Every child loves to learn – but some just don’t know it yet. Let your kid drop the pencils and textbooks for backyard fun and field trips. He’ll be too busy having fun to realize he’s learning.
- Support their interests and hobbies
Nurturing your child’s interests is one of the most basic, yet important, ways to encourage a child’s learning. From an early age, children build self-esteem based on interests and behaviors affirmed by their parents. By simply noticing and encouraging your child’s interests, you teach them the life lesson that their thoughts and passions are important. This support will help your child develop the confidence needed to pursue and achieve their goals, and it will encourage them to explore fields of learning that are of interest to them. - Play learning-oriented games.
Children use playtime to make sense of the world around them. During playtime, children feel confident enough to explore and experiment. Parents can take advantage of a child’s natural curiosity by playing games that are learning-oriented. For children who are struggling in a particular subject, a game may be a healthy way to reintroduce problematic material. - Take Family Field Trips
Learning is a journey of discovery, and for children, the world is a magical, intriguing place of wonder. Even a trip to the creek behind Grandma’s house can be a learning experience. Museums, zoos, baseball games – any place where a child can confidently pursue a curiosity – is a potential field trip. Field trips are great ways to support your child’s interests and are important to building your child’s real-world experience and knowledge. - Encourage Questions
Children love to ask questions, and this curiosity should be encouraged. Answering a child’s questions is an essential part of supporting their interests and affirming inquisitive behavior. As children grow older, parents can involve children in researching and answering questions themselves. Parents should also ask children questions. Ask your child why he thinks the sky is blue or why leaves change colors. Chances are, your child won’t know the answer. This is very important. Let your child know it’s okay not to know the answers and encourage the imaginative thinking process that occurs when children begin to try to answer questions themselves. - Family Projects
Family projects are perfect for the summer months, weekends, or even holiday breaks. Science experiments, reading projects, and backyard exploration can fuel a child’s imagination and give them an intellectual boost for the school year. Parents who are interested in putting together projects can reference any number of teaching resources for inspiration. Use your child’s interests as a guide, and you can’t go wrong.