Learning is an organic process. It cannot be fit into units, checklists or even a curriculum. Children learn through diverse means and when the right environment is provided, they can learn and understand concepts in a better manner. Following are the fundamental principles for optimal learning in children as evidenced by Current Research (2 min read)
1. Movement
Movement and learning are inter connected. Humans need to move to increase oxygen supply to their brain. This is more important in children who by nature love to be on the move. When they are restricted to chairs and study set ups, it hampers their learning.
Resources: Physical Activity is Cognitive Candy (4 min video)
2. Control and Ownership
Everyone loves to have some sort of control over their lives. Even toddlers love a good routine to know how their day might look like. Its only when things seem a little out of place that confusion ensues. The same applies to learning. When children are provided choices and have the freedom to choose what they want to learn for the day, their motivation to learn improves exponentially.
Resources:
- Developing Autonomous and Responsible Learners (1 hour 30 mins reading)
3. Interest and Context
It’s a no-brainer that people are inclined to learn better when it’s something they like and are passionate about. With interest built around the concept and right context on the topic, children’s attention and understanding improves.
Resources:
- Interest in Learners (3 min read)
- Facilitate Contextual Learning (2 min read)
4. Motivation
Providing choices and stirring up interest improves one’s motivation to learn. However, tying extrinsic rewards to learning does not promote a love for learning in the long run. Appreciate efforts of the child over the results or their IQ can expand the potential for learning in children.
Resources:
- Appreciating the efforts of the child (2 min video)
- Rewards as well as Punishments are not good tools (30 min read)
5. Collaboration
If you have ever been a teacher or observed children in the elementary classrooms, you would have observed that children love a good group work. Collaborative learning arrangements promote learning in ways individual learning cannot.
Resources:
Collaborative Child-Led Learning (16 min video)
6. Interactions
Respectful interactions with children both in the home environment as well as classrooms are associated with better learning outcomes. Incorporating Positive Discipline and Restorative Practices is known to yield better learning outcomes.
Resources:
- Positive Discipline (2 min read)
- Restorative Practices (5 min read)
With these principles, you can provide a wonderful learning environment for your children in the home or classroom!