Raising independent learners does not actually mean you need to step back completely.
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But it’s about letting them explore new opportunities and resources they can utilize to learn on their own.
In simple words, it means raising kids who can think about themselves. This may resemble planting a seed in a garden, i.e., while it takes time and effort, the results are actually worth the wait!
Read below this article to learn how you can encourage your little ones to be independent learners.
Not a Helicopter But A Hot Air Balloon
Ever heard about helicopter parents? These are the ones who are ready to wipe out any challenge at the first indication. However, parents should try to be the hot air balloons of their kids’ lives to give them the opportunity to explore things and challenges while giving them the lift they need. Moreover, a study suggests that children with parents who gave them independence to learn perform better both academically and socially.
The Why Factory
Does your kid ask a lot of questions? If yes, you shouldn’t be worried about it. In fact, a report stated that students who ask more questions are better learners. Since kids are naturally curious, encourage them to ask questions frequently. But certainly not the useless ones, but rather tricky ones, such as how plants breathe and what the benefits of eating spinach are (though they might not ask the last one).
The Detective Game
With the help of self-directed learning, kids are 15 percent more likely to grasp information. Here, your role is to turn learning into detective gameplay for them. Challenge them to solve a question or a problem. To give them a hint, you can allow them to use any resource they want, such as books or the internet. Or maybe a dose of curiosity would help.
Failure is an Option
The fact is, kids who recognize their mistakes as an opportunity to learn have a higher chance of becoming successful in the long run. Obviously, nobody likes to fail. But the truth is, no one can teach better than a mistake. Let them make mistakes so that they develop the essential resilience they need.
Boredom Buster
Dom Do you get frustrated at the sight of your kid wasting his time? Well, you no longer need to. According to a survey conducted by the American Association of Pediatrics, kids who have unstructured free time are more creative and have relatively better problem-solving skills. While it’s quite easy for kids to get bored, it can be a great opportunity to boost creativity and learning skills.
