What Should I Be Teaching My 20 Month Old Twins

In agreement with what other people have posted, it sounds like you're already doing what needs to be done. Reading to them is also important. Start with small board books. Even if they don't appear interested just read a few to them at different times of the day while they're playing.

A good book that works on different skills for them is Slow and Steady Get Me Ready by Judy Oberlander. It gives you an activity to focus on each week. It is divided up by year/age and then into 52 weeks. http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Steady-Get-Me-Ready/dp/1591602...

If you want to work with them on colors, letters and such, just point them out while they're playing.

You should be teaching them how to play!! My 20 month old does not know any of those things, but she can play on a swing set with the best of em!! Here is the deal..people love to show off their kids skills to other people, but in the end, knowing their colors at 2 does not make them better students, and certainly does not show up on a college application. Kids at this age need to use their bodies, to learn social behaviors, to be able to start to navigate this crazy world!! Now, when I play cars with my son, I will casually mention what color it is, or when we wash our hands, we sing the abc's, so that it is just part of our day. I talk to my kids, play with them, point things out at the store (like the names of fruits and veggies for ex.) but really, that is about it. Neither of my girls went to preschool or had any real structure at home before school, and they are both at the top of their classes. Neither of my girls even read before kindergarten, and guess what..they are great readers now (at 6&9). Work on teaching manners, on taking turns, on showing empathy for another, sitting nicely during dinner, throwing a ball, running and skipping, blowing bubbles, cutting with scissos, playing play doh..you know...teach them how to be a kid!! Better yet, let them remind you how to be one, and that includes not worrying about what any other kid (mom) on the play ground thinks about the way you play at your house! OK..of my soap box for now..go have some fun. ~A.~

I wouldn't worry too much about education at this age. Rather than focusing on teaching too many early skills, I believe it's more important to give kids appreciation for things around them. Allow them to help tend a plant so they learn to appreciate living things. Expose them to wonderful age-appropriate books with engaging stories so they learn to love reading. Encourage them to run and play so they enjoy being healthy and creative. Give them opportunities to paint and draw, set the table, sing, and pick up toys.

Also, make sure they have hours of imaginary play. I believe too many boys miss the dress-up stage of childhood these days. My son loves using my old dishtowels as capes when he plays superheroes. He tucks a wooden spoon into his bathrobe to become a king, and he throws on an old vest and a cap to transform into a jungle explorer. In this way, you can role play the emotions and new situations they face as they grow. You can teach them many things in a fun manner.

In all of these things are teachable moments. If you look for those wonderful moments when you can teach them, you will prepare them for a lifetime of success.

When you feel the time is right, you can use your reading time to ease into learning the alphabet. You can use art time to teach colors and shapes. Outside play is wonderful for teaching about bugs and plants.

This is what I did for my kids, and I have no regrets. As far as being on track for kindergarten, my kids knew their alphabet by age 3. My kindergartener was reading by 5 and is now into chapter books. My son, who just turned 4, is pre-reading. However, teaching our kids to love literature made the difference - not pushing them to read. We want to always challenge them rather than discourage them with (what they may see as) unattainable expectations.

Best wishes for a wonderful summer full of teachable moments with your boys.

You can do crafts with them, take them to a library for story time, take them to a playground.

I have this book (an older version though) and it is the very best resources. It has tons of ideas for young toddlers and older include lots of recipes for homemade paint, bubbles, play dough, bath paint, paper mache, play food... and it's really easy to follow with tons of great ideas:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Ds...

I teach this age range at church (as well as have kids this age) and we do a little craft, have music/singing time, action songs (like if your happy and you know it clap your hands), and we also have lessons.

I am trying to be better at this as well. I am trying to teach my sons more lessons, like science (water freezes into ice/melts at room temp), geography (like what animals live in a rainforest/desert/ which is hot/rainy...), days of the week, time (today/tomorrow/yesterday), shapes, colors, letters, numbers, puzzles, doing collages with torn pieces of paper, craft glue and things like felt cut out/foam stickers/glitter/feathers, turn on some music and dance together, do a fun excersize video together, build with blocks or large leggos, paint, play dough, bubbles...

Here are some websites I get ideas from, I know your boys are still a little young, but it is never to early to do short little lessons with them. I lack motivation, so I wrote down lots of crafts/activities and cut them out and put them in a jar, so that we can pull out a couple of ideas during the day and do that.

http://zachaboard.blogspot.com/
http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/
http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_6/174000/174550/2/previe...
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/babysitting/activities-toddl...
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/Language-Materials_e...

This website narrows down developmental/cognitive/social skills for children depending on age and has some resource as well:

http://www.babycenter.com/toddler
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_p...

With twins, you have your day full! It's easier with just one. My 21 month old knows her letters, her numbers, her shapes, and her colors. That being said, she knows ABCs and 123s by sight only. She cannot say her alphabet fully and only counts to 3 and sometimes 5.

My daughter knows her ABC and numbers because I bought the sponge letters and numbers for the bath tub when she was 1. So we play and learn in the bath tub as we stick them on the bath wall. She learned her shapes and colors from touch and feel flash cards my parents bought her when she was first walking. She has the first words and the shapes and colors ones (http://www.amazon.com/First-Touch-Feel-Picture-Cards/dp/0.... I also recommend music all the time. They are little sponges and music helps them learn faster. For this, I suggest Imagination Movers and Choo Choo Soul. They have number and letter songs along with polite words. I just wish they had a potty training song. :)

As for toys, I highly suggest the Fisher-Price World of Little People Learn About Town (http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-World-Little-People-Le.... She got this for Christmas and loves the two figures that came with it. She uses them to pretend and tell me they are doing the thing she is doing. It also has colors, shapes, letters, and numbers.

Have fun and enjoy! They all move at their own pace. :)

let them be kids for now! in a year or 2, then put them in preschool and worry about education. kids are only little once. enjoy it!

The library is great. I also used this curriculum when I had a small in home childcare...all supplies were provided for that days activities except glue and crayons. Great price, great activities....would definitely use again.

http://www.carolscurriculum.com/

It sounds like you're already doing everything you "should" be doing. Don't worry about "educating" them right now. Just let 'em play & keep plenty of books available.

I'd recommend checking out your public library. My DD has LOVED storytime since she turned 1 (our library has age-appropriate storytime, including songs and dancing, from 1yr +). Our library also has activity packs that you can sign out on different themes, that include books, videos, games, etc so you can teach your kids different things (letters, colors, potty training, etc). They also probably have books for you to suggest activities and such. My DD will be two on Sunday, and has just gotten her colors down within the past few weeks, but actually started on letters, first (a little crazy, I know, but I figured if she was interested, I'd run with it). I wouldn't worry too much about "keeping up with the Joneses," but I would offer your kids a variety of learning activities (books, crafts, etc) periodically to see what catches their attention. GL!