Too early, too late? Little David or Goliath?

There is a certain frenzy by educational merchandisers touting parents with the advertising jingle "Teach your child to speak early..." and the likes.

I don't need anything early, I just need it timely.

The world shouts, if you get in first, you'll get the job. If you are faster, you will survive. I don't remember reading any of those concepts in the word of God. Rather there are countless incidents where the smaller tribe gains victory over the bigger one and the famous little shepherd boy named David who slained the Goliath, a giant over 6 feet tall with only 5 stones!

Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to say faster is bad. Rather I would not make my goal to do anything just to go first. To try to get ahead is synonym with fear, the fear of losing out. It is the opposite of trusting someone greater who knows us and knows our children, knit our children in the mothers' womb and holds their future.

There is always an optimal learning time for a child. If we get it at the right time, the child will be so motivated, he will naturally learn it well and learn it quickly. If we aim for speed, at the wrong timing, a child will be demotivated and at worse turn away from the subject.

Too early for a 2-yr old to learn about engineering? Well, not if we are following the lead of our child. My boy loves transportation vehicles. I know lots of boys do. It was especially an interest of topic with daddy being overseas and we talk about how daddy travels. So to start, we watched videos of how planes take off, the interior and different airline commercials online. We began to observe the parts of an aeroplane, its wheels, cockpit, the wings etc. Next week, we are scheduled to take a plane and the timing is just perfect for a little hands-on learning.

In educating our children, are we aiming to churn out little David or Goliath? Its time to fix our eyes upon the one who holds the future of our little ones. Jer 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."