Educating Young Learners.

Parents and Educationists recognize the crucial importance of good quality education in the early years. The experiences and environment the children are exposed to in the first five years, when the seeds for learning are sown in the blossoming brain, have a great impact on the child’s life. We recognise that learning shifts from age to age. A three year old is not a five year old, but a perfect three year old. Children at different age levels have different needs and ways of learning.

Young children love to play and are naturally curious. They are full of love and purity. Games, puzzles and educational activities need to be incorporated in the syllabus, so that the children learn new skills in both a fun and challenging way. We know that children learn best when they are enjoying themselves. One of our main aims should be for children to develop a joy for life-long learning.

School is often the first time the children are away from home, so the classroom becomes a new family. An atmosphere must be created in which each individual is respected, loved and cared for. Children learn to grow and learn together in a cooperative environment. In games they learn to work together as a team. Students need to be provided with opportunities to work in small groups, so that the teacher has more individual time with each child. We should have a daily organised routine with a variety of activities for the children to experience learning in a stimulating environment.

Students need to start the day with a few minutes of meditation. This helps them to relax, develop their inner peace and be more focused. They also ought to have a daily period for Life Skills, in which they learn to take care of themselves and others. They need to learn how to share, become a good human being, learn good manners, and polite social interactions. They also must learn to appreciate multicultural diversity and the common elements of different religions.

We must incorporate kinaesthetic learning – learning through movement, in the learning process. Physical activities are a fun way to learn the alphabet, numbers and many environmental topics. Children love to move, jump and run. Children process new information through their whole body, in kinaesthetic learning. Some children learn best through their sense of touch, they are called tactile learners. Such children flourish when they can paint, and create things with their hands. These art and craft activities need to be linked to topics they are learning. They also love educational aids and manipulative. School is not about sitting still the whole day.

The preschool years are not the time to engage the children in lengthy memorization exercises. Children at this age develop their thinking processes in the context of play and physical activities.

During the year there ought to be special theme days, like an Alphabet Party or a Number Day. On these days the whole day has to be packed with role play, games, music, and craft activities related to the topic.

We need to be aware that children are keen observers. How we speak, listen and interact with others needs to be loving and polite. Children quickly pick up our attitudes and behaviour traits. By modelling how we want our children to behave and the skills we want them to learn, we do the best in creating a congenial atmosphere for learning and growing.

After modelling we also need to give children the opportunity to do things on their own. Learning through doing has to be a key word at all Schools. Mistakes are okay, and part of the learning process. We remember 90 % of what we do, whereas we remember very little of what we read. Our teachers should be committed to providing the best possible learning experience for your children. Encouragement is an important word for children. Words of encouragement work wonders. We need to help our students develop self confidence. All of these efforts make a School a wonderful place for a child to grow.