Hot answers tagged learning
28
I'm probably going to experience this situation pretty soon, too. One very interesting idea I've picked up a long time ago is not to accept a short "why" but encourage a full-sentence question.
Requiring a full sentence forces the child to actually think about the topic before asking.
What is the topic? What do I want to know? How can I phrase that?
This ...
24
I usually respond to endless 'why's with questions that focus on critical thinking. "Do you want french toast or pancakes for breakfast?" "Why?" "Well, which do you think would make your tummy happier?" "Why?" "We eat because we want happy bodies and happy tummies..." and at least with my two, it eventually winds down. Or maybe my questions overload their ...
14
I love the answers I've gotten so far, but I thought I might as well chime in and describe what I have been doing, since its a little... different.
Generally, I try to answer his questions as best I can... within reason. Many of his questions I can answer fairly clearly, and do so (e.g. Q:"why [is the kitty afraid of me]?" A:"because you're much bigger ...
12
As a programmer i would propose to you the following:
Abstract thinking, Pragmatic Thinking, Higher problem solving. Design Patterns ( Not programming in general but building. Building in sense of building, construction. Did you know that design patterns come from designing buildings and problem solving in engineering? )
Also i would recommend starting ...
12
A few years ago, a study was done on students that observed student response to how they were praised about their school work. The study found that students who were praised with phrases like, "You're so smart!" or "Look how clever you are!" were more likely to give up when confronted with a problem that they found difficult. Students who were praised ...
10
Giving up is not necessarily a bad thing, providing you are giving up on a certain approach to a problem, and not the problem altogether. Knowing when to give up, and figuring out what to try next instead are important problem solving skills. In other words, if you've been sitting there staring at a math problem for 10 minutes without success, chances are ...
10
No, a child will not teach themselves to develop a new "language" to express themselves, at least not by any generally accepted definition of the term "language".
Language is a complex tool used by multiple people or a community. A single child who is never exposed to verbal language does not make up their own... what would be the point if no one ...
9
As Erin's answer mentioned, there are different types of learners, with different strengths. It was focused on the book-based learning - I will try to give a broader perspective. Hope you will find some useful bits in it :-)
There are different types of intelligence, according to Howard Gardner. And traditional schools only focus on visual and verbal ...
9
I am not a pedagogue, but I've been told children in their early years can comprehend numbers which are the same of their age. Two year old's can comprehend two, Three year old's can comprehend three, and so on...
Counting to ten is not the same. That is more like reciting a nursery rhyme. My daughter of two and a half can count to ten, in that manner. She ...
9
Although I have no personal experience with the 'why' phase yet, I imagine that the occasional: "What do you think?" thrown back at him would give you a few seconds to catch your breath. More importantly, it could give you a lot of insight into how your child perceives the world, and what type of answer from you would be meaningful for him. However, I don't ...
9
Part of it is curiosity, but kids also take a lot of pleasure in controlling their parents. It's only fair, I guess. After a certain point, they're just pushing their boundaries to see how far they can take it, and it becomes a game rather than a learning opportunity.
After you recognize it has turned into a game, you can either play along or just say ...
8
I started when I was 6 or so—I didn't have any particular pre-requisites, I just liked exploring (especially on the computer!). I actually found QBASIC on the computer myself, had no idea what it did or how to work it, and asked my father—I had no idea it was to do with "programming" or what that was—but he just showed me how you could tell the computer to ...
8
We have always talked to our daughter as if she were an adult. It was rare that we would use baby words, though we would dumb things down a little in her earlier years (she is now 9). You soon grasp a child's vocabulary, so the first few times you use a new word with the child you need to explain it. It is the same with expressions - yesterday I was ...
7
The distinction here, as you've noticed, is between setting goals and applying pressure. The difference is whether the focus is on the behaviour of your child or of the centre towards your child.
From the centre's perspective, I suspect they're simply trying to figure out what you, their clients, want from them.
For example, I would like my daughter to be ...
7
If it were one of my children, I would absolutely seek the advice of a medical professional. All the school specialists have been able to tell you is that her short term memory is not functioning properly, but they have not told you why and they won't be able to. A neurologist should be able to help you understand better what is going on with your ...
7
Not at all. It's amazing what they pick up from hearing you long before they can even communicate themselves.
Really anything you teach them at this young age is valuable. She is hearing your voice, how words sound, and learning to associate your words with touches or pictures or objects. And she's learning how to learn. All micro-skills she needs and ...
7
This is the "forbidden experiment"-- linguist wish they new more about this because it has implications for other questions. But doing this to children is barbaric child abuse. So we wait for natural experiments to arise. The best documented ones are the ones Beofett covered, so I won't repeat that part.
The cases of feral children and children locked up ...
6
The best way to teach kids vocabulary is to talk to them all the time. When you go to the store, tell them what you are doing, what you need to find, name produce, etc. Just fill their brains with as many words as possible and let them sort it out. They will surprise you when they name a papaya or asparagus by site at the store.
We have used flash cards ...
6
When they show an interest
I did Latin for one year at school, aged 13. I can whole-heartedly say that it has helped immensely through other education, not because those subjects use Latin, but because the 'lingo-lego' nature of Latin helps you to analyse/deconstruct other words, phrases and languages.
It helped with my Mathematics, Computing, French and ...
6
Maybe it would be easier for him to grasp the basic concepts, through some programming/educational games.
Some of them are:
Kodu
A visual programming language made specifically for creating games. Accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone."
Kinderlogo
Kinderlogo is an adaptation of Logo for young children, offering Logo's stimulating ...
6
Personally, I've found reading with children to be more effective than videos. Granted your personal time with your child may be limited, but it's arguably better and more fun for a small child to be reading with their parents than competitive games/sports where the parent has to compensate for their advantage.
If nothing else, you have the ability to pick ...
6
It sounds like you're doing all the right things. Just keep it up! Every child starts talking at their own pace. 15 months without any words is a bit behind the milestone (2-3 words by 1 year is the normal milestone), but missing a milestone is absolutely no cause for worry. It is only when you see a pattern of missing multiple milestones that you should ...
6
You could do almost anything, but I think you should set yourself some ground rules. Obviously you don't want to put your baby into any kind of potentially harmful situation. You want to avoid any experiments that cause undue stress... no witholding of food, sleep, or affection, no stress testing their capacity for discomfort, etc.
So what can you do? I ...
6
I usually encourage my child to ask a more specific question. My 4-year old asks "Why?", to which I respond "Do you mean 'what were our reasons for going to the park?' Or do you mean 'what is the connection between the two examples?'"
I tell my children that I will try to answer any of their questions, but that "Why?" is not a question in and of itself. ...
6
It's only me in the house. I have to teach him 2 languages.
Actually, you don't "have to".
In India, people in northern states speak Hindi at home. Not all Indians are fluent in English yet their toddlers know the meanings of English words like cat/watch etc.
The reason is the "playschool". Here the people usually send their children to formal ...
5
I am a coder, so I just encouraged my kids to 'help' me from an early age. At two or three years old they were on my knee watching me writing applications and generally hacking so as soon as I could free up a spare laptop I gave them a triple boot linux, solaris and windows box to play on.
Basic shell coding seemed simple from 4 or 5 years old, and have ...
5
This is a hard one. First it depends on the age of the children. I sometimes ask my 8 year old what questions I should ask on this site, to see, from her point of view, what I need to work on as a parent (obviously a biased source).
I read parenting books and evaluate their advice and then evaluate myself based on that.
I have a friend who is a child ...
5
Try getting her a selection of books in English. It won't help her pronunciation but will do wonders for her vocabulary. Books are particularly useful since the child can pace herself, stop to check a dictionary, review different sentence structures and expressions. My 9yo is learning Turkish by reading books for a 3~6 year old plus attending classes - the ...
4
Do you love your children?
Do you give them your time?
Do you prioritize on their behalf?
Do you provide for them?
Do you protect them?
Do you teach them right from wrong?
Do you model for them the principles that you are teaching?
Do you teach them humility?
Do you let them fail gently and them help pick them back up?
Do you encourage them?
Are ...
4
One of the best methods I know is to provide age-appropriate toys and then observe. Participate as much as you like (more is better) but don't lead too much so that the child isn't paced too hard.
Keep a diary if you like: You could record milestones like: able to turn from back to belly, able to turn back again, able to hold an item, able to sit, able to ...
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