Helping Your Child Learn

Children these days tend to have an even busier schedule than adults, with their days filled to the brim with various activities from piano lessons to swimming classes. Parents hope these learning activities would give their children a head start in life.

While some parents try to make the most out of every single chance they get to boost their children’s learning potential, others tend to believe in letting nature take its course. Rather than asking which is better, it is more important to recognise that children learn at their own pace and in different ways. Going for more lessons or activities does not necessarily mean more learning – there are other factors to consider, like which method of learning is more suitable and how interested the child is.

How Do Children Learn?

There are 3 main types of learners – visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

1. Visual learners need to look at what is happening in order to learn. For example, if you want to teach them about how a tree grows, they need to see diagrams and videos to understand it. Younger children also tend to learn by observing what is happening around them and then following the actions. Visual learners, therefore, need role models in their life who they can learn from.

2. Auditory learners need to listen and hear as opposed to seeing like visual learners. Using the same example of learning about how a tree grows, auditory learners need to hear the process about how a tree grows. Saying it out loud a few times and maybe even singing a song helps them tremendously. You might have noticed this in older children who sometimes close their eyes tightly in concentration as they are trying to listen and respond appropriately. Auditory learners learn best when a concept is verbally explained to them.

3. Kinesthetic learners need action and even touch to learn. To learn about how a tree grows, kinesthetic learners would need to touch real trees and mimic the actions involved to understand the concept. Babies and toddlers tend to learn about their environment this way by touching everything within their grasp. Children who are kinesthetic learners will enjoy learning activities where they can role-play and move around a lot. They also enjoy copying others.

Some other methods of learning are association and repetition.

Association is a fun way of learning for children as they learn by associating different concepts together. For example, when learning the alphabet, they can learn about fruits too such as A for apple, B for banana etc.

Repetition is a simple way for children to learn as it involves repeating certain concepts or skills. Repetition helps children remember what was learn better.

Some children may be one specific type of learner or even a combination of different styles. As they grow older, they will find out which works best for them and which style they like the most. It is important to use an array of methods to teach children new information and skills to enhance their learning.

How Can You Support Your Child’s Learning?

Make learning look fun
To make learning an enjoyable experience that your child loves, parents have to first demonstrate a positive attitude towards education. This could mean managing your own expectations and goals of learning for your child, for example, not defining learning as a tool to achieve good grades in school. Consistently highlight the joys of learning rather than portray it as a chore that your child might slowly learn to dread.
Engage and encourage
Take time to ask your child what they have learnt in school e.g. what did they find Interesting, was there anything new that the teacher taught. Encourage them to ask you questions on matters that pique their curiosity. Playing games or letting them interact with other children can also be an effective means to train problem-solving skills in your child.
Don’t neglect values and morals
Apart from academics and skills, an important component of learning includes social graces and ethics. Teach your child to be polite and considerate to others through your own actions. Children very often learn their behaviours from the adults. Promote honesty in your child by praising them for the courage they exhibit when owning up to mistakes. Allowing them to interact in groups also helps to impart values such as generosity when they share toys or food with others. Lastly, engage them in simple chores such as putting their toys back after play to instill a sense of responsibility and independence in your child

Learning Together With Your Child

While children can learn a lot by playing or exploring on their own, their learning process can be improved by interacting with someone else. When that someone else is the parent. it is even more beneficial. As you interact with your child, take the time to observe what your child likes and what they find interesting. If you come across something a bit challenging, give them a chance to figure it out and observe what they would do. It is important to listen in case they try to tell you something.

Parents play a key role in their children’s learning process. When you take the time to connect with your children, it enhances their learning. When you go for walks in the park with your children, for example, you can take some time to tell them about the different trees and flowers around you and why they are important. This may result in them taking a keen interest in nature. Even if they are not interested, this is a good way to find out what they do like. For example, they might not be interested in flora and fauna but they might be more interested in animals.

Busy parents tend to be not as available to understand the needs of their children. Hence, they will not be able to improve their child’s learning process. In fact, they tend to rely on mobile devices like iPads and tablets to teach their children as they think educational games or shows are equally helpful. While educational games or shows can be useful, they should not be the primary way children learn. They might not fully understand what is happening and even how to apply it to real life.

The opposite is also true. Parents who tend to hover over their children and are constantly trying to test them may find their children barely learning at all. This is because the children find themselves in a stressful environment, which is not conducive for learning. Parents who try too hard to teach their children usually end up depriving them of chances to learn on their own. This may result in children who are unable to solve problems on their own as they were spoon-fed answers as opposed to actually learning.

Conclusion

Parents should try and find a balance where they are able to play an active role in their children’s learning but not be too overwhelming. You can share facts you know your children might find interesting, ask them questions about how their day at school was and if they learned anything new. Finding ways to experience and explore new and exciting things together will help you learn more about your child and even vice versa. All children are unique and special in their own way. Therefore, it will take some time, energy and patience, especially on the parent’s part to figure what works best for you and your children. Do not forget that you can make a big difference when it comes to your children’s learning process.

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Helping Your Child Learn

How Do Children Learn?

How Can You Support Your Child’s Learning?

Learning Together With Your Child

Conclusion

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