By Jim Booth
I’m sure we all have shelves full of books on how to raise children and lead them to success. I know that we all want to create the best environment for their success. I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learned, that are supported by research, that you can provide for your kids.
Think back to being a young student in the classroom and we probably wished for certain things that would’ve been more helpful and made learning easier.
Up to age 9 or 10 children learn much faster than adults. Some research says up to 40 times faster. It’s critical that they are learning and exposed to new things from a very young age. Also, learning is somewhat threatening. You’re asking a child to go from what they already know and to experience things they don’t know. They naturally are going to feel some trepidation. As a parent, or teacher, our role is to go with them on this journey, to show them an example of success and be a partner.
What other knowledge can you use to help your kids learn quickly and enthusiastically? Well, research shows to learn a new skill, It needs to be repeated over and over again at least hundreds of times but research also shows that if it’s fun, when it’s a game, it only has to be repeated 40 times to be learned.
Also, and you probably remember this from your childhood, children learn much faster when it is exciting. Remember sitting in a class where you didn’t move, where you had to just sit still and listen? Thats just not very stimulating. But you probably remember every bit of your first trip to Disneyland for your birthday. You were excited, adrenalized, so your brain saw it as important and you remembered it. It’s the same in the classroom or in any class setting. If it’s exciting you’re going to learn quicker. They’re going see the value of what you’re sharing with them.
Another example is that children need to see examples of success. This is modeling. It’s why it’s so important to have your children learning in a small group with other kids. There might be another child who is an example of great success or sometimes maybe it’s your child who is the good example. Thinking that private instruction is somehow better isn’t going to work if your child is bored and can’t enjoy what he’s doing.
And, critically, they need a great teacher. A teacher who is a leader and an example. They’ll be a lot less stressed and learn quicker when the teachers is confident, and the child can relax and know that they’re in good hands. It’s appropriate for a teacher to demand that a child explores and tries new experiences. The child can’t conceive of what the outcome will be until they’ve tried it. They really need a leader, a leader who inspires them to success. So parents, chill out. You’re not going to ruin your child because you didn’t say exactly the right words at the right time, but you’re going to help your child immensely by encouraging them to explore and by exposing them to many many new environments and new things.