As a parent, you like to think that you have a pretty good understanding of how your kids learn. But when you delve into the science of it all, you soon discover that you actually know relatively little. Yes – some of the following facts are a simple matter of common sense. But there are others which you think are true but, in reality, aren’t.
Want to find out more about how your children learn? Read on.
Fact 1: Daydreaming Boosts Brain Power
Have you ever noticed that your kids have a tendency to daydream sometimes? As a parent, it can actually be a little unnerving. You worry that it is a sign that they cannot focus on the important things in life.
But daydreaming is, by and large, a good thing. It helps to expand the mind and opens children up to a world of new possibilities. Research indicates that it may enhance creativity, attention span, IQ and ability to persist when things become challenging.
Fact 2: Music Helps Math
Getting your child to learn a musical instrument can help them become better at maths. Researchers are still trying to figure out why there is this connection, but they think that it might have something to do with rhythm. Being able to break up a bar of music into different chunks is similar to the mathematical concept of fractions. Music also works according to a structure which, again, is fundamentally mathematical.
Children who play musical instruments tend to score higher on tests. Music and maths appear to go together because of the way they change the structure of the brain.
Fact 3: It Is Better For Children To Learn Reading Phonetically
As you’ll discover in this blog entitled, 1st Grade Reading: The Complete Guide For Parents, it is better for children to learn reading phonetically – at least to start off. The English language is full of silent letters and letter combinations that don’t really sound the same on the page as they do in real life. But phonetics simplify the matter, making it easier for kids to pick up basic reading skills before advancing onto real spellings. For instance, children are usually able to read works like “sink” even if they haven’t seen them before because there is a good correlation between the letter combination and the sound. A word like “myrrh” or “pneumonia” is likely to cause problems!
Fact 4: Children Behave Better When Their Parents Are Involved
Children tend to behave better when their parents are involved in their learning, both at school and at home. It turns out that kids need their parents around to support their work and encourage their success. Adding parents to social situations can sometimes minimise distractions and reduce emotional disturbances. This then encourages the child to actively participate more in the learning process, instead of becoming side-tracked with other issues.
Fact 5: Children Who Talk To Themselves Aloud Learn More
Research shows that children who are more vocal in their learning tend to retain more information. By physically rehearsing an idea, they often find it easier to retain..
Students working on math and logic problems can benefit substantially. By saying the times table out loud, children create a vocal memory of the event which makes it easier to recall in the future. That’s one of the reasons so many teachers get children to learn maths by speaking aloud.
Fact 6: Children Learn Best When They Are Confident
Not all children reach their potential because they lack the confidence to go out and learn. However, when caregivers give children a reason to test their mettle and explore their abilities, they are much more likely to learn.
It turns out that confidence flicks a switch in the brain. When kids believe that they have the ability to get to grips with a particular topic, they are much more likely to do so. Suddenly, they move from survival mode into a world of creation and expansion.
Fact 7: Play Increases Attention Span
Increasing a child’s attention span is notoriously difficult. Nature wires kids to move from one task to another continuously so that they can absorb as much information as possible.
In the past, this approach was great. But, as we all know, if children are to develop a deep understanding of a subject, they need to concentrate on it fully for an extended period. If they don’t, then independent learning becomes difficult.
Getting kids to concentrate is hard, but play can make it easier. Teachers have found that when they add play elements to learning, it increases a child’s ability to pick up concepts by themselves. The more “facilitative” their role, the better the general learning outcomes.
Fact 8: Reflection Makes It Easier For Kids To Analyze
Most people have the ability to self-reflect. But it is a muscle that you need to grow. And the best way to do that is to develop the capacity to reflect in childhood.
Getting to that point, however, can be quite challenging. According to researchers, it’s all to do with planning. Kids who had the chance to look forward also became better at looking back, allowing them to plan and work more efficiently.
Fact 9: The Environment Dictates The Pace Of Learning
How well children learn also relates to their environment. The amount of daylight, the acoustics in the room and the type of artificial lighting installed can all play a role.
The best way to encourage learning is to reduce any unnecessary distractions. Contrary to popular belief, kids actually benefit most from a relatively bland environment which allows them to focus on objects of interest. It is hard for children to focus on reading, for instance, when there is a pile of toys they want to play with in the corner.
Fact 10: Preschool Helps Children From Poor Backgrounds
Children from poorer backgrounds tend to perform worse on tests than those from wealthier ones. But it turns out that you can close the gap if you send them to preschool early enough. During those fundamental developmental years, kids develop the basic brain structures that will enable them to thrive in the future.
In a sense, preschool acts as a kind of second home for them. It provides the stability they need to thrive. It also provides an enriching and stimulating environment that they might not have at home.
Fact 11: Copying Is The Best Form Of Learning
In the distant past, adults would have shown children how to do things. Children would then copy the adults, mastering skills over time. For instance, fishermen would have taken their children out on the boat with them sometimes and literally “shown them the ropes.”
In the modern world, we don’t believe in this approach to learning anymore. Showing a child how to do something and then getting them to mimic the actions we took isn’t popular. However, it is still hardwired into children’s brains. They want to learn that way.
As a parent, therefore, your job is quite easy. You simply show your child what to do and then get them to follow your lead. They won’t have much success to begin with, but through a process of trial and error, they will get better.
Fact 12: Drama Encourages Children To Listen
Lastly, drama is one of the best ways to get children to listen. That’s because it helps them create real-life associations with the knowledge they acquire.
Drama brings all kinds of benefits. It helps with working in a group, fostering independent thinking and engages through humor.
