Teachers and schools can only do so much to motivate children to learn complex topics. However, it takes input from parents to keep them interested and engaged.
Not everyone fits into the pigeonholes that school creates. Your child might learn differently from most others, but the classroom and teaching methodology are optimized for the majority. Take what your child learns in their classroom and expand on it, making it more complex according to their intellectual needs. Here are ideas for approaching it:
Make learning fun every way you can
No child wants to learn something that they find boring. Therefore, use what is at your disposal to make it engaging. For some kids, getting extra books from the library about a topic will do the trick.
Others might need to watch television shows or video clips to enhance and expand their understanding. Many children are more practical and find doing something related to the topic more stimulating.
Find interactive games that your child can play to stimulate their curiosity further and develop their desire to learn more. It might sound like a tall order to tell your kid, “Write code for me,” but young children can start learning the basics early on. Games make it fun to learn this skill that is in growing demand in today’s job market.
Show your enthusiasm and love of learning
Children take their learning cues from the people they share their home with. When parents or caregivers have a negative attitude toward learning, kids follow suit. No matter what a teacher does in the classroom to stimulate children to want to learn, this lack of enthusiasm from other adults in that child’s life negates the educator’s efforts.
When your child knows that you want to know everything that happened at school and what they are learning, it motivates them. It gets even better if you ask questions about the topic to gauge their understanding and see if you can pick up where the teacher left off.
Do not be afraid to admit that your knowledge of the topic is limited. Instead, ask your child to teach you what they have learned, and then go on a journey of further learning together. Children who see that their parents are lifelong learners are more inclined to take learning seriously.
Focus on strengths and build on weaknesses
Find the positive in anything your child is learning or shows interest in as kids thrive when their strengths are reinforced. Having done that, you can now focus on areas for development, encouraging your child to use their strengths to build on weaknesses. Do not do this directly, instead incorporating it into a casual conversation.
Let your child identify areas where they are struggling, ask them what resources they need to improve, and what you can do to help. This motivates a child to confront and conquer those skills they require to learn about complex topics.
Make learning a non-stop priority
A child whose learning is limited to school hours will not seek to deepen their understanding of a complex topic. When they associate learning only with school, they will not want to broaden their horizons outside of it. Therefore, teach your child that new knowledge and skills are not limited to the classroom. They can learn anywhere at any time.
Make everything a learning experience to keep your child motivated. If you are changing a lightbulb, start a discussion about electricity and how it works. This will motivate your child to want to learn more and demonstrate their new understanding to you.
