When it comes to our kids, learning means way more than just knowledge. When children learn, they gain an understanding of themselves and the world around them. Learning also increases familiarity, which builds their sense of security. Creating a positive learning environment at home is essential for your little one’s development, plus it’s easy to have fun learning at home. In this article we’ll look at a few of the most beneficial things you can do to create a learning-friendly environment in your home, to kickstart your child’s learning ability and get them excited about discovering more about the world around them.
Make room for learning
Children thrive when they have structure. To make your home more learning-friendly, assign different tasks to different places around your home for them to engage with. It could be a drawing table in the lounge, a smaller table to help you cook in the kitchen, a book nook in a study and a quiet corner in their own rooms for downtime. Creating different spaces allows them to control which activity they want to engage in, without becoming overwhelmed because all their activities are in a single space.
Picture this
One of the easiest ways to create a fun learning at home environment is by using educational pictures. Sticking pictures up will not just help them learn things more easily, it will also create the ‘look’ of a learning environment. Find and print pictures of the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, the weather and anything else that you’d like them to learn and stick them up around your home. It’s important for children to see a visual representation of whatever they’re learning. Being able to point to different pictures as you teach your child about them is the quickest way for them to retain that information.
Read all about it
One of the best ways to create a learning environment in your home is to make reading books part of your home’s culture. Opening a book won’t just teach your child about a certain subject, but it will also encourage them to start learning to read. The other great thing about books is that there is a wide variety of subject matter, meaning that there will always be something new for them to enjoy. Making use of your local library is also a great way of teaching them responsibility, when it comes to looking after the book and eventually returning it.
Every room is a classroom
It’s easy to have fun learning at home when every room is included. Rooms like the kitchen are gold mines when it comes to helping your kids learn new things. Having a smaller table for them to help out with dinner preparation, or a high chair so that they can see what you’re preparing is a great way to teach them about different foods, how they are grown and how to prepare them. This may also be an amazing opportunity for you to teach them about your family’s culture and how food is included in it. Make sure that you keep knives and anything hot far out of their reach, and when they’re ready, there are some great kid-safe utensils you can use to start teaching them to prepare food themselves.
Stay curious
The more excited you are about learning, the more excited your little one will be too. Creating a learning-friendly environment starts with creating a culture of curiosity in your home. Because Independence paired with curiosity will always lead to learning. The trick is to show them that you are curious, by questioning why and how things work. Your kids will almost always catch on and become just as curious too. One of the best ways to do this is by constantly asking ‘why’ and encouraging them to do the same. Having a culture of curiosity instills a deep drive to learn more about the world around them and how it works. An independent child is one who doesn’t just accept that things are a certain way, but challenges why they are that way. This shows independent thought and your child taking responsibility for their learning process, building their understanding of things themselves.
Engaging their senses
In their younger years, children use their senses to learn. Creating a space where they can engage in sensory play is going to introduce them to the world, and to themselves. When children use their senses to learn, they aren’t just learning more about whatever they’re holding, smelling, hearing, touching or feeling – they’re also learning about their own senses and how each one of them works. There is a wealth of sensory activities you can introduce to your child, including activities around balance and body awareness, which have been accepted as additional senses when it comes to sensory learning.
A culture of learning and fun
Making your home a learning-friendly environment won’t just help your children learn and grow while they’re at home, it will also improve their learning ability at kindergarten. When you use these tips it’s easy to have fun learning at home – for you and your little one. As experts in children’s learning, we’ve created an environment that feels homely, while also being a place for your children to feel safe and secure while they learn and grow. Our facilities have been designed to promote creativity and fun while also providing a safe environment for children. To enrol your child into a Child’s Play facility near you, get in touch with us today.
