While the curriculum is highly beneficial to learners and opens up so many doors for a child’s future – they might have some underlying interests, too. As we get older, especially now, there is a focus on what we enjoy and who we are. Often, a love of exploration and interests can be lost amid school learning and exams.
You can be the inspiration and driving force behind your child finding what it is they truly love.
So, for those parents who are looking to encourage a love of learning but extend it outside of the standard learning, here are some tips.
Photo by Ben McLeod on Unsplash
Try Stuff
We don’t know what we love until we try it! Sometimes, we are drawn to something, and that goes for children, too. You might find they love a sport or maths, or that they consume books and write as if their life depended on it. The best way to help your child find what they are interested in is to let them explore a lot of different things.
Make the most of trial sessions and free things in the area so that your child can find out if they really like gymnastics as much as they think they do. Try and plan in a few times a month something for them, to try.
No Pressure
Not everyone has a hobby, and not everyone finds something to be fanatic about. And, in some cases, it takes until they are an adult to finally find it. What is most important here is it is your child that is picking and choosing things. Although you can encourage them to try new things, adding pressure on top.
Throwing pressure on top might mean that exploring new interests stops being fun – and that is the opposite of what you’re trying to do. Keep it casual, make suggestions, and support them as they go.
Join In
While you might understand the numbers on a Pokemon Card or how a volcano works – if they do, let them tell you. When children are inspired and learning, they want to share all of this new knowledge with the people they love – including you.
This goes both ways; you might be surprised to find out that they are more than happy to join in with your interests, too! Perhaps you like to take long walks and draw or write about what you see. Perhaps you love birds and like to take photos – whatever it is that gets you enthusiastic, share it. Join in with the stuff that makes you both happy.
Tools
When the sparks fly because they have found something they are enthusiastic about, it might be a good time to start getting some of the tools together to encourage that. There are so many ways to support interest, from buying books about the topic, visiting galleries and museums dedicated to it, watching historic programs or documentaries, mobile apps, and even things like English or online math tutoring. No matter what they love, there are ways that you can support that exploration!
Link Things Up
Often, the things that we enjoy doing can be linked to other things. For example, if your child shows a talent for art, as well as art classes and apps, heading to art galleries, reading about the artists they like, and even cooking can become a form of art. That goes for almost any subject; you can build fun projects around them, and there are plenty of skills included in that: researching, note-taking, reading, day trips, and more!
Balance
Balance is probably one of the most important things that adults try to master, but you can help your child get there earlier in life. Balancing their school studies and other responsibilities with doing the things they love. Gentle scheduling of free time and study time, planning one big thing a month as a reward for trying their best elsewhere in life.
And, sometimes, there is the option to take classes and electives in school that are related to what it is they have an interest in. Picking electives and extracurricular classes based on links to their interests further empowers your child to find out what they really love.
Everything that your child learns while exploring their interests can serve them well when it comes to their in-school studies. They will be gaining skills thick and fast that can be applied to other areas of their learning: Ways To Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School – Mom on the Go in Holy Toledo.
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 