Me: “Stop playing, it’s study time now!”
My 5 year old (with a sulking face and innocent eyes): “Why? Did I do something wrong?”
Until then I had no idea that these words can fill dread and irritation in my child. I have never used such words since then! Does that mean that I don’t make him study? Of course not! I just do it in a way that makes him happy, and helps him learn better.
Children usually look at study time like a punishment or detention, and more often it’s our fault. They can definitely look forward to studies, provided we teach them the way they learn best: the FUN WAY. The trick is to engage the child in the best possible way and here are a few things that help in making learning fun!
Turn it into a game
You must think I am crazy! I mean, how feasible is it to convert everything into a game? Well, technology to your rescue!
Download any app or rhyme to support your child’s classroom learning and he/she would grasp a number of concepts without even knowing it! This is because learning this way, kids won’t realize they are studying at all!
A problem with this technique is that, at times, the content gets haphazard and it gets difficult to keep a track of what the child is learning. This is where a product like CG Slate proves to be incredibly helpful. It is a tablet-based, holistic learning ecosystem for children to learn from the latest digital content available.
Use Study Cards
Study cards are handy in many different situations. For example, you could use them while travelling or on picnics etc. You can make these yourself or search online and get them printed. Your child will surely enjoy the pictures and graffiti.
Furthermore, once the child is done, he/she can be asked to create a fictional story around those cards. You will be surprised how creative your child will get with these cards. You could also make cards for simple math, facts (science and social) and English (vocabulary).
Real life application
Children also grasp better when they know that they can apply the lesson or topic in real life. A simple example is teaching your children about measurements while you bake a cake for them or teach them about numbers by counting real objects around. The key here is to keep it interactive, because kids learn better that way. They feel a connection with the lesson when they see it take shape, and tend to retain the concepts longer than usual.
Allow your child to take breaks
It is unfair to expect a child to sit and learn when we ourselves need timely breaks. Children are not able to concentrate and end up frustrated if not given frequent breaks. Experts say that a 5-minute break after every 20 minutes does more good than harm. And while the child is at leisure, you can plan a playing activity for him/her. Something CG-Slate has done really helps manage all this. CG-Slate has a PLAY ZONE where a child needs to earn his play time by spending time in the learn zone. This helps strike a perfect balance between learning and playing needs.
Incentivise the learning process
This one is foolproof! I am sure you remember your parents bribing you into studying. Do the same with your kid; except, make the rewards small and engaging. If she studies well today, she can have her favorite dessert after dinner, or on completing a chapter, you could let her play with her Barbie doll. These simple rewards can really encourage your kid to study well because the end result attracts them to do so.
Being concerned about whether your child is studying or not is normal as a parent, but getting your child to study doesn’t need to mean waging a war in the house! It is always the simple and obvious things that do the trick and ensure that your child not only studies, but does so with utmost interest.
And make sure they don’t sit at the study table, sulking like little grumpy, minions!
