Play your way to school-ready toddler skills with these fun, quick activities! This set's hands-on activities help kids learn and retain lessons in counting, color recognition, and early letter skills through fun, active play. Plus, the built-in carrying case lets you take the learning on the go! Learn more about Skill Builders! Toddler Skills.
Play your way to school-ready toddler skills with these fun, quick activities! This set's hands-on activities help kids learn and retain lessons in counting, color recognition, and early letter skills through fun, active play. Plus, the built-in carrying case lets you take the learning on the go! Learn more about Skill Builders! Toddler Skills.
Any sorting set which doubles up as a small world invitation to play is such a winner in my book. The Learning Resources® Sort-’Em-Up Pups Activity Set is new for 2022, and it sure is a gooden'! In this blog, we will be sharing more about what is included in the set and the ways we have been playing with it so far.
What's Included?
I love how this set can all be stored in the cute little pup house. When you first pop off the roof to the house, you will find an orange, green, blue, and purple playpen fence, along with three varying-sized dogs in each color and a selection of paw print cards, as with most Learning Resources products, you also get a comprehensive activity guide which offers some great play and learning suggestions.
Ways to Play
My daughter is four years old, and she loves playing with animals at the moment, especially cats (bonus points if it is a cheetah) and dogs. As she was unpacking this set, she was very excited, especially as there was a little house for the dogs… and then she realized that they all had their little playpens too. The first play was about getting to know her new 'pet pups.' She carefully studied them and noticed that they were different sizes and had some differences in their features. For example, they had different colored noses, and some had polka-dots on their backs, and others didn't. It's always a good idea to encourage your child to share these differences, as this can help with language development. It also even allows them to develop scientific fundamentals such as observation, description, and analysis skills.
After all of the initial explorations of the dogs were over, it was time to start sorting. My preschooler carefully arranged the playpens and placed the colored dog families together in their pens. As she did this, she counted how many there were and commented on the size and unique features of the dogs. She was careful to line up each family of dogs in size order, biggest to smallest. It might not seem like it, but even this simple act is a way for preschoolers to develop and demonstrate early numeracy skills.
Once all of the dogs were with their families in their playpens, my daughter started to make the families interact with each other. She would make up playdates and would be chatting away in her magical world of pretend play. She finished her play session by making a stepping stone pathway for the pups to lead them back to their pup house. She used the numbered paw print cards and carefully laid them out in the correct number order. Then she let the pups take it in turns to jump along the pathway, counting the paw prints as they went. This would also work well if you added dice to the setup so that your child could roll and then move the pup that many paw print cards forwards. My little one was so engrossed in her play that I didn't want to interrupt her, so we will try that next time. She got all of the pups safely in their pup house and then proceeded to set up her playpens and pups all over again.
I'm looking forward to exploring many more ways to use this set in the future. I like that you can challenge your child to sort the pups in numerous ways because of their varying features, some more subtle than others. I'm also planning to add the pups to a sensory bin, maybe some play dirt or dyed green rice, as I know, my preschooler will love the added sensory element to the small world play. So many great ways to play and learn with the Sort-’Em-Up Pups!
Writer's Bio
Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play and being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind.
Any sorting set which doubles up as a small world invitation to play is such a winner in my book. The Learning Resources® Sort-’Em-Up Pups Activity Set is new for 2022, and it sure is a gooden'! In this blog, we will be sharing more about what is included in the set and the ways we have been playing with it so far.
What's Included?
I love how this set can all be stored in the cute little pup house. When you first pop off the roof to the house, you will find an orange, green, blue, and purple playpen fence, along with three varying-sized dogs in each color and a selection of paw print cards, as with most Learning Resources products, you also get a comprehensive activity guide which offers some great play and learning suggestions.
Ways to Play
My daughter is four years old, and she loves playing with animals at the moment, especially cats (bonus points if it is a cheetah) and dogs. As she was unpacking this set, she was very excited, especially as there was a little house for the dogs… and then she realized that they all had their little playpens too. The first play was about getting to know her new 'pet pups.' She carefully studied them and noticed that they were different sizes and had some differences in their features. For example, they had different colored noses, and some had polka-dots on their backs, and others didn't. It's always a good idea to encourage your child to share these differences, as this can help with language development. It also even allows them to develop scientific fundamentals such as observation, description, and analysis skills.
After all of the initial explorations of the dogs were over, it was time to start sorting. My preschooler carefully arranged the playpens and placed the colored dog families together in their pens. As she did this, she counted how many there were and commented on the size and unique features of the dogs. She was careful to line up each family of dogs in size order, biggest to smallest. It might not seem like it, but even this simple act is a way for preschoolers to develop and demonstrate early numeracy skills.
Once all of the dogs were with their families in their playpens, my daughter started to make the families interact with each other. She would make up playdates and would be chatting away in her magical world of pretend play. She finished her play session by making a stepping stone pathway for the pups to lead them back to their pup house. She used the numbered paw print cards and carefully laid them out in the correct number order. Then she let the pups take it in turns to jump along the pathway, counting the paw prints as they went. This would also work well if you added dice to the setup so that your child could roll and then move the pup that many paw print cards forwards. My little one was so engrossed in her play that I didn't want to interrupt her, so we will try that next time. She got all of the pups safely in their pup house and then proceeded to set up her playpens and pups all over again.
I'm looking forward to exploring many more ways to use this set in the future. I like that you can challenge your child to sort the pups in numerous ways because of their varying features, some more subtle than others. I'm also planning to add the pups to a sensory bin, maybe some play dirt or dyed green rice, as I know, my preschooler will love the added sensory element to the small world play. So many great ways to play and learn with the Sort-’Em-Up Pups!
Writer's Bio
Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play and being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind.
Is your child a daydreamer? A constant question asker? An outside-of-the-lines colorer? Don’t despair! While learning to follow directions and mastering basic foundational skills is an important part of early learning, so is learning to think outside the box, aka creative thinking. Creative thinking, or the ability to find multiple, creative solutions to a problem, is just as important (maybe even more important!) as critical thinking or the ability to solve problems using a single solution.
Why? As our world continues to grow and change, we create new problems that require new solutions. Solving these new problems requires a fresh perspective and the ability to see beyond the obvious, existing answers. That’s where creative thinking comes in. And that’s why creativity was the most desired soft skill in the workplace in 2020* and not just in creative fields, either! Industries from software design and biomedicine to telecom and robotics require creative thinking to identify new problems and discover innovative solutions.
Bonus: besides making your kids ultra-desirable employees of the future, creative thinkers are generally more resilient, confident, and optimistic, better communicators; and even physically healthier than their less creative counterparts. That all sounds good, right? So how do you encourage your kids to think creatively?
Luckily, most kids are born creative thinkers. They ask questions, make up their own rules, use tools in new ways, and generally play their way. But there are several ways you can cultivate and encourage your kids’ natural creative thinking, things you can do at home to help your kids to come up with and try new ideas, see situations in new ways, find alternative explanations, and make new connections including:
Providing Time for Open-Ended Play - Building time into your child’s schedule for unstructured play or playtime with no rules and direction is a great way to foster creative thinking. Supply the props, like toy vehicles, action figures, dolls, dress-up clothes, and building blocks, then let your child loose to imagine their own scenarios, dialogues, problems, and solutions. Your child can play solo, with a sibling or friend, or with you, but don’t correct them, intervene in their process, or offer your own ideas; just observe, encourage, and support.
Offering New Experiences - New experiences build kids’ brains! It’s true – each new experience creates a new connection, or synapse, in the brain. These connections are used for high-order thinking like problem-solving, logic, reasoning, and organization. So set out some new art materials and musical instruments, take a nature walk in a new part of town, or try new food at a new restaurant.
Indulging Curiosity - The endless questions can drive you crazy, but they’re a sure sign of a creative thinker at work. Before you answer, ask your child what THEY think and applaud their effort to use what they do know to sort out a solution. Then answer the best you can, but if you don’t know the answer, brainstorm a bit together before looking it up.
Shaking Things Up - Shaking up the status quo will get the whole family thinking creatively! Try running your day backwards, with jammies at school and breakfast for dinner. Instead of reading a favorite story, ask each family member to develop an alternate ending. Paint with an old toothbrush, pom pom, pipe cleaner, or make a potato stamp. Make up a crazy recipe and try it for lunch. Fill the bathtub without using the spout (or just talk about how you might get that done if you can’t stand the splash). You get the idea!
Creative thinking is an important skill that will help your little one become a better problem solver and build the confidence they need to try new things and share new ideas. So let them dream the day away, count the clouds, or build a 10-foot tower. Marvel at their unique ideas and innovative solutions. They’re going places!
* https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/the-skills-companies-need-most-in-2020and-how-to-learn-them
Is your child a daydreamer? A constant question asker? An outside-of-the-lines colorer? Don’t despair! While learning to follow directions and mastering basic foundational skills is an important part of early learning, so is learning to think outside the box, aka creative thinking. Creative thinking, or the ability to find multiple, creative solutions to a problem, is just as important (maybe even more important!) as critical thinking or the ability to solve problems using a single solution.
Why? As our world continues to grow and change, we create new problems that require new solutions. Solving these new problems requires a fresh perspective and the ability to see beyond the obvious, existing answers. That’s where creative thinking comes in. And that’s why creativity was the most desired soft skill in the workplace in 2020* and not just in creative fields, either! Industries from software design and biomedicine to telecom and robotics require creative thinking to identify new problems and discover innovative solutions.
Bonus: besides making your kids ultra-desirable employees of the future, creative thinkers are generally more resilient, confident, and optimistic, better communicators; and even physically healthier than their less creative counterparts. That all sounds good, right? So how do you encourage your kids to think creatively?
Luckily, most kids are born creative thinkers. They ask questions, make up their own rules, use tools in new ways, and generally play their way. But there are several ways you can cultivate and encourage your kids’ natural creative thinking, things you can do at home to help your kids to come up with and try new ideas, see situations in new ways, find alternative explanations, and make new connections including:
Providing Time for Open-Ended Play - Building time into your child’s schedule for unstructured play or playtime with no rules and direction is a great way to foster creative thinking. Supply the props, like toy vehicles, action figures, dolls, dress-up clothes, and building blocks, then let your child loose to imagine their own scenarios, dialogues, problems, and solutions. Your child can play solo, with a sibling or friend, or with you, but don’t correct them, intervene in their process, or offer your own ideas; just observe, encourage, and support.
Offering New Experiences - New experiences build kids’ brains! It’s true – each new experience creates a new connection, or synapse, in the brain. These connections are used for high-order thinking like problem-solving, logic, reasoning, and organization. So set out some new art materials and musical instruments, take a nature walk in a new part of town, or try new food at a new restaurant.
Indulging Curiosity - The endless questions can drive you crazy, but they’re a sure sign of a creative thinker at work. Before you answer, ask your child what THEY think and applaud their effort to use what they do know to sort out a solution. Then answer the best you can, but if you don’t know the answer, brainstorm a bit together before looking it up.
Shaking Things Up - Shaking up the status quo will get the whole family thinking creatively! Try running your day backwards, with jammies at school and breakfast for dinner. Instead of reading a favorite story, ask each family member to develop an alternate ending. Paint with an old toothbrush, pom pom, pipe cleaner, or make a potato stamp. Make up a crazy recipe and try it for lunch. Fill the bathtub without using the spout (or just talk about how you might get that done if you can’t stand the splash). You get the idea!
Creative thinking is an important skill that will help your little one become a better problem solver and build the confidence they need to try new things and share new ideas. So let them dream the day away, count the clouds, or build a 10-foot tower. Marvel at their unique ideas and innovative solutions. They’re going places!
* https://www.linkedin.com/business/learning/blog/top-skills-and-courses/the-skills-companies-need-most-in-2020and-how-to-learn-them
Get a head start on building someone amazing this holiday season with our fun, learning educational toys! Let us help you pick out the perfect toys for your little learner. These gifts will grow with your children and help you discover new learning fun every time you give a gift!
Give the gift of preschool readiness skills in this year’s stocking stuffers! Your little ones can learn while playing with the Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack from Learning Resources. This pack of 4 puzzle card sets includes two- and three-piece puzzles that help kids master early spelling, counting, shape, and number skills through brain-teasing puzzle play.
Each puzzle features full-color illustrations and fun holiday puzzle shapes, including an ornament, star, stocking, and tree. Designed with little ones in mind, each puzzle is self-correcting, making it easier for kids to puzzle out the right answer. The Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack makes an easy stocking stuffer for kids—split up the puzzle packs among four different stockings, or give the entire set as one larger gift! The path towards new preschool readiness skills has never looked so festive!
Curl up with some hot cocoa! This cozy set is perfect for little ones looking to warm up on chilly days. The carafe, mugs, and chocolate container create the perfect recipe for imaginative play. Stir in as much chocolate as you like and top it all off with some fluffy marshmallows. Fresh-baked cookies are the perfect snack to enjoy with your toasty beverage.
Get into the holiday spirit with this imaginative set of toy Christmas cookies just for Santa! Kids can add a touch of realism to winter role play with Santa’s Cookies from Learning Resources. This 12-piece set of fun play food includes everything kids for pretend baking fun, from cut-out cookies to a rolling pin, spatula, baking sheet, and more!
When their play Christmas cookies are ready, kids can serve them up to Santa with a plate, glass of “milk,” and write-and-wipe note that helps build essential imaginative skills. The perfect addition to any toy kitchen set, this play cookie set also helps kids master hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills with pieces that are just right for little hands. Each amount of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of holiday play kitchen fun.
Reach in and feel all the textures! Help the fuzzy dog find all the bones he hid in his doghouse. All bones are textured and made of rubber or cloth and feature smooth, silky, scratchy, bumpy, ridged, and more textures. Grasping, exploring, and manipulating the different textured bones leads students to further develop their ability to use their fingers and hands purposefully and improve manual dexterity.
Wake up and smell the imaginative learning fun! Kids start their day with restaurant pretend play every time they serve up pretend breakfasts from the Rise & Shine Diner from Learning Resources. This deluxe diner playset includes 23 play food versions of all your morning favorites, from waffles and pancakes to fried eggs, fruit, and more, as well as the, pretend utensils needed to “cook” and “eat” them!
Though this realistic play food looks good enough to eat, it’s even more fun to serve—the Rise & Shine Diner’s restaurant playset comes with everything kids need to open their play diner, including a write-and-wipe menu, placemat, and guest check that add a touch of authenticity to play restaurant role play. Each piece of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of play restaurant fun.
Get a head start on building someone amazing this holiday season with our fun, learning educational toys! Let us help you pick out the perfect toys for your little learner. These gifts will grow with your children and help you discover new learning fun every time you give a gift!
Give the gift of preschool readiness skills in this year’s stocking stuffers! Your little ones can learn while playing with the Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack from Learning Resources. This pack of 4 puzzle card sets includes two- and three-piece puzzles that help kids master early spelling, counting, shape, and number skills through brain-teasing puzzle play.
Each puzzle features full-color illustrations and fun holiday puzzle shapes, including an ornament, star, stocking, and tree. Designed with little ones in mind, each puzzle is self-correcting, making it easier for kids to puzzle out the right answer. The Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack makes an easy stocking stuffer for kids—split up the puzzle packs among four different stockings, or give the entire set as one larger gift! The path towards new preschool readiness skills has never looked so festive!
Curl up with some hot cocoa! This cozy set is perfect for little ones looking to warm up on chilly days. The carafe, mugs, and chocolate container create the perfect recipe for imaginative play. Stir in as much chocolate as you like and top it all off with some fluffy marshmallows. Fresh-baked cookies are the perfect snack to enjoy with your toasty beverage.
Get into the holiday spirit with this imaginative set of toy Christmas cookies just for Santa! Kids can add a touch of realism to winter role play with Santa’s Cookies from Learning Resources. This 12-piece set of fun play food includes everything kids for pretend baking fun, from cut-out cookies to a rolling pin, spatula, baking sheet, and more!
When their play Christmas cookies are ready, kids can serve them up to Santa with a plate, glass of “milk,” and write-and-wipe note that helps build essential imaginative skills. The perfect addition to any toy kitchen set, this play cookie set also helps kids master hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills with pieces that are just right for little hands. Each amount of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of holiday play kitchen fun.
Reach in and feel all the textures! Help the fuzzy dog find all the bones he hid in his doghouse. All bones are textured and made of rubber or cloth and feature smooth, silky, scratchy, bumpy, ridged, and more textures. Grasping, exploring, and manipulating the different textured bones leads students to further develop their ability to use their fingers and hands purposefully and improve manual dexterity.
Wake up and smell the imaginative learning fun! Kids start their day with restaurant pretend play every time they serve up pretend breakfasts from the Rise & Shine Diner from Learning Resources. This deluxe diner playset includes 23 play food versions of all your morning favorites, from waffles and pancakes to fried eggs, fruit, and more, as well as the, pretend utensils needed to “cook” and “eat” them!
Though this realistic play food looks good enough to eat, it’s even more fun to serve—the Rise & Shine Diner’s restaurant playset comes with everything kids need to open their play diner, including a write-and-wipe menu, placemat, and guest check that add a touch of authenticity to play restaurant role play. Each piece of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of play restaurant fun.
Grab your Big Feelings Pineapple and color your very own winter wonderland!
Grab your Big Feelings Pineapple and color your very own winter wonderland!
Learning Resources® has a new pretend food playset, and it sure is a good one! My kids have always enjoyed the imaginative food-based play, and one of their favorite weekend treats is a trip to the diner. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Rise & Shine Diner Set was a huge hit and led to over an hour of role-playing the first time we used it.
What's Included?
I have several of the Learning Resources pretend play food products, and they always get a lot of use both at home and in my preschool classroom. The quality is awesome, with each piece being well-designed and durable. The food pieces are also always pretty realistic, which my kids appreciate. In this particular set, you get an excellent range of food pieces and beverages, as well as some fun accessories. You get plates, bowls, cutlery, a frying pan, a spatula, and a menu. There is also a dry-erase activity placemat and order ticket, which helps to extend the play and learning. The ultimate surprise came when my little one flipped over the activity pad to discover that it doubled up as a pretend stovetop!
Exploring the Materials
It's always exciting when you first open up the box and tip out all of the contents. My four-year-old was listing off all of the food items she could see, as well as getting very excited about the frying pan and maple syrup bottle. Of course, she needed to give that maple syrup bottle a good squirt into her mouth straight away to get an energy boost! She explored all of the items, sorted them on the plates, and set up her little diner space, ready to open for business.
Placemat Activity Fun
Before the diner could open, though, she needed a little time because she loved that the placemat had activities on it, and she couldn't wait to do them. This was just like the placemat she gets given at our local diner, so she was super excited! She used a dry-erase marker to complete the maze, play a tic-tac-toe game, and do the dot-to-dot fruit drawings. I love that she was engaged in a mark-making activity even though the product is more of a pretend play toy. So great for helping her fine motor skills!
Open for Business
It was finally time for the Rise and Shine Diner to open up for business officially. My preschooler had all of the produce ready, as well as the menu easily accessible. She was the perfect hostess and even put on a funny, deep voice as she showed me to my seat and gave me the menu. She used the order ticket to write down what I wanted (I helped her with the writing while telling me some of the numbers on the prices). I love that she was being exposed to so much numeracy and literacy without even realizing it!
It made me laugh that she took on her role as a waitress with such seriousness and maturity. She would tell me what was 'in season' and what she wouldn't recommend because it had gone moldy! I think secretly; she didn't want me having any of the 'good stuff' (i.e., the pancakes, waffles, and cinnamon bun were all out of service!).
Once she had the full order, she got to work serving up my yogurt and fruit. She then cooked my hot items using the frying pan and the stovetop. She had a whole explanation for why she had to cook my bagel in a frying pan. The toaster broke at her diner, and she hadn't made enough money to replace it with a new one… I think she was angling for a big tip! I was, however, in luck because she let me have a small drizzle of maple syrup on my eggs. She told me that it was the special of the day.
I love how this Learning Resources pretend play set brought out so many different play and learning elements. There was so much more happening than just making a pretend diner. There was numeracy, literacy, fine motor development, role play, problem-solving, imagination, collaboration, and even a healthy dose of fun! This set will most definitely be a feature in our playroom over the coming months.
Writer's Bio
Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play and being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind
Learning Resources® has a new pretend food playset, and it sure is a good one! My kids have always enjoyed the imaginative food-based play, and one of their favorite weekend treats is a trip to the diner. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Rise & Shine Diner Set was a huge hit and led to over an hour of role-playing the first time we used it.
What's Included?
I have several of the Learning Resources pretend play food products, and they always get a lot of use both at home and in my preschool classroom. The quality is awesome, with each piece being well-designed and durable. The food pieces are also always pretty realistic, which my kids appreciate. In this particular set, you get an excellent range of food pieces and beverages, as well as some fun accessories. You get plates, bowls, cutlery, a frying pan, a spatula, and a menu. There is also a dry-erase activity placemat and order ticket, which helps to extend the play and learning. The ultimate surprise came when my little one flipped over the activity pad to discover that it doubled up as a pretend stovetop!
Exploring the Materials
It's always exciting when you first open up the box and tip out all of the contents. My four-year-old was listing off all of the food items she could see, as well as getting very excited about the frying pan and maple syrup bottle. Of course, she needed to give that maple syrup bottle a good squirt into her mouth straight away to get an energy boost! She explored all of the items, sorted them on the plates, and set up her little diner space, ready to open for business.
Placemat Activity Fun
Before the diner could open, though, she needed a little time because she loved that the placemat had activities on it, and she couldn't wait to do them. This was just like the placemat she gets given at our local diner, so she was super excited! She used a dry-erase marker to complete the maze, play a tic-tac-toe game, and do the dot-to-dot fruit drawings. I love that she was engaged in a mark-making activity even though the product is more of a pretend play toy. So great for helping her fine motor skills!
Open for Business
It was finally time for the Rise and Shine Diner to open up for business officially. My preschooler had all of the produce ready, as well as the menu easily accessible. She was the perfect hostess and even put on a funny, deep voice as she showed me to my seat and gave me the menu. She used the order ticket to write down what I wanted (I helped her with the writing while telling me some of the numbers on the prices). I love that she was being exposed to so much numeracy and literacy without even realizing it!
It made me laugh that she took on her role as a waitress with such seriousness and maturity. She would tell me what was 'in season' and what she wouldn't recommend because it had gone moldy! I think secretly; she didn't want me having any of the 'good stuff' (i.e., the pancakes, waffles, and cinnamon bun were all out of service!).
Once she had the full order, she got to work serving up my yogurt and fruit. She then cooked my hot items using the frying pan and the stovetop. She had a whole explanation for why she had to cook my bagel in a frying pan. The toaster broke at her diner, and she hadn't made enough money to replace it with a new one… I think she was angling for a big tip! I was, however, in luck because she let me have a small drizzle of maple syrup on my eggs. She told me that it was the special of the day.
I love how this Learning Resources pretend play set brought out so many different play and learning elements. There was so much more happening than just making a pretend diner. There was numeracy, literacy, fine motor development, role play, problem-solving, imagination, collaboration, and even a healthy dose of fun! This set will most definitely be a feature in our playroom over the coming months.
Writer's Bio
Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play and being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind
Image 1 - Featured image, Source: pexels.com
Many kids spend their years in school on “autopilot,” looking at their schooling as something they have to do, something that’s expected of them, and something they need to advance in life. This mindset might be good for getting good grades or having perfect attendance, but it doesn’t create lifelong learners. It doesn’t build thriving minds and young adults, and it certainly doesn’t set your children up for lifelong success in everything they do.
To get your kids off autopilot and inspire and empower them to become effective learners, you need to change the paradigm. Not only is it important to stay on top of the latest trends for learning and development, but it’s also important to implement mindfulness into the process and even use technology to spark creativity and a love for lifelong learning. Today, we will put all of this into perspective and define some of the best ways to teach your children to become mindful and effective learners for life.
Define the “why” behind every learning activity
From school to the great outdoors, from TV and the internet to the playground and beyond – children are constantly learning and soaking up new information. Every activity and experience is an opportunity to learn new and exciting things, but that doesn’t mean that your kids will want to learn. Don’t expect your children to have an innate desire for knowledge or that they’ll love school just because they are talented individuals.
For your children to be effective learners and truly love learning, they need to understand the “why” behind every subject and learning activity. Why is math important? Why is chemistry so helpful, and how does STEM change the world? Why should they take an art class, and why in the world should they learn to play an instrument?
If you don’t give your child a broader picture or a deeper understanding of the subject, they won’t feel motivated to learn. On the other hand, if they understand that math is the language of the universe, they will feel incentivized to learn that language to unravel its mysteries.
Image 2, Source: pexels.com
A time for studying, a time for rest
No matter how talented they are and no matter how much energy and passion for learning your child might have, there’s only so much they can do in a day – and you mustn’t push them beyond their limits. A child’s mind thrives not on the number of learning activities and extracurriculars, but on a well-designed learning schedule.
Now, don’t force them to create their own schedule, instead, make on with them. Your child will let you know how much they can accomplish in a single day, and you as the parent need to help them create a healthy school-life balance. If you have a work-life balance, then it’s only natural for your child to have one too. Only with a healthy school-life balance can you expect your child to achieve their very best over the long term without succumbing to the pressure.
Teach kids to use online resources
Technology is quickly reshaping the educational sector around the world, and kids nowadays have a unique opportunity to acquire more knowledge than any generation before them. Your child has the opportunity to access the global information pool with a click of a button, but the materials they use should come from reputable online sources.
For example, kids who are finishing high school in Australia and are getting ready to take their Higher School Certificate exams are using HSC study notes from past students to supplement their own notes and textbooks with reliable information and thus enrich their learning experience. This is just one of the many ways your child can get a fresh new perspective, acquire more information, and make learning easier and more enjoyable by simply utilizing online resources and learning platforms.
Image 3, Source: pexels.com
Create a healthy learning environment
For your child to become a mindful learner and develop a passion for lifelong learning, they need to be in a healthy environment. Don’t think that your child can focus or feel motivated to study if the place is a mess if they are surrounded by distractions or any form of negativity lingering in the air.
Remember, your child needs a safe, welcoming space where they can study, a space imbued with peace and positivity. Consider your work-from-home lifestyle that requires a home office where you can concentrate. Your child needs the same thing – they own space designed for studying and nothing else. The lockdown is changing the face of education, and while they are stuck at home, try to make the learning process as enjoyable and effective as possible.
Learning through practical examples
Children need to learn by experiencing the world with all their senses. They learn by touching, listening, reading, and sometimes even by tasting something they clearly shouldn’t have put in their mouth. It’s a natural process that doesn’t go away simply because they reached their school years.
If you want your child to become a mindful and effective learner, they need more than to stare at a textbook. They need examples, visual stimulation, and a more creative approach to studying. This is for the teachers to figure out while they’re in the classroom, but when you’re helping your child study at home, you should enrich their learning experience with various examples that will spark their interest, imagination, and the oh-so-important creative process.
Over to you
Children go to school, they do what they’re told, they get good grades, and they never truly realize why lifelong learning is so important, valuable, and transformative. If you want to set your child on a better path through life, then make sure to use these tips to help them become mindful learners, and inspire them to achieve many great things in the years to come.
Image 1 - Featured image, Source: pexels.com
Many kids spend their years in school on “autopilot,” looking at their schooling as something they have to do, something that’s expected of them, and something they need to advance in life. This mindset might be good for getting good grades or having perfect attendance, but it doesn’t create lifelong learners. It doesn’t build thriving minds and young adults, and it certainly doesn’t set your children up for lifelong success in everything they do.
To get your kids off autopilot and inspire and empower them to become effective learners, you need to change the paradigm. Not only is it important to stay on top of the latest trends for learning and development, but it’s also important to implement mindfulness into the process and even use technology to spark creativity and a love for lifelong learning. Today, we will put all of this into perspective and define some of the best ways to teach your children to become mindful and effective learners for life.
Define the “why” behind every learning activity
From school to the great outdoors, from TV and the internet to the playground and beyond – children are constantly learning and soaking up new information. Every activity and experience is an opportunity to learn new and exciting things, but that doesn’t mean that your kids will want to learn. Don’t expect your children to have an innate desire for knowledge or that they’ll love school just because they are talented individuals.
For your children to be effective learners and truly love learning, they need to understand the “why” behind every subject and learning activity. Why is math important? Why is chemistry so helpful, and how does STEM change the world? Why should they take an art class, and why in the world should they learn to play an instrument?
If you don’t give your child a broader picture or a deeper understanding of the subject, they won’t feel motivated to learn. On the other hand, if they understand that math is the language of the universe, they will feel incentivized to learn that language to unravel its mysteries.
Image 2, Source: pexels.com
A time for studying, a time for rest
No matter how talented they are and no matter how much energy and passion for learning your child might have, there’s only so much they can do in a day – and you mustn’t push them beyond their limits. A child’s mind thrives not on the number of learning activities and extracurriculars, but on a well-designed learning schedule.
Now, don’t force them to create their own schedule, instead, make on with them. Your child will let you know how much they can accomplish in a single day, and you as the parent need to help them create a healthy school-life balance. If you have a work-life balance, then it’s only natural for your child to have one too. Only with a healthy school-life balance can you expect your child to achieve their very best over the long term without succumbing to the pressure.
Teach kids to use online resources
Technology is quickly reshaping the educational sector around the world, and kids nowadays have a unique opportunity to acquire more knowledge than any generation before them. Your child has the opportunity to access the global information pool with a click of a button, but the materials they use should come from reputable online sources.
For example, kids who are finishing high school in Australia and are getting ready to take their Higher School Certificate exams are using HSC study notes from past students to supplement their own notes and textbooks with reliable information and thus enrich their learning experience. This is just one of the many ways your child can get a fresh new perspective, acquire more information, and make learning easier and more enjoyable by simply utilizing online resources and learning platforms.
Image 3, Source: pexels.com
Create a healthy learning environment
For your child to become a mindful learner and develop a passion for lifelong learning, they need to be in a healthy environment. Don’t think that your child can focus or feel motivated to study if the place is a mess if they are surrounded by distractions or any form of negativity lingering in the air.
Remember, your child needs a safe, welcoming space where they can study, a space imbued with peace and positivity. Consider your work-from-home lifestyle that requires a home office where you can concentrate. Your child needs the same thing – they own space designed for studying and nothing else. The lockdown is changing the face of education, and while they are stuck at home, try to make the learning process as enjoyable and effective as possible.
Learning through practical examples
Children need to learn by experiencing the world with all their senses. They learn by touching, listening, reading, and sometimes even by tasting something they clearly shouldn’t have put in their mouth. It’s a natural process that doesn’t go away simply because they reached their school years.
If you want your child to become a mindful and effective learner, they need more than to stare at a textbook. They need examples, visual stimulation, and a more creative approach to studying. This is for the teachers to figure out while they’re in the classroom, but when you’re helping your child study at home, you should enrich their learning experience with various examples that will spark their interest, imagination, and the oh-so-important creative process.
Over to you
Children go to school, they do what they’re told, they get good grades, and they never truly realize why lifelong learning is so important, valuable, and transformative. If you want to set your child on a better path through life, then make sure to use these tips to help them become mindful learners, and inspire them to achieve many great things in the years to come.
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