How To Get Children To Love Learning!

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Whether you homeschool or have your kids in a classroom environment it’s equally important for children to develop a love of learning. In a world of YouTube and too much screen time, however,  it can be hard to instill those values in kids even if they’re important to you. Here’s how to get children to love learning so school won’t feel like a chore.

How to get children to love learning

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Children who develop a love of learning in childhood are going to carry that through the rest of their lives. They become the adults who never stop wanting to learn more, regardless of what the subject is. Just because we see the benefits to learning doesn’t mean kids do, though. Especially if they’d rather be doing something else.

Some kids are just naturally curious. These are the easiest ones to teach because the learning opportunities, along with their desire to pursue them, seem endless. But what do you do with kids who aren’t as interested in learning? These tips will help even the most reluctant kids enjoy their school ‘work’.

Learn together

Your enthusiasm can be contagious! Show your children how excited you are to be learning about a specific topic and work on things together. By being engaged with your child’s education you’ll encourage them 

If you’re working with a difficult or reluctant learner resist the temptation to give them all the answers. Even when learning together you need to give children an opportunity to figure things out for themselves. 

It’s also important for parents to lead by example. If you’re trying to encourage a child to love reading, make sure you’re reading around your kids. To get children to love learning, keep prioritizing learning in your life and show that to your kids.

Identify learning styles and problems

One of the most common reasons kids end up hating school or learning is because of an undiagnosed learning disability. Even common problems like dyslexia often go undiagnosed in younger kids. When children are at a disadvantage and struggle in school they’ll lose confidence and begin to dislike learning as a whole.

Gifted and talented children are also underserved and can end up loathing learning, especially in a traditional school environment. If you find your child is gifted in general or a single subject it’s important to find age-appropriate outlets to help keep their passion for learning alive.

By identifying the strengths and weaknesses in kids you can tailor learning to their individual learning styles. Active kids (especially ones with ADHD) will benefit from more gross motor and hands on activities. Other kids might prefer completing worksheets. If learning fits the child they’re going to enjoy it more. 

Make learning fun to get children to love learning

This is especially true when working with young kids. Play is learning for kids, so focus on a play based program when you want to cover specific concepts. For little ones that might be introducing themed toys and providing plenty of opportunity to learn through play.

For older kids, adding some hands-on activities to their learning can make it more fun. Math manipulatives, science experiments, and movement based games are all ways to get even reluctant learners engaged in subject matter.

When learning becomes a chore is when kids start to hate school. Boring worksheets, dry textbooks, and repetitive tasks are not just ineffective on their own, they can take all the fun out of learning something new. 

Let kids lead their learning when possible

Sure, there’s some things that kids have to learn in order to progress through life.That doesn’t mean those are all we should learn, though! Take advantage of natural learning opportunities when they come up and by delving into those subjects. Sometimes you can use a child’s natural interests to tie in core themes, too.

If you homeschool it’s a lot easier to pursue spontaneous learning activities. When a child shows interest in a certain subject you can rearrange your education plan to take advantage of their excitement. 

By allowing children to learn about things they’re interested in you can show them that learning can really be fun. This way you’ll end up with children to love learning in general because they’ll remember these positive experiences with learning even when doing something they don’t enjoy.

Don’t pressure if you want to get children to love learning

Very few people actually perform better under pressure, and children are especially sensitive to it. Having too much strictness and rigidity when it comes to learning will likely backfire. Especially if you have high expectations for academic performance.

Dial it back a little bit and take a more laid back approach to learning. Don’t set arbitrary time limits and purely academic goals, and instead let children learn at their own pace. When work does need to get done, offer emotional support and rewards rather than consequences.

Take breaks and get active

Kids’ brains work differently than adults’ ones. They can’t sit for too long and need lots of active time throughout the day. Outdoor playtime is important for children of all ages, but particularly in the early years. 

In order to be able to concentrate on school work kids will need to burn off extra energy and get moving throughout the day. By making time for active and outdoor play you’ll actually get better focus during ‘work’ time.

If possible, use your child as a guide for when breaks should happen. Rather than having set outdoor or active time, take a break when your child loses focus on their work. You can do this while homeschooling or doing homework with kids. 

Be their biggest cheerleader

Whether you’re homeschooling or have your kids in a traditional school environment you’re going to be a huge factor in how they feel about their education. Providing support and encouragement for their learning will help them stay motivated and enthusiastic. 

Another way parents can show support is by developing interest based skills. Extra-curricular activities are a great way to do this, but the options are virtually limitless for what you can do. For example, a child who loves to read will benefit from regular library visits, a history fan will enjoy the museum, and so on. 

By setting good examples, helping kids learn in their own way, keeping the pressure off, not pushing too hard, and encouraging kids you can get children to love learning.

How do you like to foster a love of learning for your children? I would love to hear in the comments.