Learning is contagious!
If you don’t believe that learning is contagious, try a little experiment. First, find a simple science experiment book, page through it, and then find an experiment for which you have all the needed supplies.
Next, gather those supplies and set them on your table, and then just sit there.
If your young learners are anything like the little learners in my life, then it won’t take long for all of them to wander over to the table with you, full of questions.
What are you going to do?
What are you making?
Can I help?
Children are born inquisitive.
This inborn curiosity allows our children to learn about the world around them at rocket speeds.
If you think about how much a baby learns in their first year of life, it is mind-blowing. Although their capacity to learn evolves, their innate curiosity never changes.
As parents, homeschoolers, unschoolers, in-home daycare providers, or whatever journey of working with children that you are on, capitalizing on this instinctive love for learning will bring both you and the child(ren) much joy.
Interest led learning
If a child is attracted to an item or situation, their drive to learn more about this particular subject is close to unquenchable.
For my oldest son, his interest was trains. He lived and breathed trains. Each day he woke up bringing me his favorite train book. Each morning, we would snuggle and read it together and then he would ask new questions about it alsmot daily. Through reading this book, he learned counting and colors. After reading and chatting, he would watch a train video or tv show while I made breakfast. Then while eating(off of his train-themed bowl or plate), he often played with his food. Everything was a train and would choo choo it’s way into his mouth.
After breakfast, while I cleaned up, he would build with his wooden train set or put together one of his favorite train puzzles.
Throughout the day, he would somehow compare everything we do to a train in his favorite book. “Hey mom, that flower is red just like train #2”.
At night, he’d put on his train pajamas, we’d read a train book, and he’d go to sleep with his train pillow and blanket. I’m pretty sure he even dreamt about trains.
Did I get sick of hearing about trains? Of course, I did. However, I tried my best to always participate with him. We went to train museums, model railroad stores, and even on train rides.
My other children were not nearly as impressed by trains. However, since learning is contagious, they also learned so much through these experiences.
I know that not all children go through such extreme stages, but if they do, enjoy the ride!
Gathering the supplies.
Since I did not own a plethora of train items, we spent a lot of time at the library each week. No matter what I was looking for, he found train items. Games, books, puzzles, videos(yes, I’m that old), etc.
Each child had a basket in the hallway where they kept their library items, and his was always filled with trains.
To read more about how I use my public library for my homeschooling adventures, please check out my earlier blog post: https://learningisawayoflife.com/public-libraries/
Each child is unique.
As parents, we never know which of our children’s fascinations will follow them into their adult lives. Most importantly, by following one child’s interest, the other children will also acquire knowledge.
My daughter was obsessed with the Titanic. Although her obsession was not nearly as engulfing as my son’s, it was nonetheless very real. She read every book our library had about the Titanic, watched every movie, and wrote reports, poems, and short stories about the Titanic. When she played with her friends or cousins, they often acted out the story of the sinking of the Titanic. Now, as a young adult, she lives near The Titanic Museum, and guess where she works?? Even though she had studied the Titanic for years, it’s amazing how much more she has learned while working there as a crew member.
My other children have all been enthralled by the story of the Titanic as well, although not to the same extreme that she was. Part of the reason they all love the Titanic is that learning is contagious. She was the oldest child, so her learning and reading and talking about the Titanic all the time rubbed off on them and they each studied it as well.
Learning is contagious.
When one child sees another learning, they want to be included. Learning truly is contagious and I encourage you to allow your child’s curiosity to take you and your other children on a learning journey.
