Children who develop a love of learning outside of the classroom are more likely to perform well in school and go on to have a more successful life. So what can you do to support your child's learning at home? Here are a few tips from Taunton School to help you raise a lifelong learner…
Talk about school
Parents can help to instil a love of learning from an early age by keeping an active interest in their child’s education. The more supported a child feels at home, the more effectively he or she will perform at school.
Create a learning space
Make a special area within your home for your child to read, write, draw and craft. This should be somewhere quiet, with desk space and plenty of light. You could also add draws of crafting equipment, books and stationary to encourage their creativity.
Practice reading & writing
Support your child’s literacy skills by regularly reading and writing with them. Get into a routine of reading a bedtime story together or encourage them to keep a diary. There are many daily tasks that require reading and writing; look for opportunities where your child can help, such as reading a recipe or writing your shopping list.
Encourage questions
Always encourage your child to ask questions. Curiosity is one of the best ways to learn new facts. Turn your child’s curiosity into a learning opportunity. For example, if they ask questions about night and day, you could demonstrate the various positions of the sun and moon using a globe.
Learn outdoors
Help to develop a love of learning by teaching your children that learning can happen anywhere, not just in the classroom. This can be demonstrated by getting outdoors and observing the wildlife in your garden or at a local park.
Be patient
When helping with homework, it is important to let your child work out problems alone. Try to be patient and give your child helpful feedback instead of criticism. This means helping your child to think about different ways to solve their problem.
Get to know the school
Get to know your child’s teachers and try to be a part of the school community. This will not only show your child how much you care about their education, but it will also help you to keep up to date with your child’s progression and school events.
Talk as a family
Try to encourage a passion for learning and talk together as a family about what you have learnt each day at work or school. This will motivate your child to learn more interesting facts to share with you at home.
Keep a positive attitude
Finally, always show encouragement towards learning and keep a positive attitude when discussing school. This is particularly important if your child seems unhappy at school or finds the work hard. It is also important to praise your child’s achievements to help boost their confidence.
If you enjoy my blog, please consider following me on Bloglovin'