How Children Learn
Nurture and Teach
The single most important thing caregivers can do for a child is provide a nurturing environment. By doing this, we influence children's brain development and their ability to learn. Introducing nurtured children to learning opportunities every day will help them become happy, well-adjusted adults. In all stages of child development, each experience builds on the one before it. The most basic foundations can serve as the basis for the comprehension of more complex ideas in future years.
Learning Begins at Birth
We are born with billions of brain cells ? in fact, all we will ever have. What is missing is a large amount of connections ? synapses ? between those brain cells. Synapses start developing based on a child's experiences. Children's brains develop faster from birth to age three than any other time; and more learning takes place during this time than any other. The more learning opportunities parents provide for their children from birth until school age, the more synapses are made. The connections will serve as a pool of knowledge for a child to access in later years.
Because children's earliest experiences affect how they will think, learn and behave, helping children learn from birth to school age is a crucial activity. Parents and other caregivers can create a strong foundation for learning by providing a nurturing and rich learning environment from the very beginning.
Children Seek Learning Experiences
Not only do children need to be physically active, it is their nature to look for opportunities to learn. They participate in learning by using their senses and asking countless questions in order to more fully understand the task at hand.
Creating a Learning Environment
Children enjoy learning when they can master an activity. Begin with a simple task and expand or complicate it after your child has enjoyed some successes.
Create a safe and secure learning environment. This will help children do their best learning rather than distract them. Key to creating this environment is treating your child with respect and caring.
Where Do Children Learn?
Children learn everywhere from school to the doctor's office to the grocery store. As do adults, children learn from interacting with others and watching their parents' behavior. Kids are highly influenced by the people in their lives, especially adults who they are close to.
Not All Children Learn in the Same Way
In the book Frame of Mind, Howard Gardner described his theory of multiple intelligences. We all have a certain way we prefer to learn. The seven multiple intelligences Gardner points to are interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, logical-mathematical and linguistic. We have the most success teaching our children when we can recognize their style of learning (as well as our style of teaching) and incorporate activities accordingly.
Playing and Learning
The main way children collect and process information is through play. Play is the repetition that reinforces old skills and encourages new ones. Because play is enjoyable, children's minds are open. Children are capable of much learning through play because they are very receptive and relaxed. Take advantage of this benefit and select activities that are fun and educational. Your children will learn, and you will both enjoy the experience.
About The Author
Shelley Ruiz is a homeschooling parent and the owner of Magic Lark Learning (www.magiclarklearning.com) which provides parents and teachers with resources for making learning fun, including a free quarterly online journal of poems and stories for kids.
anything@magiclarklearning.com
 Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:50:53 GMT Gay Marriage Is Ruled Legal in Connecticut - New York Times
New York Times - In Hartford, Crystal Pretzman of Willimantic, Conn., celebrated the State Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:13:08 GMT US space tourist set for blast-off - Reuters
Reuters - By Maria Golovnina BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - US video game magnate Richard Garriott will blast off into space aboard a Russian spaceship on Sunday watched by his father, a NASA astronaut who went into space at the height of the Cold War. US space tourist set for launch Russian space chief reassures US partners Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:10:50 GMT YouTube to play full TV episodes with ads - Afterdawn.com
Afterdawn.com - Google has announced that it will begin offering full-length TV episodes through its YouTube platform beginning this week, thanks to a content deal with CBS. YouTube to Offer TV Shows With Ads Strewn Through YouTube beams up Star Trek for long-form video, prominent new ads Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:13:12 GMT Got $700 Billion? Sweat the Details - New York Times
New York Times - The bailout plan gives Henry M. Paulson Jr., the Treasury secretary, three broad choices in buying assets. By ALAN S. BLINDER THE House of Representatives was against the bailout bill before it was for it. US firms up plan to buy into banks to stem crisis Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:39:07 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Video: Ex-Finland President Wins Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Finn Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT GOP Officials Hope for Stability From McCain - New York Times
New York Times - By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ELISABETH BUMILLER Republican leaders across the country said Saturday that they were worried that Senator John McCain was heading for defeat unless he brought stability to his presidential candidacy and settled on a clear message ... Antiwar Protestor Disrupts McCain Iowa Rally Obama needs 75 percent turnout in Philadelphia, says Rendell Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:23:47 GMT World is united to tackle financial crisis, IMF says - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - By Rex Nutting WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Financial policymakers from 180 nations around the world are united in their resolve to tackle the financial crisis, Youssef Boutros-Ghali, head of the International Monetary Fund's policy committee, ... G7 nations face going cap in hand to China Finance officials comments at IMF meetings Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:23:46 GMT Amazon Associate Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... In today's fast-paced society, many families depend on some form... Read More Vacations are fun ! Weekends with the family are nice.... Read More Family meetings provide opportunities for feelings to be aired and... Read More The brightly colored plastic mobile dangles lazily overhead in the... Read More Chiladult? Whatever you call them, teenagers are a changin' and... Read More Even as a busy parent, I'm sure you've seen a... Read More Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was... Read More Although it might seem pretty corny to a lot of... Read More "Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More In the wonderment of childhood, it is easier for a... Read More Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More I was changing Ford's diaper the other day when he... Read More Some years ago when touring the Scottish Highlands, a man... Read More Search for Assurance: The Power of BelongingThe job hunt is... Read More Moms and dads, are there times you think that parenting... Read More Looking back through my files I've come across several great... Read More There is a new stage of development for parents to... Read More Oh Please, Don't Say Maybe!!!!Are you often a participant in... Read More Few things are more completely enjoyable than becoming a grandparent.... Read More Do your children have a McChildhood? Do they experience the... Read More It's among the top criticism wives have of their husbands:... Read More An Awesome Dad in by no means perfect. But that... Read More There are moments in a parent's or grandparent's life, when... Read More Younger generations unfortunately will not understand how larger than life... Read More IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best for your children,... Read More
Adsense
websites
Selecting and Hiring Childcare Employees
Late Night Adventures with Your Children
Family Meetings 101
Educational Toys And Childrens Books - A Must For Optimal Childhood Development
Teenagers and What Parents Should Do About Them
Poker Parenting: 4 Ways Poker Skills Produce Parenting Thrills
Turn off the TV -- and Turn on to Physical Activity!
Andy Griffith Show Family Lessons
Children Need Roots and Wings
The Mystery of Child Beliefs, Spirit in Children, Understanding Spirtuality in Children
ADHD: A Dialogue With a Non-Believer, Part Five
Sometimes Our Childrens Questions Answer Our Own
Study Skills - How Can YOU Help Your Kids?
Featured Article on Parenting: The Power of Belonging
When Parents Disagree
Some Tips for Healthy Parenting
Meet The Twixters!
?Mommy, I Can?t Sleep!?: Sleep Disturbance in Children
Helpful Tips for the Adoptive Grandparent
Resilient, Confident Kids - 10 Ways to Promote Resilience in Children
Refresher Course on Diapering for Dads
Awesome Dads Top Ten Communication Intentions
Personal Honor
Diana, Princess of Whales
From Childrens Stories to Study Skills: Help Your Children Succeed in School
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
ADHD: Some Survival Strategies for Parents
In our last issue we posted some of our suggested... Read More
Teaching Reading: Part One
One of the biggest milestones in our children's education is... Read More
Raising Kids on a Budget
There are only two ways to get more money:1) Increase... Read More
Uses for Dirty Diapers
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
How Public Schools Lie to Parents and Betray Our Children
Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
Successful Treatment Planning for Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD ADHD
O.K. So now you have taken the step of having... Read More
Raising Strong Daughters
When my daughter was born, I must admit there was... Read More
10 Steps to School Year Success
One of the most important aspects of parenting, is ensuring... Read More
Navigating in the New World: Parents and Teenagers Growing Together
One of the most prevalent myths of our modern culture... Read More
Saving Money on Preschool: Readiness Skills Needed for Kindergarten
As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about... Read More
Homework Doesn?t Have to Be a Battle of Wills
Homework. It doesn't have to be a daily battle of... Read More
Empty Nest Syndrome
Paula's last child had just gone off to college and... Read More
10 Tips for Making Daily Physical Activity Part of Your Childs Life!
Here's some of the bad news about sedentary lifestyles:? Forty... Read More
How Effective Are Ritalin and Dexedrine in Treating the Symptoms of ADHD?
Many research studies have shown the overall effectiveness of stimulant... Read More
Parenting Your Teenager: What to Do When Your Teen Feels Left Out
On a recent Saturday evening, I noticed a young teen-age... Read More
If at First They Dont Succeed - What a Great Opportunity!
When kids try new things, sometimes it's a 'fit' and... Read More
Just What Is A Learning Disability?
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
Camps for Troubled Teens: Disciplines and Wilderness
Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen... Read More
Film Industry and Our Youth
In the first premise, some films and video tapes which... Read More
The Seven Keys to Child Obedience
Learning obedience is an important part of child development. This... Read More
Simple Tricks To Help You And Your Kids To Find Friends
One of the most prevalent problems of the computer age... Read More
Home For The Holidays: Avoid Aging Parents Becoming A Burden
By not planning for the future we guarantee that we... Read More
A Chance for a Home
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds... Read More
While You Have the Time, Take the Time
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
5 Tips for Improving Communication With Your Teenager
Parents are always looking for ways to open up the... Read More
Parenting |