We talk a great deal about what you can teach your child, but have you thought about what your child can teach you? If you look to your child for what she can teach you, you will learn some wonderful lessons.

• Children are great scientists. They experiment with new things and do it with excitement and enthusiasm. They show us the way to approach new things in life.

• Children are playful. They run, jump and are full of energy. They remind us that we all sometimes need to play.

• Children treat the world with wonder and awe. They welcome new ideas and ways to live. They teach us ways to look forward to the coming days.

• Children love learning. What a great example this is at any age. They teach us to welcome new things into our lives.

• Children give you a second chance. You can mess up with your child and she will forgive you and start again. Learning about forgiveness from our children is another important lesson.

Take time to talk

One of most important ways your child teaches you is when you talk together. Through these regular sharing times learning on both sides takes place. She is storing every word that she hears.

You are helping her develop her language skills to be ready for school and forever. She is giving you clues about what is important to her.

So even if you are really busy, stop and talk to her. You can talk to her while she is brushing her teeth, while you are riding in the car, while you are packing lunches or making dinner, or while you are walking her to her bed for the night.

It is times like these that your child learns to trust you and to share with you the things that concern her or make her fearful or just make her feel bad. Children have many fears: of the dark, of spiders, of animals and of being alone.

One way your child has to handle fear is by crying, throwing temper tantrum, clinging and most important, talking to you about them. These are times your child needs to have you listen to her, comfort her, and be there for her.

Let your child talk about her fears and know that you take her seriously. Her fears may not see serious to you, but they certainly are to her.

Talking together opens up your learning to how she feels about life. Talking together builds trust and also encourages her personal strength to develop. These times also give you a chance to learn about how your child is handling life and how you could help.

The more words she hears from you, the smarter she will become. The more words you hear from her, the smarter you will become.

You are both teaching each other if you just are open to hearing what is being said.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Email to info@firstteacher.org or call 360-681-2250.