Encouraging Self-Directed Learning In Children

Self-directed learners are people that take ownership of their own learning and know how to source for answers to questions and also learn the skill of solving problems using resources without the tutelage or guidance from an adult to help them complete such task. Note, it’s important to recognize the difference between relying on someone for a particular task to be done and seeking assistance from someone to get a task completed. Self-directed learners do not rely on another person to complete their task.

Being a self-directed and deliberate learner is a trait that is quite essential for our children to have and it is not inborn. It’s taught and groomed in a child from a young age by intentional parents and teachers through cultivating curiosity and independence in that child.

The following are ways to take to achieve this in a child:

Have patience in children and allow them develop their own ability.

Challenges are inevitable in life. It starts even from a young age. Therefore, when a child is facing a challenge either in getting a particular problem solved, we should not be in a hurry to step in and get it done for the child as this does not help the child in any way but rather it’s advisable to proffer ways to the child on how to arrive at the solution of that particular problem. In this way, the child develops his mindset and understands that there are always many ways to get something done i.e. anytime he gets stuck, the child is confident enough to think up other ways and don’t just turn to a helping hand almost immediately.

Create a daily routine of what they should engage in

When a child grows up with an understanding of how his days should run, in most cases, the child will continue in that manner for a long time to come, believing that is normal, and anything out of place would only mean a disorder in his life. So, as parents, your child should grow up knowing the different times in his day that is planned for eating, sleeping, reading, studying, playing, doing homework and going swimming.

Take advantage of playtime as a learning medium.

Grow a child’s interest by connecting what they enjoy doing to the wider world. It is one thing to identify a child’s interest and another thing to help the child grow in that area. Engaging the child in fun activities that are directed towards his passion helps to build the child up to excelling in it, for example, a child that loves drawing, help them expand by getting beautiful portraits and designs and discuss the illustration on it with them. A child that loves reading should be provided with different kinds of books and given an opportunity to interpret the books in their own special ways.

ALLOW TIME FOR PLAY         

Finally, as children, having fun is one thing that pre-occupies their mind. It is said that all work and no play makes jack a dull boy. it is very important to give a child that time to play as it helps them to use their creativity as well to learn from what is within his environment.

This is a publication of Jordan Hill Creative Writing & Reading Workshop, a center designed to excite children’s reading and writing interests.