How Children Learn

Nurture and Teach

The single most important thing caregivers can do for a child is provide a nurturing environment. By doing this, we influence children's brain development and their ability to learn. Introducing nurtured children to learning opportunities every day will help them become happy, well-adjusted adults. In all stages of child development, each experience builds on the one before it. The most basic foundations can serve as the basis for the comprehension of more complex ideas in future years.

Learning Begins at Birth

We are born with billions of brain cells ? in fact, all we will ever have. What is missing is a large amount of connections ? synapses ? between those brain cells. Synapses start developing based on a child's experiences. Children's brains develop faster from birth to age three than any other time; and more learning takes place during this time than any other. The more learning opportunities parents provide for their children from birth until school age, the more synapses are made. The connections will serve as a pool of knowledge for a child to access in later years.

Because children's earliest experiences affect how they will think, learn and behave, helping children learn from birth to school age is a crucial activity. Parents and other caregivers can create a strong foundation for learning by providing a nurturing and rich learning environment from the very beginning.

Children Seek Learning Experiences

Not only do children need to be physically active, it is their nature to look for opportunities to learn. They participate in learning by using their senses and asking countless questions in order to more fully understand the task at hand.

Creating a Learning Environment

Children enjoy learning when they can master an activity. Begin with a simple task and expand or complicate it after your child has enjoyed some successes.

Create a safe and secure learning environment. This will help children do their best learning rather than distract them. Key to creating this environment is treating your child with respect and caring.

Where Do Children Learn?

Children learn everywhere from school to the doctor's office to the grocery store. As do adults, children learn from interacting with others and watching their parents' behavior. Kids are highly influenced by the people in their lives, especially adults who they are close to.

Not All Children Learn in the Same Way

In the book Frame of Mind, Howard Gardner described his theory of multiple intelligences. We all have a certain way we prefer to learn. The seven multiple intelligences Gardner points to are interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, logical-mathematical and linguistic. We have the most success teaching our children when we can recognize their style of learning (as well as our style of teaching) and incorporate activities accordingly.

Playing and Learning

The main way children collect and process information is through play. Play is the repetition that reinforces old skills and encourages new ones. Because play is enjoyable, children's minds are open. Children are capable of much learning through play because they are very receptive and relaxed. Take advantage of this benefit and select activities that are fun and educational. Your children will learn, and you will both enjoy the experience.

About The Author

Shelley Ruiz is a homeschooling parent and the owner of Magic Lark Learning (www.magiclarklearning.com) which provides parents and teachers with resources for making learning fun, including a free quarterly online journal of poems and stories for kids.

anything@magiclarklearning.com

---

7 Powerful Ways to Show Love to Children

Our children are our most important legacy to the world.... Read More

Public-School True Believers with a Mission

One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More

Financially Stable Kids ? Prepared for College

We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More

The Classic ADHD Child Reminds Me of Tigger

ADHD comes in differenty forms, or types. What... Read More

Why A Father Is Not A Dad

It can be said that any man who procreates is... Read More

Bullies

Bullies are an ugly but very real part of childhood.... Read More

Learning Disabilities

There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More

Awesome Dads Top Ten Ways To Be The Foundation of Your Family

Part of the responsibility of being a father is to... Read More

7 Ways to Survive the Start of the School Year

It happens every year. Just when you are settled in... Read More

Shopping with Children

Is your weekly shopping trip with the kids an absolute... Read More

Reincarnation: Sacred Children Series - 1 of 3

Many years ago, my children were raised on the various... Read More

Back to School Care Packages!

I am crying tears of joy mixed with great sadness... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: The 4 Ds of Time with Family

How would you like to have more time? Of course... Read More

Top Ten Things Parents Must Know About State Academic Standards (What Your Child s/b Learning)

Public education in the United States has never been equal... Read More

Parents and Children Working Together

When parents help their children learn to read, they help... Read More

Think Like Your Kids - And Understand Them More!

Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a... Read More

For School Success, Dont Coddle Your Kids

Parents want their children to succeed in school. However, sometimes... Read More

Teaching Your Children About the Value of Money

We take it for granted that children know how money... Read More

MORAL ARMORS Irrational Parenting, Part III

Not Letting Them Think.We all implicitly know that anything questioning... Read More

One Definition of Success

As parents, we want our children and teens to grow... Read More

Parenting in the Kitchen ? Lessons in Cooking, Socializing, and Bonding

Kitchens are where everything happens. It's not just where meals... Read More

When Parents Disagree

Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: Responding to a Poor Progress Report in School

Q. We just got our daughter's progress report, and it... Read More

Encouraging Your Child to Write

How in the world do you get your child to... Read More

A Man and His Baby

When a couple steps forth with a baby in tow... Read More

6 Tried & True Fun Ways to Educate and Entertain Your Preschooler

1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a... Read More

What About ADHD Teens and Driving?

This is one of the most common questions asked of... Read More

Career Education: Does Not Mean the 6 Year College Plan

Researching career education uncovered the following shocking statistic: The average... Read More

Math Facts - Try Some Fun Ways to Learn Them

Memorizing math facts is a necessary part of elementary school.... Read More

On Raising a Child with Disabilities: Sara & the Nail Salon

Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More

Parenting Secrets Revealed

So your little Susie wants to join a competitive gymnastic... Read More

Are You Addicted to Your Children?

Is it possible to be using our children addictively?Anything that... Read More

Let Your Children Name the New Baby

Choosing a baby name is an important job, so make... Read More