The journey of learning begins long before we’re born, and it’s a process that continues even when we are well into old age. This is why instilling the love of learning from a young age is crucial, and fortunately for parents, there are a number of ways they can do that and set their child up for success. Here are five different ways you, as a parent, can kindle your child’s motivation and enthusiasm for learning.

Work on discovering their interests together

Recognizing your child’s natural abilities and interests is the first step towards building useful skills they can rely on later in life. Every child has unique fascinations, things that spark their curiosity and make them want to learn more about it. Your job as a parent is to observe what they’re naturally drawn to and work on discovering their interests together, regardless of whether they’re interested in dinosaurs, aquatic life, sports, music, cooking, or painting.

Realizing what they’re naturally good at, supporting their learning with proper learning tools, and encouraging their curiosity early on will help set the stage for building valuable skills and instill the love of learning from the very beginning.

Make learning fun

The easiest way to make learning interesting to students is to make it fun, be it through video games, quizzes, or group activities. By activating their imagination and stimulating their curiosity, game-based learning activities encourage children to rely on their existing skills and use them as building blocks to acquire new notions and concepts. Moreover, games can awaken the competitive spirit in kids and make them strive to do better than their peers.

Introducing fun educational toys is another way to engage young learners and stimulate knowledge acquisition. By using these toys, children are actively using their imagination and creativity while also feeling relaxed and socializing with others, which is exactly the kind of atmosphere you want to create in your learning environment.

Determine your child’s learning style

Children acquire knowledge in different ways, and the type of learner that your child is will largely determine the way they approach the learning process. Their learning style will also dictate how effectively they’ll be able to process the materials that are being taught to them.

While their peers might learn better by listening to the teacher speak (auditory learners), as is the case with system of public education in China, using visual aids (visual learners) or reading written words (reading/writing learners), your child may prefer more of a hands-on approach that includes learning through activities (kinaesthetic learners). Help them discover which category they fall into and try different methods until you determine which learning style works best for them.

Put your kid in charge

It’s natural for parents to feel protective about their kids. However, eliminating obstacles and problems before they even occur prevents the child from experiencing situations that actually happen in the real world, which can be quite detrimental to them. It’s a classic example of how too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

Instead of being a helicopter or a lawnmower parent, try something different. Put your kid in charge and let them do things on their own, whether it’s figuring out a way to solve a jigsaw puzzle or dealing with fractions. Resist the urge to jump in, but be there for them if they need help. If you give them a written assignment, let them choose the topic. The same thing goes for selecting extracurricular activities. When children feel like they’re in the driver’s seat, they’re more enthusiastic about the task at hand. This, in turn, helps them become self-motivated and self-directed learner later on.

Share your enthusiasm to inspire them

When a parent is eager to share the things they’ve learned, their enthusiasm is likely to rub off on their children. If there’s an interesting book or article that you’ve read, tell your kids about it. While they may not be able to fully understand what it is about even though you’ve simplified it, the fact that you’ve shared something you’ve learned will stimulate them to learn and share the interesting things they’ve learned.

Better yet, try to connect the things your children learn with real-life situations and make their learning relevant as much as possible, whether it’s writing, reading, geography, science, history, or math. Learning is a lifelong journey, and the sooner the children realize it, the more motivated and enthusiastic they’ll be when it comes to it.

Parents play an important role when it comes to their children’s education. They’re their first teachers, which is why they need to do everything they can to enable them to thrive academically and professionally later on. Apply these tips and you’ll teach your child how to truly enjoy the magic of learning.

About the author:

Tracey Clayton is a mom of three girls. She feels she knows a thing or two about raising happy, healthy and confident kids. She’s also passionate about traveling, fashion and healthy living. Her motto is: “Live the life you love, love the life you live."