Developing a yen to learn

Collaborative post

To equip a child for life, one of the most important things we can help engender is that of a lifelong love for learning. This is very different, of course, from teaching a child “things” that mean they have a lot of information in their heads and do well at school and beyond.

Our very earliest years are by far the most crucial in his regard which is why identifying the right early years education provider – and backing up this work in the home is so crucial. In short, if we can really help show a child the thrill of discovery and learning, then this will stay with him or her throughout life. And we all know that life’s most interesting people are those who keep their sense of wonder at life and the world in general well into their dotage. There are many examples of octogenarians out there who have a real yen to learn. It isn’t about learning for a purpose because you want to achieve something or gain more money etc., it simply is what it is because tis life is so full of magic. It’s rather like developing a glass half full approach – and our formative years are exactly that in this process.

 

But this isn’t something you can simply “buy” through nursery provision – though picking out the right one is certainly an essential element in his jigsaw. Children look mainly to their parents and siblings for their example from their earliest months, as well as their peers and “teachers” or carers etc., so mirroring this love for learning approach in the home is also crucial.

Learning through creative play is one important element in this approach, rather than the be all and end all as is often suggested. Playing fun games with your child whilst leaning incidentally is a good way of developing knowledge and thought processes. And as children get older, the more practical and detailed knowledge they develop often arises from play.

We all do this of course, and you may know this yourself as an adult. If you play in a casino online, for example, such as 32Red.com or any of the other better-known names, you quickly learn about probability – and the way that it’s stacked marginally against you. Without this knowledge, developed through first-hand experience, you would be steadily worse off – but if it’s simply about having a little fun with your eyes wide open, then it doesn’t really matter.

But the people who remain open to learning throughout life seem to get more out of things at all ages – and remain interested in everything they come across. On the other side of the fence are those people who appear tired or beaten down by life, curmudgeonly inward looking, brooding over past failures and setbacks and worrying about what’s around the corner. Perhaps we can’t change who we fundamentally are in this regard – but we can certainly try our best. And it’s during our earliest years that we can make the greatest difference.