«My son doesn't want to learn at all. No, he's not a schoolboy yet, he's only 5. But as soon as I try to engage him in something—teach letters, numbers, draw—he either refuses immediately or loses interest after a couple of minutes. School is just around the corner, and I don't know what to do? How can I interest him?", complains the mother of 5-year-old Maxim.
And she's not alone. Today, more and more parents around the world are facing the problem of children's unwillingness to learn. Every child, at one age or another, has their own reasons for disliking the educational process.
Let's look at one of the most common reasons—lack of interest. Why isn't the child interested in learning, and what can be done to make studying enjoyable?
How does a child's temperament affect learning?
Our temperament is shaped by a combination of innate psychophysiological traits. By identifying a child's temperament type at an early age, you can understand how they will approach learning and avoid many problems.
Psychologists identify 4 types of temperament:
- Melancholics – people who are easily hurt and offended. They tire quickly and are more prone to stress.
- Sanguine – among them are the most workaholics. They are energetic, lively, sociable, and also hardworking and persistent.
- Cholerics – easily excitable, nervous, active, and impatient. They can't sit still and are always on the move.
- Phlegmatics – in life, they are usually called "indifferent." Phlegmatics are always calm and balanced; no situation can unsettle them.
Of course, mixed temperament types are more common. But one of them usually dominates.
Now take a closer look at your child and try to determine their temperament type. Did it work?
So, if your child is a melancholic, learning will be harder for them than for others. It's all because of emotions. They quickly become mentally and physically exhausted, and as a result, their interest in learning fades. If your child is a choleric, it's hard to engage them in anything for long. The result is the same—no interest. Like with 5-year-old Maxim—no matter how hard his mother tries, he only lasts a couple of minutes.
But if you notice traits of a phlegmatic or sanguine in your child, you can breathe a sigh of relief—there will be fewer problems with learning. However, it's still possible that at any moment, interest in learning may fade.
So what's the solution? How can you help your child love the learning process and keep their interest alive?
Play as a method of education, development, and teaching children
Regardless of a child's temperament and their reaction to the world, the problem of lack of interest in learning can be solved with motivation. That is—by sparking interest.
How? Think back to your own childhood. What did you love doing most between the ages of 5 and 14? Of course—playing! You didn't need to be persuaded or forced to play. You did it with great interest and enjoyment.
Psychologists have long proven that play is the best and most natural form of learning for children. Learning through play is structured in a way that keeps children interested and wanting more. In such conditions, children understand and absorb information more easily.
Through play, a child's personality is formed, and mental qualities that will determine their behavior throughout adulthood are developed.
5 advantages of teaching children through play
1. The child is always motivated
A lesson-game not only teaches but also keeps attention engaged. Thanks to this, for 30–45 minutes, the child remains interested, proactive, and persistent. At the same time, qualities such as determination and creativity develop.
2. Material is presented in an easy and interesting way
The absence of strict discipline, a sense of freedom and choice, and an unusual, engaging presentation of information allow the child to absorb knowledge more easily and quickly.
3. No monotony
Remember how some school lessons made you want to fall asleep? In a lesson-game, the child is constantly active. Mental, emotional, and physical resources are all engaged. So there's no time to sleep!
4. Variety of ways to convey information
In play, it's easier to explain difficult concepts to a child. And this can be done in various ways: showing a picture, making a sound, acting out a scene, etc. So important points from the curriculum won't be missed.
5. The teacher becomes a best friend
Children are always drawn to adults who enjoy playing with them. During a lesson-game, a friendly and trusting relationship develops between the student and the teacher, and the child always eagerly looks forward to classes.
What games are suitable for teaching children?
Most often, active, verbal, didactic, and role-playing games are used to teach children. The choice of game type should be based on the child's age, temperament, learning goals, and interests.
Despite the fact that many countries around the world have long practiced game-based learning in educational institutions, in most post-Soviet countries, the education system hasn't changed for decades. As a result, parents themselves have to find solutions and help their children overcome difficulties in learning.
The game-based methods we use in teaching are based on years of pedagogical experience and show excellent results. After completing our courses, children master a year's worth of school reading curriculum.
So, dear parents, if your child doesn't want to learn, whether it's preschool or elementary school, sit down and talk to them. Find out what interests them.
Because a trusting atmosphere in the family is also important for increasing interest in learning. Then choose an educational institution and confidently switch the learning process to a game format. After all, while your child is young, you have a better chance of instilling a love of learning from childhood.
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