3 Simple Ways To Enhance Your Child's Learning

It's almost time for school again and as parents and educators, we want the kiddos to learn, have fun and retain information. As a doctoral candidate, I have been learning quite a bit about brain-based learning, and different techniques that can be used to ensure students actually learn. I am looking forward to sharing these insights with you this coming academic year. In the meantime, here are three simple things you can do to enhance your child's learning at home.

1. Make Learning Relevant: Children take interest in learning things that they believe are important. We as adults know that learning math and reading are critical skills everyone needs, but children don't know that. Make whatever you teach relevant, so your child can see the value in what they are learning. For example: A child may show no interest in learning to read, until he/she is put in situations where reading is necessary. This can be done by having a child read the menu at a restaurant. The child may not know how to read but that's the point. He/she will see a reason why the skill is needed. You can look for books that revolve around something the child likes such as dinosaurs, cars or space. Then reading is necessary but also fun because the child has interest in the subject.

2. Lots of Sunshine: The five senses impact learning and the best thing for our sense of sight is the sunlight. Whenever possible allow the child to enjoy school outside. Try to utilize natural light by opening up the blinds or curtains and letting the beautiful sun shine through. Students with more exposure to sunlight progress faster in math and reading (Jensen & McConchie,2020) which is a plus.

3. Get Your Child Moving: Movement impacts learning and school aged children need to move as much as possible. Allow your child to take brain-breaks from school that allow them to dance, run or jump. You can also merge movement with learning. For example, you could create a hopscotch board outside or inside using painters tape. Use numbers or letters inside the boxes. Child can call out numbers while jumping on them or call out the letters while jumping on them. For older kids using letters to spell simple words can be effective. The letters AT could be in the middle. Have child jump on a H first and the AT together to spell Hat. The child would be engaged, have fun, and their brain will more likely retain the information.

Have fun teaching your little one by turning your house into a classroom. There are so many ways to engage your child so he/she can understand the relevance of learning and enjoy the process at the same time.

Jensen, E., McConchie, L. (2020). Brain-based learning: Teaching the way students really learn. Corwin.