For most of us, the word education will usually conjure up thoughts of school buildings, books, math facts, and teachers. Maybe your first thoughts are of your experiences in school or watching your children learn something new. While all of these fit nicely in the education category, we shouldn’t forget the much more general meaning of the word.
Education is simply the act of learning. It refers to how, where, when, why, and what we learn. It certainly takes place in classrooms all over the world and it often takes the form of a book or a formal lesson. It might come from a teacher or a parent. But don’t forget where it starts, where it grows, and where our love of learning begins.
Children learn by exploring. They seek out new and unfamiliar things and try to figure them out. They examine how things work, why we use them that way, and when it’s the right time to use it. By the time we’re adults, we’ve seen so much that we miss the little things that used to be so new to us. Children look at the world with a much fresher outlook. Think about the first time a baby sees a tree, an apple, or a car. What must he/she be thinking? The first time they taste a new food or see a new color, what goes through their minds?
Children (and adults!) learn by doing. There’s a theory in education called The Learning Pyramid. It lists the various ways we learn, including lectures, reading, and demonstrations. Its basic principal is this . . . teaching methods that allow people to participate are the most effective at helping them to retain the information they learn. The top three ways to remember what you learned? Group discussions, practice, and number one- teaching others. These are known as Active Learning because the child is actively participating in his/her own learning.
So what does this mean for you as a parent? Letting your children learn by doing is the best way to help them when it comes to their education. Encourage your infant to play with different objects and explore different shapes and colors. Give your toddler lots of opportunities to explore the world around him/her. Find different color leaves outside, try different foods, put together a puzzle, play soccer together. Let your child teach YOU something, even if you already know how to do it. It’s the best way for children to practice what they learn and they will love being the teacher.
Never underestimate the power or play and exploration. It is the basis of the many educational journeys your child will embark on!
