How to encourage kids to learn something new
This article explains simple tips to help kids learn different skills and art forms. Parents and elders should offer complete motivation and support and make learning a fun activity. Game-based learning is also an efficient approach.
Introduction
Learning is a lifelong process. However, learning during childhood years is more important because the grasping power during young age is excellent when compared in the individuals belonging to different age groups. Thus, learning during childhood years is easier. Kids should be encouraged to learn new concepts, subjects, languages and art forms. Sometimes, kids want to learn something new, but parents and guardians discourage them as they feel that their academic performance may deteriorate. Sometimes, parents want them to learn something new, but kids are not inclined towards it. Parents, teachers and guardians mentoring and motivation is essential for kids to try out new things. It is not at all necessary that kids are born as good learners. They may not be good at learning new things. However, if encouraged and rightly motivated, soon they will develop an inclination towards learning and try their hands at different things. Below-mentioned is simple tips that help kids in learning new things.Tips to encourage kids to try their hands at learning new-
Why do kids do not easily try something new?
It is not just with kids. It is in fact the problem with people belonging to all age groups. The only difference between kids and other age groups is that kids are too much reluctant when compared to others. None of us knows whether we are interested in a certain activity or not until we try our hands at it. For example, let's say that a kid has never tried drawing and thus, he/she feels that it is not the area of interest. It is parents or teachers duty to introduce them to the art form. Only when they try it for a few times, they will come to know whether they are really interested in it or not. It may happen that they will develop a liking to it and would like to draw more whenever given an opportunity. It is the duty of elders to support them and offer words of appreciation and motivation to help them better in the art form.Why should kids be encouraged to learn new things?
Learning new opens the doors of creativity. Childhood is the right age for developing creativity. When they are encouraged to learn something new, they will develop interests in different areas and art forms. Consequently, they will get to know what they really enjoy learning. They will also learn what they don't like. There is every possibility that they will develop a liking for the field which they hated the most. What would be better if the hobby becomes a career. Today, most of us have developed our career in a field which is not our passion area. When a kid reaches the age of choosing a career, he/she will confidently be able to choose an area of his choice where his real passions exist. He will not blindly join some course or institution suggested by others. Learning something new widens the horizons. Always make learning a fun activity
Sometimes kids by themselves will show enthusiasm in learning something new. In many cases, there will be too much reluctance. It is because they don't want an extra minute of learning anything. They feel that they have had enough learning at schools and tuitions, and thus, they want all their time to be spent on playing and for relaxing. Thus, it is parents and teachers duty to not make learning another boring academic study session. Learning has to be a fun activity. It should be more like playing games or as natural as spending time with friends. Some parents spend too much money on their kid's extracurricular activities and thus, they expect their kids to excel. They exert too much pressure on them and concentrate more on how they perform instead of showing interest in what they have learnt. Game based learning
Kids love to play and thus, making them learn something new in the form of the game will interest them. It will seem more like a game based fun activity, and they will love to spend more time carrying it out. Consequently, their attention span will increase, and they will better their performance. Soon within no time, they will end up learning it. Get rid of obstacles
The main obstacle that comes in the way of learning is fear. Kids are scared of lots of things, and thus, they do not want to try anything new. It is a parent's duty to help them get rid of their fear, stand by them and lend the support to make them feel that they are entirely safe. For example, kids are scared of water and thus, they do not want to go swimming. They are scared of falling and thus, do not want to try out activities such as horse riding, mountain climbing or hiking. They are scared of criticism and thus, they do not want to try their hands on drawing or painting. Parents must not force their kids to join the classes before getting rid of anxiety and fear. They need to have an open conversation with their kids and know what is stopping them from trying out a new skill. In the case of very young kids, parents have to themselves find out the cause. It is because very young kids might not know what their fears are, and thus, they will not be able to have such conversations. Whatever may be the age; parents must motivate their kids and convince that they will be alright if they try it.
A child may not be able to tell you in which area he/she is having an interest. The parents, teachers and other mentors should try and know in which area they are performing well. Encouraging the kid to go to that area will yield better results.
In many families, elder people think that academic qualifications are more important. But that is not correct thinking. There are many other fields where a child can do well if there is an interest.