Beginnning to teach a toddler!

Hi all.
A very must necessary thread for all our mom's bagged with mixed ideas and ofcourse tips.
All this pressuring comes from our surroundings(esp relatives,negihbours,cousins,...) in a indirect manner.Let me make u clear with an example.
Before Last year when i visited my in-laws place(i am newly married at that time), my elder sister in law always used to put questions for his 2y4m old boy in front of us and when that fellow used to answer sometimes,my in-laws start praising him,not only that they used to spread this newsto all our relatives to whomsoever they r corresponding at that time like my elder sister in law who in U.S, or some other relatives as if some wonder have happened.Even my first elder sis-in-law has also kids,they always repeat he is clever,this thing and that thing.Dont u think all these sentences drive away her engery while comparing to her kids?Is a child who doesnt answer to the question is not clever?I felt very bad at those instances,ofcourse i am not able to put u properly my feelings that i felt during that time.
I wondered at that time,Is is that the way I have to bring up my child ?I also had a mixed feelings abt this matter.
Recently, we went to a Mother Care Fair,where so many educational institutes set up stalls,one man came and asked us for some of our time.we granted him, .He started his lecture looking at my 1y3m boy with questions?Do u dont want to give ur child best education?dont u want to make him a Topper?Dont u want to make him competitive? and be a good explorer?so then, u have to buy all our educational kit (which is 3500SGD)and make him study from now onwards.we both(me and Hubby) were speechless while hearing all that stuff.I got so much irritated and felt in the same dilemma in wat way i have to bring up my kid?
really its a huge ? mark fo so many of us.

Cheers,
Spandhana

Hi,
Even i agree with u all that kids should not be forced to learn.They r burdened in schools so much that they hrdly get any time for other activities.They should be taught according to their own capabilities.If we teach them in the form of songs,games and fun they will learn more quicker.they should not be compared with other child otherwise they create inferiority complex.Let them learn with the environment. Slow and steady wins the race