In the ever-evolving landscape of education, nurturing a genuine love of learning in children has become more crucial than ever. Instilling a passion for knowledge and exploration in young minds not only sets the stage for academic success but also fosters personal growth, curiosity, and critical thinking skills. As parents, educators, and caregivers, we play a vital role in cultivating this lifelong love of learning, paving the way for a brighter future for the next generation.
To delve deeper into this topic and provide valuable insights, we have sought the expertise of Angela Yang, Director of Professional and Education Development at PAP Community Foundation, as she addresses the questions asked at the webinar, “Cultivate Joy in Learning: Tips and Tricks from Singapore Parenting Festival”. Whether you are a parent wondering how to engage your child in educational activities, a teacher seeking innovative teaching methods, or a guardian looking for ways to support a child’s educational journey, this expert’s answers will help you navigate the path to instil a love of learning in your child.
How can I motivate my child to study on his own and have some independence in his studies?
Understand what your child likes. You can use that to spark their interest to do self-directed learning. For example, if your child enjoys LEGO blocks, you can use LEGO blocks to support his/her learning. Acknowledge their effort to be independent to show your child that you recognise and appreciate them. Join them in their activities learning to make their learning journey fun. This is also a great opportunity for parent-child bonding.
How do I make my child be more interested in learning?
Allow children to problem solve. Praise them for their effort if they come up with their own ideas for a solution. Set them up for success. Plan activities or things that they can try solving on their own. Expand on their interests and ask them questions to spark their curiosity, and encourages them to problem solve.
How to reduce screen time during mealtime and while parents are busy with chores and work?
Parents can set a “no device” rule to make mealtime a family bonding time. Parents will also have to model that behaviour. Make use of the mealtime to talk to your child, ask questions to check in on their day. Parents can also involve your child in your chores to cut down on your chore time and bond with them
How do I get my five-year-old child to write with joy, if he dislikes writing?
Write for fun together. Some examples are creating a shopping list, and labelling things around the house. They can also write a note to a parent, friend or sibling. You may also wish to provide various writing tools like markers, crayons and colour pencils to make their writing look colourful.
My child just wants to finish doing the revision and homework and moves on to play. Some errors are mainly due to carelessness and not trying harder. How should I motivate him?
You can help your child by setting goals when they start a task. For example, goal 1: To finish X work and the number of pages. Goal 2: Check your work. Be consistent and set aside the same amount of time for homework and revision daily. Remove distractions like screen time. Finally, let your child know he can play when he is done with the tasks for the day.
My son is five years old, but still not very strong with the alphabet. Is this normal?
You can increase his awareness in letters by engaging him in fun activities that interest him. You can point out letters and words in the environment like on signs or food packaging. Invite him to join you as you create your shopping lists etc. Reading books together is another wonderful way to introduce him to different letters.
How can I increase my child’s attention span in reading together?
Sitting down to read together requires a lot of effort for both the parent and the child. You can make this easier by choosing a book that your child enjoys. Choose a time to read when your child is most at ease, calm or when he is most alert.
Choose books that interest your child. If your child likes cars, then read books on cars. Begin by looking at and talking about what has caught your child’s attention in the book. Talk to your child about the characters in the book, how they are feeling, different objects or buildings that are on the page. Grab their attention and use intonations to build suspense and excitement.
Reading together should not be perceived as a chore. If you notice that your child’s interest has wavered, then move on to something else. Come back to the book at another time. Remember to keep the activity fun for your child to instil the joy of learning!
How should we prompt further when our kid always likes to answer, “I don’t know,” or, “I can’t remember”?
You can start with asking your child close-ended questions. This helps to build your child’s confidence in answering questions. For example, instead of asking, “What did you learn today?” you can ask questions like, “What did you do with Teacher Jo today? Did you play with linking cubes?”
About the Expert:
Angela Yang is Director of Professional and Education Development at PAP Community Foundation. She leads close to 40 specialists from the Curriculum, Mother Tongue Languages, Quality Assurance, Digital Learning and Education Resource teams to enhance the programme offerings, teaching resources and quality of Sparkletots preschools across the island. Her teams also design and facilitate trainings to uplift the teaching and learning competencies of PCF educators. An educational administrator and curriculum developer with a strong track record of excellence, Angela believes in harnessing the power of teamwork, collaboration, dynamic knowledge and potential of her teammates to achieve organisational and operational success.