There have been theories of learning stating that children are unable to form complex ideas. However, these theories have been debunked according to a book on how people learn.
The questions become how to pose these complex questions in ways that children can understand and how to improve learning skills in children.
Children have varying strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning. Some are good at remembering things easily, while others are better at calculations.
Here are 8 ways to make the best of your child’s strengths and weaknesses to improve their learning skills.
1. Create an age appropriate mini library
Children that are surrounded with reading material will be interested in books and ultimately start reading. Children who read are able to speak better, improve their vocabulary, and communicate their needs at an early stage. They are also able to express themselves better, making it easier for them to pass standardized tests. Children who read books (novels) might even become interested in writing.
2. Make reading fun
When it comes to children learning, they are able to adopt the copycat method. This means your child learns from watching what you do. If you are in the habit of picking up a book, chances are your child will also pick up a book once in a while. Make reading fun for your child by talking to them about what you’ve read. You could form a book club, choose a fun book to read and have a discussion with your kids on what you’ve read.
3. Sign them up for music or art class
Some children learn better through sound, while others are much better with their hands. Getting them to focus on other subjects would work better if they are able to do what they love. Music and art are not the only ways to make learning easier for your kids; sports could also help your children learn better.
4. Provide your children with some easier ways to study
To improve learning skills in kids, one of the surest ways to do this is to provide your kids with some relevance with regards to academic studies. For instance, while helping your children with their math homework, you could incorporate some fun learning tricks. Addition and subtraction could be done using raisins, and fractions could be done using fruit like oranges or a cake. Popping a few raisins into their mouths once in a while or having a slice of cake after homework will make your kids love learning.
5. Allow your children to play some games
Sometimes children get tired of learning boring academic subjects, and one way to improve learning skills in elementary students is to let them take breaks and learn through other means. For instance, if your kid is learning English, you could break out a scrabble board. You could also teach your kid how to play chess to improve focus and calculative skills.
6. Improve your child’s depth of processing
Some children find it easier to retain information. On the other hand, there are children that find it difficult to memorize information. Parents are able to help children remember by organizing notes in ways that are familiar to kids. Some of the ways to do this might include rewriting the notes, as it has been discovered that rewriting helps keep information in the brain.
7. Let your child have access to the internet
This is another efficient way to improve learning skills in children. Your children are able to develop their research skills early by delving into the limitless world of knowledge that is the internet. Surfing the web also allows your children access to many facts and figures not tied to academic learning that may yet prove its usefulness in the future. Despite the many benefits of the web, there is a lot of content that is not appropriate for children. As such, their access to the internet should be limited.
8. Set goals for you child
If your child becomes easily overwhelmed by the amount of homework he has or by the weight of an upcoming exam, help him break the task into smaller goals. Work on the simplest tasks first and check off each one as it’s completed. This will provide your child with a sense of accomplishment and motivate him to complete a larger, more complex task.
