How to help kids learn effectively

y 9-year-old niece has been preparing for her exams from morning to evening and when her father asks her about what she has learned, she says no clue what she did the entire day. And this is not an isolated incident.

We never tell children what to learn, we let them choose their own interests and they pursue those with great gusto. But when it comes to exams, we assume that they know everything and just need to be reminded of a few formulas or dates. This is where the problems start.

Parents make exams the marker of their child’s intelligence. They assume that if their children do well in exams, it means they are intelligent and will be successful in life. This is not only untrue but also harmful.

Exams test a very narrow range of skills. They are mostly about memory and the ability to regurgitate information on demand. But intelligence is much more than that. It is the ability to think creatively, solve problems, to see the world in new ways.

And yet, we continue to value exams above all else. We put so much pressure on children to do well that they are often left feeling anxious and stressed. This can lead to them becoming disengaged from learning altogether.

It is time to rethink the role of exams in our children’s lives. We need to find ways to assess their skills and abilities that are more holistic and meaningful. Only then will we be able to truly support their growth and development.

Parents measure their kids learning capability by seeing how much time they spend learning
If the child is 9 years old and has been preparing for her exams from morning to evening, does it mean she is intelligent? This question holds true for all parents.

The answer is no. The learning capability of a child cannot be measured by the amount of time she spends learning. It is important to understand that each child has a different learning style. Some children can learn quickly while others might take more time.

Maybe we need to take a step back and look at the entire system of education and see how we can make it more conducive to children's natural learning styles. After all, isn't that what education is supposed to be about? Helping children learn?

This is a very important point. We should never assume that children know what they should be learning, or that they are automatically interested in the things we think are important. Instead, we need to take the time to explain why certain things are worth learning and help them find ways to make the material interesting to them.

This doesn't mean that we should never give children tests or exams. But it does mean that we need to be careful about how we use these tools. Exams should be seen as a way to measure progress, not as an end in themselves. And if we want children to really learn the material, we need to find ways to make it interesting and relevant to them. Otherwise, they'll just be going through the motions, and that's not what education should be about.

What does it mean when you say, finish these four chapters, do these five questions, and read this six-page article? How are you going to know if the child has understood it, let alone be able to explain it?

It means that the child is likely to regurgitate whatever is in those chapters, questions and articles come test day, without having gained any true understanding of the material. And that's not going to help anybody.

If children do not understand the text you can imagine the load on their memory. It is like trying to store water in a broken cup. You can fill it up but most of it is going to spill and be wasted.

I think we can all agree that comprehension is a crucial part of reading. However, it's not the only important thing. Children also need to be able to read quickly and fluently in order to get through all the material they need to learn. So while we should never sacrifice comprehension for speed, we also need to find a balance between the two.

This is where practice comes in. The more children read, the better they will become at understanding and retaining information. But reading material that is too difficult will just lead to frustration, so it's important to find books and articles that are at the right level for each child.

Sadly parents concentrate more on getting kids promoted from one grade to another rather than on their children's educational and emotional needs.

I have noticed my niece struggling to read hence she struggles in all the subjects. Imagine the burden of translating all the concepts to a language she understands and then being able to understand it.

It's important for parents to remember that their child's education is just as important as their own. With that in mind, they need to be willing to do whatever it takes to help their children succeed. This includes taking the time to sit down and read with them, or finding other ways to make the material more accessible.

It's sad but true that many parents see education as a race to the finish line, rather than a journey that should be enjoyed. This is one of the reasons why so many children end up hating school and learning. They feel like they're being pushed too hard and they're not given the time to really understand the material.

So what can we do? How can we make education more effective and help children learn effectively?

Is just advising your kids enough?

No, it's not enough. We need to be more proactive in our approach to learning. We need to help children find ways to make the material interesting and relevant to them. We need to give them the time they need to really understand the concepts. And we need to be willing to adjust our methods when things aren't working.

Parents are usually worried about how long their kids are studying. They should be more worried about how effectively they are studying.

How to help children learn effectively

Give them the time they need to really understand the concepts- Let them start from basic if needed, there is no harm in that. Comparing kids with other kids who are in the same grade is not always the best idea. Individual progress is what matters

Be willing to adjust your methods when things aren't working- If you find that your child is struggling with a certain method, don't be afraid to try something new. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning, so what works for one child might not work for another.

Make the material interesting and relevant to them- Find ways to connect the material to their interests and everyday life. This will help them see why it's important and make it more enjoyable to learn. Give them examples and let them explore.

It's important to remember that every child is different and will learn in different ways. What works for one child might not work for another. The key is to be patient and willing to experiment until you find something that works.

It's also important to keep in mind that children will make mistakes along the way. This is normal and part of the learning process. What's important is that they are given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and grow as individuals.

In conclusion, helping children learn effectively is not just about asking them to study more. It's about getting involved in their learning process, being willing to try new things, and making the material interesting and relevant to them. It's a journey that should be enjoyed, not a race to the finish line.

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