If your preschool child no longer seems to like school, you probably wonder how to get them excited about learning again. Young children are naturally curious and love learning new things. However, some children do not relish the idea of going to school.
If your child does not like school, they may start throwing tantrums when it is time to go to school. So how do you get your child to develop a love for learning?
Learn tips to motivate your child to learn below.
Develop a Reading Culture at Home
Children who love reading have the opportunity to learn new things and build their language skills. Pick a book with your child that they would love reading, and set a time for you and them to read it. Do not insist on one book when your child wants another. Always go with your child’s choice to make them feel more involved in their learning process.
Make reading time fun so that it will be easier for your child to embrace it as part of their routine. For instance, you can ask your child to read out loud. Wordless or picture books are best for preschool children because they allow them to express their creativity while reading.
Encourage Different Learning Styles
The best way to encourage your child to learn is by applying their dominant learning style during learning activities. To determine your child’s dominant learning style, observe what activities are meaningful to them during playtime.
There are four main learning styles for children.
Visual
Visual learners process information through what they see. If your child is a visual learner, they likely have artistic tendencies. Such a child likes drawing and is fascinated by pictures, maps, and bright colors. If your child is a visual learner, they learn best through demonstrations.
Tactile
These are children who learn through touch. Such a child learns best through activities that allow them to use their hands. For instance, ask a tactile learner child to draw or mold the shape with modeling clay when learning numbers.
Auditory
Auditory learners process information through what they hear. For such a child, ask them to read out loud to make learning easier. An auditory learner will also appreciate songs and rhymes when learning.
Kinesthetic
Kinesthetic learners are children who learn through actions, i.e., moving and doing. These children are highly active and often have a hard time staying still for long periods.
The best way to motivate a kinesthetic learner is by turning learning activities into a game. Allow your child to interact with their physical environment as they learn.
Reward Efforts Rather than Outcome
The pressure to perform can take all the fun out of learning. The message you want to send to your child is that their efforts matter more than their performance. Praise your child for doing their work instead of nitpicking on how perfectly they’ve done it.
Focus on your child’s learning experiences when asking about their day at school instead of asking what they achieved. When your child falls short, help them to see it as a learning opportunity rather than a failure.
Encourage Playfulness During Learning
Fun matters to children. So when learning becomes restrictive, children tend to get bored. Use games to teach your child new things. While your child is actively involved in the game, they find the experience pleasurable and will be more receptive to learning.
Pre-kindergarten children are still adjusting to the schooling system. So, it helps to enroll your child in a school that makes the transition from home to school easier for them.
At Country Kids Academy, we understand preschool children need help adjusting to school. That is why we incorporate fun and creativity in our pre-kindergarten curriculum to motivate your child to learn. Contact us today for more information on our pre-kindergarten program.