Scaffolding

{photo credit}

It's not just for buildings!

Scaffolding in child development is a teaching process.

Just as a scaffolding in construction allows the workers to
build and shape the building, 

using scaffolding in teaching children allows you to
guide and support a child's learning.

You can read entire books on the subject but here it is in a nutshell:

You begin by observing your child, 

watch what they are doing and how they are doing it. 

Next you simply copy and imitate them.

They will most likely get a kick out of this and the two of
you will be in harmony at that moment.

Then take the activity a level up,
show them a different way to play with a certain toy, 

to color on a paper or a different way to sing a song. 

You can scaffold in the car while running errands

or giving them a bath.

Make up part of a favorite story or introduce a new book that's similar.

You get the idea. Before long a new skill will be mastered.

You really are your child's greatest teacher!