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of a School-Age Child
Adults have a wonderful opportunity to share the world with school-age
children while encouraging an interest in learning and the world around them.
The knowledge, information and experiences a child gains also will help the
child to develop to his or her fullest potential as a person and as someone who
loves learning throughout life.
Keys to developing the school-age child's potential include:
 Praise the
child's effort, not just his success. Be sure that your praise is genuine. |
| Remind the child
that it's ok to make a mistake. Don't expect or demand perfection. Fear of
making mistakes can be one of the biggest obstacles to learning. |
| Provide a
variety of experiences geared to the child's interests. Encourage her to
express her interests through stories, pictures, collections and
inventions. |
| Celebrate every
accomplishment, even the small ones. Show that you're proud by displaying
his work or by setting aside a special place to keep it safe. |
| Encourage a
child to learn how to problem solve. When a child gets stuck, try
restating or rewording the problem or asking open-ended questions, such as
"Is there another way to do that?" or "What made you think
of doing it that way?" |
| Accept his or
her way of seeing things differently, even if you don't agree. Encourage
him to talk about his views, dreams and interests. Have a conversation
with the child. |
| Ask a child
questions to get her thinking about things. Then, have her share her
thoughts by using her words and ideas. |
| Give children
lots of time to think and daydream. |
| Answering
questions or helping a child to find answers will help a child to develop
a sense of value and self-respect. |
| Children need to
be a part of some decision making and to learn what happens as a result of
the decisions they make. |
Help children to love learning by remembering these important
points:
- Communication is one of the easiest ways to encourage learning
and language development. Communication can happen any time,
anywhere. With good communication skills, children are in a position
to learn and to become confident students.
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 Ask questions, listen
for answers.
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Encourage a child to
talk about pictures/things he has made or seen.
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Have a child talk about
her interests, friends, pets, favorite books, games or movies.
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- These are years when children move from picture books to reading on
their own, but children may feel that reading is for work, not
enjoyment. Encourage children to enjoy reading.
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Encourage children to
find answers to their questions in books, dictionaries, atlases,
encyclopedias, almanacs and on the Internet and to be comfortable using
the public or school library.
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Find stories that make
the child laugh or want to know what happens next. This will encourage
him/her to read even though it may be difficult.
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- Show a child that you think education and homework are important.
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Set a regular time to do
homework. Make sure the child has a specific place to work that is free
from noise and other distractions.
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Be sure he/she has the
supplies he needs. Help to find books and other materials that will help
him/her to complete his/her homework, but DON'T do the homework for the
child.
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- Children need active - even noisy - learning as well as quiet
learning.
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Active learning includes
asking and answering questions with more than just a "yes" or
"no" answer.
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Let children express
their questions, ideas and opinions.
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Learning opportunities
are everywhere - at home, at the store, at the zoo, with friends,
visiting family members. Just let a child experience things without
forcing the learning.
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Brought to you by Anne Arundel Child Care
Resource and Referral, in conjunction with Anne Arundel Public Schools and Child
Care Training Institute, AACC, 1999.
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