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Promoting Your
Child’s Ability To Learn
By Marina Torres, Education and Child Development Specialist
Most parents are generally concerned about their children doing
well in school. However parents differ in their opinions as to how
to help their children to learn. Some parents tend to focus on
developing their children’s school related skills and see good
academic performance as a sign their efforts are bearing fruit.
It has been the tradition to measure an adult’s success by how
well he/she has done in school and has been able to get a job.
However, recent research has indicated that there are several ways
in which children can succeed or achieve their potential. Nearly all
children have special talents or ‘gifts’ and can display
intelligence in many different ways, once parents understand their
role in fostering children strengths. The experiences you give
children at home can make a significant difference in the way they
develop and learn.
Parents have the greatest influence on a child’s belief in her
abilities and thus, in her level of success. Letting the child know
that you care about him promotes a sense of belonging, which
contributes to the child’s belief that he is good and capable.
Therefore the parent’s goal should be to help the child develop all
aspects of themselves. In so doing, you are likely to discover your
child’s potential, whether it is in music, art, athletics or
social-emotional skills.
Recent research indicates parents who show affection, communicate
warmly and attend to their children’s emotional needs, are laying
the foundation for healthy brain development, which in turn, helps
with the development of memory and learning. When parents listen to,
play with and enjoy their children, children are better able to
focus academically, handle conflicts with their peers and cope with
difficult situations.
Parents who are anxious impact on children’s ability to do well
in school. Children sense parents’ anxiety and have difficulty
believing in their ability to cope with the learning process.
Therefore, parents need to recognise and acknowledge their own
feelings and establish their own systems of support and nurturing.
Parents can develop their intuitive understanding of their
child’s needs by putting themselves in the child’s shoes and asking
themselves three questions:
- What does my child need?
- What does my child feel about himself?
- What does my child fear?
The resulting answers can be used as a starting point for
enhancing the parent-child relationship and for setting up support
systems for the parents.
Children also tend to do better in school and cope better
socially and emotionally when they eat smart. Children who eat a
healthy breakfast and lunch tend to have higher levels of
concentration and memory in school, and perform significantly better
that those who did not.
Parents can train their children’s minds by reading with them
every night. This encourages bonding between parent and child, and
also stimulates the child’s interests, curiosity and language
development. Children who grow up in homes where talking, listening
and reading are commonplace, tend to have greater success in school.
So limit the television and computer/video games, and encourage
active learning through playing sports, music, reading and
conversation.
Each child interests and learning strategies are unique, so do
not force children to adopt your interests. Instead encourage them
to to develop the attitudes and tools for making the best use of
their minds. Support them when they encounter difficulties and teach
them courage and persistence, important tools for achieving success. |
