It would be a mistake for anyone to think that learning is solely limited to the institutions that we all formally take part in at some point of our lives. A school education is certainly about learning, and often there’s sincere effort put behind helping children grow and develop, but this is hardly the only place a child can learn about the world, though it is a vital element of it.
As such, parents have a duty to help show their children that while school is important, being curious and interested in the world and nurturing their passions is important. But this is such a huge and intricate responsibility that knowing how to do it can be a difficult proposal. Should you schedule in two hours of “learning to like learning” each morning so it’s to be achieved? That’s a little unrealistic.
So, to what extent can parents encourage such an attitude? Let’s consider this, below:
Contextualizing Learning By Exploring
Children learn best when they can see how the things they’re curious about apply to the real world. One of the best ways to encourage this is by exploring the world together. This doesn’t mean you need to book an exotic vacation or spend a fortune on museum memberships, but perhaps volunteering or supporting school trips abroad or initiatives by the school could be worthwhile.Even smaller efforts like taking a walk in the park, looking at bugs, or figuring out what kind of clouds are floating overhead count too. The more you can make the world seem magical, which it is, the more they’ll want to learn about it. It’s nice to give that attitude to children.
Make Learning Apply To Them
Kids are much more likely to be engaged when they can see how learning impacts their world. If they love playing video games, why not explore how games are made? You could sit down together and look at coding basics, or even try designing a simple game together. By tying learning to what they already love, you’re showing them that knowledge isn’t just an abstract concept, but something they can use to fuel their passions. After all, if it exists in the world and they like it, there’s something to learn there.
Give Them Autonomy & Direction
It’s essential to give children a sense of autonomy and direction in their daily approach, be that allowing them to learn about the musical instrument they’re most interested in, taking afterschool clubs they like, or trying a sport they find most enjoyable. That’s not to say you can or should bankroll every niche interest, but having one or two hobbies or topics of fascination can be really healthy for a child to enjoy. You can also use your own insight to help here, so don’t think your input is unwanted. Just don’t force them into a specific outcome, such as making them learn piano if they love guitar.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to nurture your child’s passion for learning in the best possible way.