Motivate Your Child to Love Learning

There is more to schooling and learning that meets the eye and parents can help renew the joy of learning in their kids. How? Read on…

Up play your child’s interests with enthusiasm

Every child has a natural subject that he or she finds fascinating. It could be plants, cars, dinosaurs… anything. Show enthusiasm for what your child likes and encourage exploration of that subject through research, documentaries, discussions and looking for books about the subject at the library or bookshop. Tip: If your child is interested in lions, for instance, challenge him or her to find a dozen facts about the big cat, after which the both of you can sit down and evaluate them together.

Share your own favourite learning methods

When kids realise that even their parents are constantly learning new things, they relate to them better when it comes to learning and are open to suggestions and new ideas. So, if you’re into gardening, for instance, share with your kid the research methods you use and also, the success rate of learning anything new through that method, e.g. learning the latest way to grow potatoes in a pot from Youtube and its results.

Always ask about what was learned in school for the day

Although it may be more tempting to inquire on the results for the latest test, try instead to ask, with as much interest as you would when inquiring about test scores, what your kid learned in school today. Putting the lessons in his or her own words helps a child retain it better and if they know that you’ll always be asking, they may even start paying better attention in class!

Focus on strengths to encourage developing talents

It’s easy for a parent to feel downhearted (and perhaps angry) when their child brings back a ‘C’ instead of an ‘A’ for Maths. Instead of adding salt to their injury, look for what he or she did do well in, like a well-written essay, for instance, and apart from a Math workbook to work on, present your child with an attractive journal too, in recognition of that good job in writing.

Fill your child’s world with reading

Take turns reading with your child, or establish a family reading time when everyone reads their own book. Demonstrate how important reading is to you by filling your home with printed materials: novels, newspapers, even posters and placemats with words on them.

Celebrate all achievements, not just academic ones

Children are naturally eager to please their parents, but the danger in this is, they may also end up feeling like they have to prove their worth before they can expect their parents’ approval, or worse, love. Avoid going down that dreadful road by giving due attention to even the little achievements, such as completing a book report, or non-academic ones, such as making it into the football team.

Positive reinforcements in all areas of their development will let kids know that their parent really do care, which in turn will prompt them to do better, even academically.

Help your child get organised

Loads of school papers and assignments can prove daunting to some kids, but they generally do not show it, probably because other kids seem to cope fine. If you think your child may be struggling to get organised, reach out and help! Suggestions on time management may come in handy too, especially if there is a lot on his or her plate. As a parent, make it a point to check with your child regularly to ensure that he or she is not feeling overloaded with school work, for you don’t want your child to be spending more time stressing out than studying.