learning strategies

I scream, you scream, we all scream for … kindergarten readiness! With a few sunny breaks today, kids were able to squeeze in some outside time before it rained again. Since the walk was dry, it was a good time to play with some sidewalk chalk. And that’s just what this child did.

Have you ever noticed how kids can get an idea stuck in their head and not let go? Any guesses as to this idea? It was ice cream. Of all the wonderful things that hands and chalk could draw, (or at least have help to draw) the choice was ice cream. Just as I wanted to groan, I realized that I was seeing another learning and thinking strategy, that of persistence. I could almost see that little mind thinking, “Hmm, if asking for some ice cream didn’t work, maybe drawing a picture of some would.”

Children have amazing persistence for something they want. On occasion, they wear the adults right down to get it, too. Kids’ persistence is often negative but it can be positive as well. Learning something new requires persistence and so does kindergarten readiness. I love this explanation on Kidpower Blog:

Now, some children know how to persist, but they do it in negative ways by whining and getting upset when they don’t get their way. Our job as  adults is to help them learn how to persist in positive ways and how to accept disappointment gracefully.

Adults can help children learn to use their persistence by:

• Giving them opportunities to overcome challenges;
• Complimenting them when they are persisting in a positive way;
• Telling them if they get discouraged that even if something doesn’t work that you are proud of them for using their persistence and trying their best;
• Guiding them to be persistent and positive by asking them to use a regular voice instead of whining; and
• Helping them deal with disappointment by telling them you admire their persistence even if they are not going to get what they want.     (from Kidpower Blog, Jan 17, 2010, Irene van der Zande)

Supporting young children as they learn involves so much more than academic skills. For your child’s learning and thinking development, is there an opportunity to encourage the skill of persistence?

Relaxing on Sunday and enjoying some Earth Day activities, I was reluctant to prepare for Monday morning. Then I saw the example of a small child and thought he had a great attitude that will help for more than kindergarten readiness. Little M is have fun mopping the floor. His strategy is to turn work into play. Now that’s powerful thinking and learning.

Children will exert tremendous effort into doing things. They do not distinguish if it’s work or play.  Washing dishes, stirring muffins, putting groceries in the cupboard, or making the bed can be as much fun as digging in the sand box, building with blocks, or playing dress-up. Sometimes their help makes more work for parents, but their willingness to assist needs to be encouraged. (Especially while it lasts.) Helping others and sharing tasks is an important part of social and emotional development.

Monday may not be grownups favorite day of the week but for kids any day can be fun day and work can be play. And it can help children learn new skills and practice developing ones. For your child’s growth and development are their some activities where s/he can help and turn work into play?