I observed as Mei-Lin, the nanny, taught eight-month-old Miles, along with her four-year-old son. Miles sat in a high chair while she provided treats. Mei-Lin went back and forth between the boys, showing them objects. Miles listened as she named the objects and repeated her words, then stuffed his mouth with the slightly sweet rice balls on his tray. He watched her every move for more than an hour as she spoke softly, adding multiple words to his Mandarin vocabulary. Mama and Dada are his only English words spoken at home.
Later, Mei-Lin told him it was time to go to the park. She wiped his hands and face with a warm lemon-scented cloth and placed him on the floor with instructions that I couldn’t understand. He sat more still than any eight-month-old I have ever seen while she carried her son’s bicycle down the stairs and onto the sidewalk, then Miles’ stroller, then came for Miles.
Miles was happy to be engaged in learning with an appropriate amount of freedom, choice, encouragement and reward.
What do you observe in this situation?
