How children learn: 5 strategies to optimize learning
Trying to balance being a working parent, home-school teacher and domestic goddess is no easy task. In fact, it is impossible to do all these roles in perfect unison - it is unrealistic and unreasonable to put that kind of pressure on ourselves in the midst of a global crisis. Whilst we know this, we still have deadlines and academic schedules to keep up with and it feels overwhelming at times. And the guilt…!
How do children learn?
They learn by moving. They learning by involving all their senses. They learn by enquiring and engaging with things that interest them. They learn by making mistakes and also by doing things over and over again. They gain mastery and this creates a sense of fulfillment for them.
So, how do we as parents help foster this in the midst of a world crisis?
Well, we know that stress does not lead to optimal learning capacity. We also know that shouting, impatience, gruff tones and frustration directed at them can cause them to shut down. Cortisol - a stress hormone - when higher than normal for too long, has an impact on how we learn. Our ability to concentrate decreases. Other cognitive functions like working memory, perception, short term memory and even word finding are compromised. In other words, they cannot learn to capacity when stressed. So we have to adjust our expectations to reduce stress related to home-schooling.
One thing we can do is create safe and healthy learning conditions. Spaces where learning is multimodal and multidimensional. We can help to create spaces where multiple neural pathways are being created and thereby strenghten learning. We can foster self-directed learning and exploration.
In my soon to be released e-guide on How Children Learn, 5 easy and simple strategies will be shared. The brief e-guide includes specific examples for specific ages to illustrate how to implement these strategies. The e-guide also includes fun energizers to keep little bodies and brains activated, as well as much needed encouragement for parents. I have also included emoji prompts to help parents talk about emotions with children during this time. It is a quick read and practical. It is aimed at pre-school and primary school parents or teachers. It aims to equip you with a few strategies to help navigate this new space we find ourselves in.
We are in this together and if I can help, reach out! Find me on social media @natalie.edpsych
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