Encouraging Self-Directed Learning in Kids
Now more than ever, self directed learning is extremely important. As you juggle between caregiving and work, you might find it hard to constantly supervise your child and help them with their learning. With self-directed learning, children find answers to problems all on their own. They learn to use the resources around them in order to complete their projects and tasks.
How to Incorporate a Self-Directed Learning Approach
Be Patient
It is quite natural to sometimes lose your cool when your child takes some time to complete a task. No matter how much they seem to struggle, it’s always a good idea to allow them to discover their own strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities. Allow them to make mistakes and figure out ways to rectify them too.
Effort > Success
Praise your kids when they learn something new, instead of just praising them when they complete a task successfully. This encourages them to take on more challenges later on without fear of failure.
Encourage Playtime
One of the best methods of self-paced learning is to encourage playtime in kids. You could connect playtime to learning experiences in many ways. For example, if they like building blocks, introduce them to concepts of architecture and engineering.
Open Exploration
If you’re hoping to create a self-directed learning environment, you must make sure to create opportunities for exploration. This means that you could allow kids to indulge in loosely guided play so that they can develop independence and a sense of accountability.
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