It Starts with You! Help Your Child Become a Life Long Learner

My kids watch everything I do, and as I’m sure you can relate, kids pick up more behaviors than we often want them to. Kids will imitate how you talk, walk, and many other characteristics. Showing them how you are a lifelong learner is one of those characteristics we can teach our kids AND it is equally important in development and growth!

So what can parents do in their home to show their children how to learn?

First off, it is important to show them that we learn something new on a regular basis. Learning something new involves taking a risk. It involves feeling a bit vulnerable. Show your kids how you take risks. I am not talking about cliff jumping, sky diving, or even jumping into a cold lake. I am referring to taking a risk academically. In the home setting, it might look like asking questions during dinner or reading a book on a new subject.

Second, talk to your children about new things you learned at work, or throughout your day. Tell your kids about a time where you felt uncomfortable at a meeting or during a presentation. Show your kids that taking a risk can be hard but it also pays off!

So what does this look like at home?

Well, tonight I cooked a new meal for my family. My children were present during the preparation and I emphasized that I was learning how to make a new food. I compared it to them learning how to do long division. I had fun learning something new and it was so easy to compare and connect the instructions I had tonight, the recipe, to the same instructions they receive in school. I also showed the kids when I got frustrated. Sure, it’s easier to just talk about the good stuff, but allowing my kids to see that I was frustrated AND that I still continued on to feed my family was a lesson on perseverance in itself.

In making one meal I showed my children how to:

1. Learn something new.
2. Have fun while learning something new.
3. Problem solve.
4. Persevere.
5. Enjoy the finished product.

What other things, outside of the kitchen can you do to model how to learn? Try out new life experiences! The entire family could volunteer at a local charity. You could help a neighbor with mowing the lawn, or shoveling their driveway. If you have teenagers, get them involved in a service-learning project. How does this help students learn? 

Builds Confidence: Taking a risk with a new skill and having support to complete the task

Creates Memories: Almost always the event will be fun for everyone

Establishes Community: Learn what it means to feel fulfilled by helping others.

Produces Success: The new skill will help them in the future… on a different project!

Learning is not something we do only at school or only when someone is working with us or only when we are getting paid. It happens all day every day. Learning is a process. Kids need to be taught that learning is a lifelong skill and that learning can be fun! Teaching kids that reading is a process will hopefully help them feel a bit more confident as they learn new letters and words.

If you are looking for more information on this topic check out:

Top 10 Benefits Of Lifelong Learning

Why Learning Leads To Happiness

Is Your Child Prepared for Lifelong Learning?

What activities do you and your family do to learn new skills? How has sharing your experiences, both good and bad, impacted your children? What other tips would you recommend to model the importance of life long learning?

About the Author Pam lives in Michigan with her husband and two boys. No pets as of yet..  but she is starting to cave on the idea. Over the past 18 years she worked as a Teacher, Assistant-Principal, and Curriculum Specialist. She loves school, reading, learning new things, and taking risks?