation Skills: Children learn to notice variations and differences in their environment.
- Confidence Building: Mastering a skill through repetition boosts a child’s confidence.
- Concept Internalisation: It helps children internalise concepts deeply.
- Intellectual Development: Stimulates synthesis, analysis, and application, thereby developing intelligence.
How Parents Can Support Repetition at Home
As parents, reinforcing the benefits of repetition can be simple and enjoyable:
- Discuss and Reflect: After a Clamber Club session, ask your child what they enjoyed. On the way to the next class, remind them of previous fun activities. For younger toddlers, observe and verbalise their favourite activities to encourage self-reflection.
- Engage in Clamber Club Activities: Our classes incorporate repetitive songs and activities, creating a safe and stable environment for children to anticipate and feel confident.
- Extend Learning at Home: Encourage your child to repeat their favourite Clamber Club songs, dances, or activities at home. Our Clamber Club YouTube channel offers a variety of songs and activities to repeat with your toddler.
- Use Multi-Sensory Instructions: Promote retention by asking questions like, “What does it look like?” “What does it smell like?” “What does it sound like?”
Think of repetition like walking a path through a field of grass. Walking the same path repeatedly creates a clear trail. Similarly, repetition helps form neural pathways in your child’s brain, enhancing their learning experiences.
Let’s Embrace Repetition
At Clamber Club, we understand the power of repetition in early childhood development. Our structured classes and activities provide the perfect environment for your child to thrive. Let’s encourage our little ones to repeat, learn, and grow—again and again!
Lize McDonald Owner & Franchisee of Clamber Club Toddlers – Durbanville
durbanville@clamberclub.com
www.clamberclub.com
Credit: Montessori Academy of Australia