They can ask questions about transportation, heating and refrigeration, the foods they ate, the clothes they wore, and the schools they attended. Look at old pictures. Grandparents and great aunts and uncles are usually delighted to share their memories with the younger generation, and they can pass on a wealth of information. Talk about all the ways your children have traveled since they were babies. Make milk carton boats to float in the bath tub or nearby pond.
Many ideas come from beyond our immediate surroundings.
Information moves from one person to another through telephones, mail, television, radio, faxes, and computers. Even posters, bumper stickers, and graffiti communicate ideas. Teach your children to talk on the telephone with Mommy or Daddy at work or Grandma who lives in another house. They need to learn to say ''hello'' and ''goodbye,'' and to learn that the person at the other end of the line cannot see them, so they must use words to communicate. Give toddlers a lot of paper, crayons, and markers so they can send messages to others.