…was understanding that they CAN follow their true interests and still learn everything they need to learn. If we trust them and equip ourselves with the knowledge on how to support them, they can’t go far wrong! Understand child motivation and your little ones with flourish!
This way, their motivation will start to come from INSIDE them, rather than only every doing something for an external reward. It is a human tendency for us to be curious and want to learn. Humans didn’t get this far without that curiosity.
So, if you really trust the child, sit back to observe them and introduce things at just the right time: they will naturally want to learn it. No stickers, no rewards needed. That’s what creates life long learners! That feeling of pride in yourself because you did a thing. There’s no better feeling.
It is not normal for a child to believe that learning is boring. It’s only when we work against their natural desires and interests that they start thinking that. Or when we work at a speed that is too fast for them.
This creates a challenge for teachers, though, right? You have to get through the curriculum, and you can differentiate as much as you can, but you can’t possibly do this 30 different ways for every lesson. In their school day, your child is typically learning about (approx) 4/5 different things. What if, at the end of that English lesson they want to carry on writing their story? But they have to pack up because its break time and everyone has got to go outside. Frustration. What if, they are stuggling with their maths today and need someome to show them again, but there isn’t anyone? Frustration. This all adds up to poor learning attitudes, a potential refusal to do work and low child motivation.
I’m not bashing teachers here! I’ve been one. I am one. It’s in my blood. But, I am saying that in teacher training we are told that this is how it’s done. God, I am so glad my eyes were opened by pregnancy and learning about gentle parenting through Sarah Ockwell Smith and this book. I understood so much more about child motivation and it made me a better teacher and parent.
But knowing this isn’t really that helpful if your child is in that place and they go to school and you can’t home educate them. So what can you do?
- Work on building their confidence. If they’re old enough – tell them the things I’ve told you above. Let them know that it’s not their fault if they feel they can’t do something. They just haven’t been shown in the right way yet.
- This one’s a bit naughty, but…… don’t make them do any learning at home that doesn’t light that Spark. Yes, home work does need to get done eventually, but maybe try talking to their teacher about having a break. My child’s teacher knows I’m not going to force anything at home if she doesn’t want to. For example: we spent all summer painting. Because that’s got value too!
- If you can, find an extra curricular activity that can become their ‘thing’ their Spark. My thing when I was younger? Horse riding. Which then became a theatre school on a Saturday morning. Also History. It can change. That’s ok
Does your child have a thing? I’d love to know about it below!
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