 Natural Learners |
Cultivating Curiosity
We often forget that our children are natural learners and do not need to be "taught" – that is, if you they find something of interest to them. The child who likes video games will conduct hours of research – reading, discussing, and practicing to simply get to the next level. The child who likes bugs will spend all afternoon in the blistering heat collecting, dissecting, and training them to go through obstacle courses. As parents and "teachers" we can use these interests to teach the not so interesting stuff and make learning an exciting adventure again.
The purpose of the tips below is to encourage you to stop "teaching" and realize your children have the natural desire to learn. You may soon discover that by taking interest in what sparks their natural curiosity, you can make Algebra a breeze. All is takes is relating it to something that matters to them. To allow your child to specialize in their area of interest will "teach" them the most challenging thing of all, to be independent thinkers.
| Explore Their Interest |
Stop trying to "teach" for one afternoon and let your child teach you and about their passion. Spend an hour playing their favorite video game or have them take you out in the garden to catch bugs. Ask questions, play, laugh, and discover what sparks their interest. Notice that when they do something they enjoy their motivation or desire to learn does not have to be bribed or forced.
| Cultivate Their Curiosity |
Help your children cultivate their curiosity by giving them additional tools to explore their world. Try one of the following to further explore the subject:
- Take them to relevant websites as a homework break,
- Go to the library to conduct research on the weekends,
- Perform an experiment after homework one evening instead of watching television,
- Watch a documentary on the subject and hold a family discussion,
- Plan an outing to local exhibit or show to explore their interests.
Behavior analysts are only successful when they have a thorough understanding of what their student finds reinforcing. Without knowledge of what motivates them, the analyst knows that their teaching efforts will be futile.
Author:
Charlotte Fudge, RN, BCABA
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