Raising Lifelong Learners
As a parent the best excitement that you could feel would be when your child says- “Oh I love learning, I love Math, I love Reading” or even when you see them enjoying an exploration or the discovery that they have just made. Just seeing a child learn and grow step by step is joyful for every parent.
Learning academics, school report cards and mark sheets are only one sign that your child is on a learning journey, while that is important – what truly is exciting and thrilling is to see them go beyond the required syllabus- A new artwork, learning a new sport or maybe something they saw through the telescope for the first time , if we could sustain this joy throughout their lives we truly would have raised a lifelong learner
Unfortunately, some children lose this passion as they grow up. School becomes a place to achieve rather than learn, to compete rather than acquire. Getting their grades and scores takes precedence over the process and the joy of the learning journey. It therefore becomes important as parents that we look at how we could encourage preschoolers to be lifelong learners and inquirers
Start Early- Parents can build on the natural curiosity of children, encourage their questions, fuel their enthusiasm and look for potential learning opportunities. Share their wonder at every little thing they observe, it’s all so new to them!!!!
Role Model- Enjoy learning new things yourself, talk through with your child about all your new discoveries and any new skill you acquire as a grown-up, a new book you read or movie that you enjoyed.
Go beyond academics- Some learning cannot be measured by tests and exams – but encourage your kids to keep learning to be the best they can. Building character, building 21st century skills, relationships, all add to being a lifelong learner
Keep it Real- Let them make independent choices, encourage autonomy and resilience. Let them make mistakes and learn from it. Allow children to explore a variety of interests and choose to pursue those that they find relevant and exciting to themselves
Whether a child or an adult is pursuing personal interest and passions or chasing professional ambitions, lifelong learning can help both adults and children achieve personal fulfilment and satisfaction
It recognizes that humans have a natural desire to explore, grow, learn and always acts as a motivator to keep paying attention to ideas and goals that inspire us to seek out more.
Each one of us no matter how challenging it may seem can be encouraged to be lifelong learners- Exploring, Discovering, Seeking and Creating something along our journey called life!!!!
