The Child as a Learner

Introduction
Learning is often defined as a relatively lasting change in behavior that is the
result of experience. When you think of learning, it might be easy to fall into
the trap of only considering formal education that takes place during childhood
and early adulthood, but learning is actually an ongoing process that takes
place throughout all of life.

How do we go from not knowing something to acquiring information,

knowledge, and skills?
Learning became a major focus of study in psychology during the early part of
the twentieth century as behaviorism rose to become a major school of
thought. Today, learning remains an important concept in numerous areas of
psychology, including cognitive, educational, social, and developmental
psychology.

How do we make learning personal?

We know that families are children’s first educators and, as such, children’s
home experiences and the natural predispositions that they are born with play
an important part in what and how they learn. Because of this, it’s important to
take time and space to help children express who they are, form ideas,
connections and interests over long periods of time, and have their needs and
interests correctly interpreted especially if they cannot articulate through
language due to age, ability or culture.

It’s a great idea to invite parents and care takers to help children take
photographs, or draw pictures, of their lives at home so that they can share
these in their setting and help practitioners relate to them more personally, as
well as identifying common interests with other children.

How do the arts and creativity help early learning?

The arts provide a fantastic opportunity for young children to learn holistically,
through play and with all their senses at once. For instance, one single
movement session can support:

 Physical development by making body shapes that strengthen, co-ordinate

and flex limbs
 Emotional development by building trusting relationships when practicing
balance or massage
 Cognitive development by counting jumps or devising rhythms and
patterns of movement
 Linguistic development by articulating the sounds of movement (wriggle,
jump, spring, etc.)
 Creative development by expressing their inner feelings and responses
freely and innovatively

An effective early learning environment encompasses a diversity of

experiences to stimulate and nurture children’s curiosity in the world, a
creative learning environment is simply an excellent early learning
environment with:

 A combination of well-chosen, open-ended, imaginative resources

 A competent and confident staff team who value strong, positive
relationships with children and parents, welcoming opportunities for
families to become involved in their children’s learning
 A leadership that values the creative development of staff as well as
children.

In this environment, children will feel loved, secure, respected, free to learn
through adventure and discovery, and able to reach their greatest potential.

Socialization process and its impact on children and learning

Family, school, peers, mass media, public opinion, and religion each play a
major role in the socialization and, ultimately, the education process. Each of
us proceeds through life in a manner that we often believe is under our
immediate control and influence. It seems logical that the actions we take and
the impact of those actions is based upon a series of logical, rational,
decisions selected and filtered by choice, not chance. Although this seems a
reasonable manner in which to assess one’s lot in life, it is far from reality,
particularly in the area of education. One of the most dramatic impacts on a
child’s education is that of the socialization process.

Forces removed from our immediate decision-making process guide us all.

Through the process of socialization, the hidden hand of social forces beyond
our control guides our lives. The major agents of socialization family, school,
peers, mass media, public opinion, and religion exert pressure on each of us.
The evolution of “self” emerges from this mix of social forces. This is
particularly true during the formative years from kindergarten through high
school. The impact of these forces can vary dramatically from person to
person. The consequences can be life altering and severe.

The idea that each child enters school with the same opportunities that foster
success is not a valid assumption. In fact, many things have a profound
impact on children and teens. Among these are
1. The family from which ascribed status is derived
2. Attendance at a public school or private school
3. The composition of peer groups
4. Exposure to mass culture and the media and
5. Religious affiliation.
As the primary agent of socialization and the first “educator”, the family, plays
an essential role in the transmission of the fundamental values that encourage
and nurture learning in a young child. Studies have demonstrated that
children from homes in which both parents have college educations have a
much higher probability of academic success as well as personal and
professional success. The opposite is also true. Children from homes in which
parents do not possess a college education will have a more difficult time
achieving academic success. The disparity inherent in this environment
demonstrates the importance of the family and its role as the transmitter of
values. The institution of the family in America is the primary purveyor of
education as a core value regardless of educational background. For some, it
comes by way of birth and privilege. For others, it comes by way of
perseverance, hard work, and persistence in the face of adverse economic
factors. Regardless, the likelihood of academic success is minimal without the
family as a guiding force.

School is an integral part of a child’s life

School can be an integral part of a child’s life. A child goes to school not just
to gain knowledge or information but to learn the essential threads of group
dynamics, adjustment, developing interpersonal skills to live in a connected
world

In the words of Aristotle, “man is by nature a social animal”. Since birth, he is

in constant need of human interaction. The first human contact in a child’s life
is his mother. But as the child grows and develops, his needs and
requirements evolve. The home cannot provide all these requirements. Thus
comes the role of school. It equips a child to face all experiences necessary
for his growth and development till he reaches level of maturity to face the
world.

Schools provide a plethora of platforms through scholastics, co- scholastic

activities, values through life skill education, personality development,
sportsmanship spirit and team abilities, which help any child to evolve as a
responsible individual.

In fact, the parents of autistic children and those with other psychological
issues from birth insist that their children come to a regular school for their
social development and learn to work in groups and interact.

Today, even the government is trying to focus on inclusive education where a

school is an organized institution, which helps to foster learning skills with
group dynamics, most essential for any child. Schools help to build self-
confidence and core values which can never be learnt in isolation. It is often
said that having two children is better than having one, as the child imbibes
the feeling of kinship, learns soft skills better than a single child who might
end up growing up as a self-centered person. Schools help all children,
especially the single children, to inculcate these skills through a rich school
life where they learn to live well and together in a harmonious manner, ironing
out differences at every step.

Educating children in school helps they communicate better apart from

appreciating and respecting others’ opinion. It helps one learn the expected
norms of behaviour for living in a social environment, to think and act critically,
follow a regimen, which helps a child develop self-discipline. The systematic
and meticulous training by teachers helps a child learn better work ethics and
understand the concept of healthy competition.

Importance of Parents
Parents are the ones who show genuine love to a person. A person can
expect unconditional love only from his mother and father. In most civilized
societies, parents take a great care in upbringing their children. They are the
ones who help the child overcome his negative attributes and insufficiency. A
child with good parenting rarely fails in life. Parents form the family of a child
till he is married. In many people’s success, the role of parents is the key. You
can even notice many world leaders and philosophers describing the role of
their parents in their life. Parents give many things to their children and are
directly involved in child development. Without parents it would be very tough
for anyone to have a better life.

1. Unconditional love: Parents are the sole people from whom a child can
expect unconditional [Link] them he is unfulfilled in life. He becomes
a loner and faces many hardships in life.
Since human is a social animal, just like food and air, love and care are
another elements which are absolutely necessary. They are the people
who share you happiness and sorrow equally. If you weep they do and if
you laugh they do.

2. Financial support: Many people have good or sufficient financial support

only because of parents. This helps them to perceive education and other
hobbies without worry or having to work for making a living. This financial
support also puts them ahead in the start up with reference to business or
position in the companies. Hence many young people in the level of
directors or other higher posts in a company are children of the company
founders.
3. Moral support: Parents give moral support to the child in case of failure.
During some accident or love failure or divorce, having parents besides is
a great boon. They provide instant moral support and strength to tackle the
situation. They are the people whom can console you and put back into
life. Hence we can see those kids who do not have parents are a bit
depressed in life as they have none to share their sorrow and
achievements. Hence parents taking divorce also have tremendous effect
on children. Also they teach them spirituality, prayer and other aspects
needed in life.

4. Family support: Family is the integral part of everyone home. The family of
any person starts with parents itself. Latter on he gets his spouse and
children to live with him. In countries with established family trends we can
notice this. Even parents conduct the marriage of their children. They
create awareness and requirement of marriage for life. Further they in
many families they select the suitable groom or bride for marriage. Even in
the early days of marriage, initial differences in marriages between
partners also overcome due to support and suggestions from parents.
Hence we see the divorce rate is lower in arranged marriages than in love
marriages.

5. Involvement in success: They guide him right direction and makes it easy
for him to succeed. They even teach them the value of discipline and
relationships. Hence we see many people succeed due to god fathers
behind. Even George w. bush the recent president of America was the son
of senior Bush who was also the president. Even the recent Chinese
president is also a son of a ex-political official in Chinese governments
before. If one tries to check the personal life stories of successful people,
we can realize the extent their parents helped them climb the ladder of
success.

6. Importance of parent involvement: Educated parents help their children in

moving in right direction in their career. They understand the child
strengths and weaknesses and guide him right path. They also help the
kid solve his homework and also encourage any extra-curricular skills in
him. Hence we can see teachers and schools emphasize on parents role
in education of their children.

Role of parents in child’s learning

Although a parent’s role in their children’s learning evolves as kids grow, one
thing remains constant: we are our children’s learning models. Our attitudes
about education can inspire theirs and show them how to take charge of their
own educational journey.

Be a role model for learning. In the early years, parents are their children’s
first teachers - exploring nature, reading together, cooking together, and
counting together. When a young child begins formal school, the parent’s job
is to show him how school can extend the learning you began together at
home, and how exciting and meaningful this learning can be. As preschoolers
grow into school age kids, parents become their children’s learning coaches.
Through guidance and reminders, parents help their kids organize their time
and support their desires to learn new things in and out of school.
Pay attention to what your child loves. “One of the most important things a
parent can do is notice her child. Is he a talker or is he shy? Find out what
interests him and help him explore it. Let your child show you the way he likes
to learn”

Tune into how your child learns. Many children use a combination of
modalities to study and learn. Some learn visually through making and seeing
pictures, others through tactile experiences, like building block towers and
working with clay. Still others are auditory learners who pay most attention to
what they hear. And they may not learn the same way their siblings (or you)
do. By paying attention to how your child learns, you may be able to pique his
interest and explain tough topics by drawing pictures together, creating charts,
building models, singing songs and even making up rhymes.

Practice what your child learns at school. Many teachers encourage parents
to go over what their young children are learning in a non-pressured way and
to practice what they may need extra help with. This doesn’t mean drilling
them for success, but it may mean going over basic counting skills,
multiplication tables or letter recognition, depending on the needs and
learning level of your child. “There may be times to review, but don’t take on
the role of drill master,” And when you do review it should feel as if your child
wants to be a part of the practice.”

Set aside time to read together. Read aloud regularly, even to older kids. If
your child is a reluctant reader, reading aloud will expose her to the structure
and vocabulary of good literature and get her interested in reading more.
“Reading the first two chapters of a book together can help, because these
are often the toughest in terms of plot”. “Also try alternating: you read one
chapter aloud, she reads another to herself. And let kids pick the books they
like. Book series are great for reluctant readers. It’s OK to read easy,
interesting books instead of harder novels.”

Connect what your child learns to everyday life. Make learning part of your
child’s everyday experience, especially when it comes out of your child’s
natural questions. When you cook together, do measuring math. When you
drive in the car, count license plates and talk about the states. When you turn
on the blender, explore how it works together. When your child studies the
weather, talk about why it was so hot at the beach. Have give-and-take
conversations, listening to your child’s ideas instead of pouring information
into their heads.
Connect what your child learns to the world. Find age-appropriate ways to
help your older child connect his school learning to world events. Start by
asking questions. For example, ask a second-grader if she knows about a
recent event, and what’s she heard. Then ask what she could do to help (such
as sending supplies to hurricane victims). You might ask a younger child if
he’s heard about anything the news, and find out what he knows. This will
help your child become a caring learner.

Help your child take charge of his learning. “We want to keep children in
charge of their learning and become responsible for it”. “We want them to be
responsible for their successes and failures, show them how engaging
learning is, and that the motivations for learning should be the child’s intrinsic
interests, not an external award.”

Don’t over-schedule your child. While you may want to supplement school
with outside activities, be judicious about how much you let or urge your child
to do. Kids need downtime as much as they may need to pursue extra-
curricular activities. “If a child has homework and organized sports and a
music lesson and is part of a youth group in church or synagogue, it can
quickly become a joyless race from one thing to another. Therefore, monitor
your child to see that he is truly enjoying what he is doing. If he isn’t, cut
something off the schedule,” advises Michael Thompson.

Keep TV to a minimum. “Watching lots of TV does not give children the

chance to develop their own interests and explore on their own, because it
controls the agenda,” advises Diane Levin. “However, unstructured time with
books, toys, crafts and friends allows children to learn how to be in charge of
their agenda, and to develop their own interests, skills, solutions and
expertise.”

Learn something new yourself. Learning something new yourself is a great

way to model the learning process for your child. Take up a new language or
craft, or read about an unfamiliar topic. Show your child what you are learning
and how you may be struggling. You’ll gain a better understanding of what
your child is going through and your child may learn study skills by watching
you study. You might even establish a joint study time.

Summary
Dear viewers, in this lesson we have seen so far about learning, child as a
learner, socialization process in a child’s life and the role of school, parents on
child’s learning.