Have you ever read the same book to a child so many times they can practically tell the story themselves?
Children often love returning to things they know.
And while adults may be ready to move on to something new, revisiting familiar information can give children another opportunity to notice, remember, understand and build confidence.
The key is that repetition doesn't have to mean doing exactly the same thing every time.
Familiarity Makes Room for Something New
The first time children see something, much of their attention may go toward simply figuring out what it is.
The next time, it's a little more familiar.
And the next time, they may notice something they completely missed before.
A child looking at a Tot Talk USA map might first recognize the shape of the United States. Later, they begin finding individual states. Then capitals. Then rivers, regions or places they've visited.
The material hasn't changed.
What the child is ready to discover has.
"I Know That!" Is a Powerful Feeling
There's something wonderful about watching a child recognize something they've seen before.
"I know that!"
Maybe they recognize a planet mentioned at school. Spot a state while watching the weather. Know the name of an animal at the zoo. Remember a math fact before it's introduced in class.
Those little moments of recognition can help children feel capable and ready to participate.
They don't need to know everything about a subject. Sometimes a little familiarity is enough to make something new feel more approachable.
Change the Question, Not Necessarily the Material
Repetition doesn't have to be repetitive.
Instead of always asking the same question, change how you explore something familiar.
With a map, you might ask:
Can you find Oregon?
Another day:
Which states border Oregon?
Later:
How would we get from Oregon to New York?
Or:
Which state would you most like to visit?
The same Tot Talk placemat can support very different conversations depending on a child's age, interests and what they're ready to learn.
And because Tot Talk placemats are double-sided, there's another side to turn to for additional information, activities or practice.
Let Children Show You What They Know
Sometimes the best way to revisit something is to let the child take the lead.
Ask:
What can you tell me about this?
Or let them quiz you.
Children often love knowing an answer an adult doesn't — or at least pretending that you don't know it.
Giving them the chance to explain, point something out or create the questions changes the experience from being tested to sharing what they know.
Bring Familiar Learning Into the Real World
One of the best things about revisiting information is recognizing it somewhere else.
A child sees a fire truck and remembers something from a placemat.
A family takes a trip and a state on the map suddenly becomes a real place.
A moon in the night sky connects to something they explored about space.
A new animal at the zoo looks familiar.
These connections help children see that learning isn't limited to a book, classroom or activity. It's part of the world around them.
Put It Away — and Bring It Back
Repetition doesn't mean something needs to stay in front of a child every day.
In fact, putting learning materials away for a while and bringing them back can make them interesting all over