While students tend to view the learning process as a task rather than an engaging opportunity for growth and exploration, parents and teachers can find creative ways to make this time more pleasant for children.
Because we know that motivation and engagement are key to retention and academic success, it’s important to provide learners with meaningful opportunities that they can use to build their learning.
In this blog post, we’ll explore seven ways you can help make learning a more pleasant experience for your young learner.
7 Ways to Make Learning More Pleasant for Children
1. Bring learning to life
By creating learning opportunities where children can connect with real-life experiences, you will provide much more exciting and memorable experiences for them. For example, if you are teaching math concepts such as adding decimals, you can demonstrate by having students add items from their favorite store or online shop. You can also have them calculate measurements for recipes, furniture items, or something extra fun, such as tickets for rides at an amusement park. This kind of practical connection can help build interest and enthusiasm for learning.
2. Give kids control
When kids have a sense of control over their learning, they are more likely to feel engaged and motivated. Choices can include specific activities as well as time and order of activities. While it’s important to set clear goals and expectations, by giving kids the freedom and flexibility to make choices within predetermined guidelines, you will allow them to have a more direct role in their learning.
3. Celebrate progress:
By acknowledging and celebrating student progress, you can make a big difference in their learning experience. Whether it is a big or small achievement, celebrating will encourage them to continue putting in effort and will do wonders for improving their attitude toward learning. Positive feedback and encouragement is a powerful way to build any child’s confidence and interest in learning.
4. Make learning social
With the right planning and resources, learning can be an enjoyable and social experience for students. Encourage students to brainstorm and collaborate on projects and assignments, and provide opportunities for them to share and learn from one another by creating group discussions and learning projects. By emphasizing the importance of social connection, students will have the chance to build and develop friendships while developing important social skills.
5. Take advantage of technology
When used correctly, technology can be an excellent tool for making learning more fun and engaging. Interactive educational games and websites are a great way to offer stimulation and entertainment as students approach various learning concepts. From videos to multimedia, technology can significantly enrich every learning experience.
6. Emphasize creativity
Creativity is essential to the learning process; it allows students to engage in active problem solving and to try out new ideas. By providing frequent encouragement for children to express their ideas and explore their curiosity whenever possible, students can enjoy a more pleasant learning experience. Art projects, writing assignments, and free-form activities are all excellent ways to stimulate creativity and make learning a more enjoyable process. Luckily, many of today’s educational tools are multi-functional. Creative learning activities such as elkonin boxes provide students with a different and unique way of practicing targeted skills.
7. Be patient:
Every child has their own pace and style of learning. It’s important to remain patient throughout the learning process and allow children the time they need to absorb and understand the material at a pace that works for them. If they do not grasp something right away, do your best to offer extra assistance and support to help them. With the right amount of patience and encouragement, every child can achieve success along their learning journey.
When approached thoughtfully, learning can be a pleasant experience for all learners. With a little planning and creativity, teachers and parents will find that they have access to an abundance of tools and resources that they can use to engage and motivate students in any subject!