8 Most Effective Ways to Keep Children Learning

School is the place where children learn, but learning is not just about academics. It is the process of acquiring new knowledge, perspectives, behaviors, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences. Therefore, it should not be restricted to school but must happen everywhere as part of their daily lives.

Learning is an attitude that helps children grow throughout their lives. Learning new things boosts their confidence and self-esteem, helps them find their interests, and shapes their future accordingly.

Let’s explore some ways to keep children learning:

1. Maintain a positive attitude:

One important trait to overcome challenges is a positive attitude. Parents need to inculcate and nurture a positive learning attitude in their children. This makes children perceive learning as a crucial and ongoing process in their lives. Children who maintain a positive attitude towards learning are more successful, not only in academics but also in many other areas of life.

If children’s learning goals are not met, instead of criticizing them, make them realize that they tried their best, and every experience is a learning opportunity. Parents and teachers should also nurture values and morals in children and model positive attitudes towards learning, as children mimic them.

2. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small:

Celebrating children’s achievements not only boosts their self-confidence but also motivates them to learn new things. Parents and teachers should recognize and acknowledge not only their achievements but also the efforts they make to overcome challenges, no matter how small they are. 

This makes children self-aware, values their ideas, and motivates them to welcome new challenges. Celebrating or acknowledging their efforts shows them that you are interested in their life and achievements, which fosters a learning mindset that encourages them to take pride in consistent learning.

3. Limit screen time:

Although the internet is full of knowledge and is a great source of learning, children may not know what is best for their well-being. To ensure learning and to keep their children engaged, parents should limit their screen time and monitor how much time they spend on devices. By directing them appropriately to choose screen content, parents can help their children navigate their learning better.

4. Focus on children’s interests:

Children enjoy learning when they find it fun. When learning is related to their interests, they keep learning with enthusiasm. Parents can create a reading atmosphere by considering children’s interests. If a child loves forests or animals, help them find engaging and interesting books and stories about nature parks and animals. Challenge them to identify forest reserves and state animals. Also, help them identify their preferred learning style and provide them with learning resources accordingly.

Also Read: Leadership traits you need to practice to become a successful school leader

5. Focus on learning, not performance:

Instead of asking children about their scores in maths, ask them what they have learnt and how they are going to apply it. By focusing on what they are learning, rather than how they are performing, we can positively impact their performance. This approach gives children the opportunity to put their learning and experiences into their own words, rather than just memorizing facts.

6. Break goals into smaller mini-tasks:

To engage children in effective learning, it is important to have specific learning goals. Goals provide children with direction for learning, but sometimes children lose interest if they find the goals too big or difficult. Breaking learning goals into smaller tasks helps students achieve them more easily. Fulfilling small tasks boosts their learning confidence and encourages them to keep learning.

7. Make learning fun:

Kids love to have fun, and we tend to remember most of the fun moments from our childhood. Kids prefer to play or watch TV rather than study. By integrating fun activities into their learning, we can engage children more in the process. For example, using animation, curriculum videos, and teaching through stories, plays, and games can make the learning process enjoyable and motivate children to keep learning.

8. Let children explore: 

Learning is a journey for children, and we should let them sit in the driver’s seat most of the time. In traditional education, children often feel they are not in control, which can lead to a lack of interest in learning. While it is necessary to guide children through the learning process, it is also important to give them control over their learning experience. Whether at home or at school, children should have the ability to provide input, ideas, and choices about their learning. The best way to do this is to provide them with choices about their homework, project topics, and extracurricular activities. The more control and input children have, the more engaged they will be in their learning.

Making learning time, place, and people-specific can lessen children’s interest in learning. Instead, let children explore the world around them, ask questions, and make connections. By turning every day into a learning day, we can help children motivate themselves intrinsically and keep them learning. Learning should be a natural part of their daily experiences.