The education that parents provide their children is a fundamental part of their learning and development. Therefore, it is important that adults are aware of all the tools and possibilities they have at their disposal to perform it in the best possible way. An excellent technique is the so-called incidental education for children, which is based on the principles of applied behavior analysis to offer efficient and natural learning.
Incidental education is especially intended to improve children’s behavioral and linguistic skills. This can be applied at any stage of growth, but, above all, during the period from 2 to 9 years. This form of teaching, in addition to being easy for adults to carry out, entails a whole series of benefits for minors.
Incidental education is based on the principle of taking advantage of any type of everyday situation to teach children a series of appropriate behaviors, as well as lessons or concepts. The idea is to apply these lessons during daily life, while performing tasks or conventional situations arise in which the teachings can be applied in the moment.
This type of teaching can range from the importance of respecting your turn while waiting in line to practicing the basics of manners and manners, such as greeting or saying good morning. In this way, children will be able to learn skills and behaviors that will accompany them throughout their lives. In addition to being a dynamic practical activity that will attract your attention and stimulate your curiosity. They will not find it boring or tiresome since, after all, they are acquiring knowledge unconsciously.
One of the bases for using incidental education is to adapt to situations or, otherwise, know how to identify them. Parents need to be aware of when the ideal environment exists to practice certain lessons. This will be much more effective than if you force the context to share teachings that do not fit the time and space.
However, this will not work if you do not have the child’s attention, another of the key points. To do this, it is recommended to get at their level, crouching down and ensuring that both eyes are at the same level. Furthermore, you have to guide him in the learning process, not give him the ready-made path. That is why a hand will be given, by asking questions, so that the child takes the initiative and is able to develop a thought or behavior that ends up reaching the objective. The key is for him to be the one to achieve it, while the adult will only serve as a guide so that he does not get off the right path.