State the importance of investigation for childrens learning
How children and teenagers learnChildren and teenagers learn by observing, listening, exploring, experimenting and asking questions. Show
Being interested, motivated and engaged in learning is important for children once they start school. It can also help if they understand why they’re learning something. And as your child gets older, your child will enjoy taking more responsibility for their learning and getting more involved in making decisions about learning and organising activities. Your child keeps learning from you over the years. When your child goes to primary and then secondary school, you can help your child have a positive attitude to learning, just by being positive yourself and showing you value the learning that the school provides. One of the best ways to support your child’s learning and education is by building a good relationship with your child’s school and communicating with your child’s teachers. Learning in early primary schoolChildren learn in different ways – some learn by seeing, some by hearing, some by reading, some by doing. And all children benefit from having a variety of learning experiences. At this stage, children still learn through play. Plenty of unstructured, free play helps balance formal lessons at school. It also gives children a chance to unwind after the routines and rules of school. Children also learn by using objects in many different ways. When your child is experimenting, exploring and creating with a range of materials, they learn about problem-solving in situations where there are no set or ‘right’ answers. Children have to learn social skills, just like they have to learn to read and write. Giving your child chances to play with other children is a great way for them to develop skills for getting on with others. Your child’s community connections can offer valuable learning experiences too. For example, visiting the local shops, parks, playgrounds and libraries or walking around your neighbourhood helps your child understand how communities work. As you and your child explore your community together, you can talk to your child about interesting things that you see or share things that you know. If your family speaks a language other than English at home, this can be a great way for your child to grow up as a bilingual or multilingual learner. Bilingualism or multilingualism can have many benefits for your child, including better thinking, reading and writing skills. When you know how your child learns best, you can help your child with all areas of learning. For example, if your child seems to learn best by seeing and doing but needs to write a story for school, they could make a comic strip to organise their ideas. Tips for learning at primary schoolHere are some practical tips for helping your primary school-age child learn:
Your child will become more independent as they get older. It might seem that your child wants you to have less input into their learning, but your child does still need your involvement and encouragement, just in different ways. Even if your child is sharing less information with you, you can let your child know that you’re interested in what they’re learning by actively listening and paying attention when they want to talk. This sends the message that your child’s learning is important to you and that you’re available to help. And when you talk with your child about their learning, try to focus on how your child is learning about the topic rather than on how much they know. For example, you could ask, ‘What was it like to work in a group to make that short film?’ rather than ‘What mark did you get for that film project?’ Most children have 1-2 areas that they don’t enjoy as much or aren’t as good at. As your child goes through secondary school, you could talk together about whether it’s an option to drop a subject they aren’t interested in. Your child’s teacher can also help you and your child work this out. Tips for learning at upper primary and secondary schoolHere are some practical tips for helping your older school-age child learn:
Sometimes your child will need your emotional support for learning, as much as your practical help. Here are some ideas:
Why is it important for children to investigate?Children learn by using their senses to investigate the world around them. Through investigation children learn how things work, what things do, and why things happen. Children may learn how to keep themselves safe through investigation: a could learn that if they stand too close to a fire, they may get burned.
Why is it important for children to guide their own learning?By starting children in a self-directed environment you can give them a huge boost towards later success. Students who are responsible for their own learning quickly realise that they are responsible for other aspects of their life too.
Why is it important for children to learn through curiosity and discovery?As children grow, curiosity propels them to enjoy broader, more complex encounters. Through play, children not only figure out how the world works, but how it can work for them.
What are the benefits of observing a child?Observation is a way to connect with children, to discover their connections to others and to their environment. Children who feel cared for, safe, and secure interact with others and engage in their world to learn. They are more likely to gain skills, and to do better as they enter school.
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