Ultimately, we want our kids to love to learn. Apassionfor learning is quite different from just studying to earn a grade or to please parents or teachers. Those who develop aloveof learning at an early age continue the process throughout their lives and are generally more successful, interesting, and happier than those who don’t.If we want our kids to become good students, we need to become students of them. We need to do our homework by getting to know each one of our kids and understanding what makes them tick.
Talk with your child about the things you read and hear, especially the things you find interesting.
Ask your kids how they feel about various issues (current events, relationships, values). Allow them to have opinions without passing judgment. Ask your children to help you understand why they feel the way they do.
Pursue your own hobbies and interests. Share these with your child, but do not require that he or she follow your pursuits.Encourage your kids to have interests of their own. If they show curiosity about a hobby, area of study, sport, or instrument, encourage and support them in any way your finances allow.
Read books. Read on your own, which sets a good example. Read to your kids, to get them hooked on books. Have lots of books in the house. Have bookcases and show how you value books. Play game books. Read audio books on CD or MP3.
Expose your child to a wide variety of experiences including music, plays, sports, museums, travel, reading, dance, games, food, puzzles, ethnic activities, etc. One never knows how what exposure may influence future life choices.
Play “thinking games” with your kids. These are games where there is not just one answer. Scrabble and chess are examples. Emphasize the value of thoughtful moves rather than the importance of winning.
Remember that you are your child’s best teacher.
Provide your child with free time. Children need plenty of free time to discover and explore. Don’t jam pack your schedule with errands and activities. Give your child time for free play, day dreaming and roaming around in the back yard.
Start sooner, rather than later. Fostering independence in your child is very important for their brain development and how they feel about learning. Sometimes, activities seem too difficult for your child only because you haven’t encouraged them to do it yet. Letting your child do things makes them feel more in control of their world, which in turn inspires them toward bigger and better exploits.
Let them know that school is important by being supportive of the school.
Attend school functions, volunteer in the classroom if possible, and communicate with the teacher. Ask the teacher what you can do to help your child.
Parental affirmation builds kids up and gives them courage to keep going. Criticism destroys and takes away that desire to grow and to become all that they can be. No one in this world is able to puff up your child’s chest like you can; when you praise them, it goes so much farther than anyone else saying something good to them. But it goes the other way, too: no one on earth can demoralize your child more than you can with constant criticism. So stand behind your kids and give them the strength they need to face the world with confidence.
References:
Raising Kids Who Love to Learn:By Ginny Graves from Parents Magazine
http://www.wikihow.com/Encourage-Your-Child-to-Love-Learning
Helping Your Child Love Learning: Written by Dr. Dave Currie
By: Elsa T. Bumatay | Teacher III | Mountain View Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan
