Vygotsky believed that one of the most important things an educator can do is give a child experiences that fit within her zone of proximal development. A kindergarten teacher, for example, might provide children with pens and paper to practice making letters or to ensure that there are plenty of books in the classroom to encourage looking at books or sounding out words. Parents might draw on a child's current interests to help them learn. A third grader who loves insects could learn about evolution by understanding the ways in which different insects fill biological niches.