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In our ever-connected world in which we have access to a high volume of information from every corner of the globe, it is essential that kids have the ability to compare and evaluate facts and opinions. Gaining these essential critical skills, so they can make decisions, solve problems and create solutions comes from a genuine love for learning and a desire to explore, investigate and be curious.
With the aim of encouraging enthusiastic and eager students, teachers and parents are tapping into children's imaginations and passions to instil a desire to learn.
Research from the University of Rochester found that there are three key ingredients to developing internal motivation in children:
- Competence – Children find it thrilling to master a new skill, once they have mastered riding a bike they will want to do it all the time. However, they are likely to resist or avoid things they believe they are not good at.
- Autonomy – Nobody likes to feel controlled, sometimes children feel unmotivated because they feel forced to do something. Offering choice and encouraging problem solving can increase their motivation.
- Connection – Relationships are an important piece of motivation; children want to do things that bring them closer to people or groups that they care about.
So how can we foster this enthusiasm in young children so they are armed with the best tools for a bright future?
Encourage common interests
Sharing favourite activities can become mutual passions between the two of you. Next time you are cooking or gardening or playing a sport, encourage participation from your child. If they show a genuine aptitude and common love, you may want to invest in some child-sized tools to aid in their success.
Inspire passions
We all have something that we are passionate about, and so do children! If your child shows interest in art, take them to the museum, the galleries, look up art and literature online and expose them to different mediums. By the same token, if your child loves insects, take a trip to the Entomology department of the local University, grab a book on insects from the library and look up videos online. Encourage and inspire these passions. Who knows, one day they may form the basis of their career or a hobby they pursue into adulthood.
Mistakes aid learning
Constant correction can discourage a child from improving and growing, they need to be free to make mistakes and learn from them. It is the strategies learned to correct the mistakes that will stay with a child rather than just memorising the solution. Not only this, a child will gain motivation and personal success from correcting and overcoming any mistakes they may make. Fostering an environment where a child is comfortable to make mistakes is as important as the learning outcomes from making those mistakes.
Reading
Reading is a key ingredient when it comes to raising a child who loves to learn. Children will read for pleasure but also to learn and be inspired, so be sure to have lots of books available with topics that your child loves to read on their own and with you. As your child develops and matures, reference books and encyclopaedias will further encourage their passion for learning.
Create learning spaces
Creating constant learning spaces in your home is a great way of encouraging your child to develop and explore. Books, tools, technology, puzzles, art, dress-ups; giving them an area to immerse themselves in activities and hobbies will drive their passions and foster a motivation to learn more. Do you have a budding builder on your hands? Setup a LEGO table. A future artist? Setup a paint station and drawing table. Allowing them their own space to discover and create will give them the confidence to pursue their interests. Resist doing projects for your child though, they need room to make mistakes and succeed on their own.
Make learning fun
When a child undertakes a task that is fun and interesting, trying hard is effortless. Intrinsic motivation and learning comes from the enjoyableness of the task itself. By turning have-to-do learning tasks into fun-to-do activities, you encourage motivation and the learning becomes enjoyable. Use humour, let kids explore, arouse their curiosity, be playful – these are all excellent ways of making tasks more fun!
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