As a Homeschooling Mom, one thing I regularly struggle with is inspiring my kids, or helping them to be properly motivated to learn. When I am interested in learning about a particular topic, I pursue it and enjoy it. It’s not work, it’s play. But when I’m forced to study something I’m not interested in, it can be a painful experience. I know it’s the same with kids, so I try to find ways to help them learn while pursuing their interests. The trick is to find something they’re passionate about--as they learn about that interest, they have so much fun that they don’t realize they’re learning.
We’ve know about and have encouraged our 9-year-old daughter’s passion for creating art since she drew “Mouse Eating Cheese” just after her third birthday. We’ve bought her art supplies, taught her some basics, put her in several art classes, and found great online resources like the Art For Kids YouTube channel where a Dad and his children teach how to draw child-friendly subjects. She also loves reading, and she learns a lot as we provide her with books and magazines covering many topics.
But finding an area that our son is interested in, other than video gaming, has been a challenge. Recently, as breakfast conversation, my husband asked the kids the simple question “What do you want to do when you grow up?”, which led to a breakthrough with our son. He started talking about how he wants to build drones and work for DJI. And my husband gave his goal a name. He said, “It sounds like you want to be an Engineer.” Engineer. A simple title. But one my son and I were not familiar with. My son was so excited--he latched on to the title and all morning, he wanted to learn about engineering, and also math and reading, since he was informed those were important for engineers to master.
For years, he has demonstrated an interest in “building stuff”. When he was 3, he did interesting things with grapes and forks during snack time. He has frequently told me he wants to make something elaborate. Things like a large Minecraft Ender Dragon out of felt, an airplane out of household junk, or a drone. For years he has brought up potential projects and I have cringed, glad that he has grand ideas, but feeling wholly inadequate to help bring his ideas to fruition. And my husband and I didn’t recognize that building stuff was his “thing.” I mean, all kids like Legos and making stuff, right? But now his passion had a name, and somehow that made it all clear--this is his calling, his purpose. It gave me what I needed to direct my son and provide him with resources to help him learn.
We found a great YouTube playlist all about engineering. He watched them all. We checked out some engineering books from the library. There are lists of books here and here.
My son especially loves Awesome Dawson. He asks me to read it again and again and again.
I also located an engineering class at a local Maker Space. I didn’t even know there was such a thing. He has been 4 times now, and he is in heaven when he is there. The 90 minutes flies by, and at the end of the class he has so much energy. In the past we’ve tried kung fu, soccer, and guitar, but getting him to go beyond the second or third class was like pulling teeth. He was so resistant, but now that we have found the class he loves, he begs to go. So far he’s made a simple circuit with 7 or 8 lights, a hydraulic arm, a robot that draws, and a geometry dash figure (with a 3D pen). The best part is, when he brings up elaborate ideas of what he wants to do, instead of cringing with inability, the tutors at the Maker Space get to work helping him do what he wants to do. They have the skills, expertise, and supplies available to help him.
I didn’t know what we were missing with our son. But now that we found it, it’s so clear.
My husband likes to talk about “the four fundamentals of education”: 1) exposure, 2) inspiration, 3) access, and 4) free time. We exposed our son to a lot of activities until we found the thing he latched onto. We gave him ideas about what he could accomplish by focusing on it (building drones, getting a job at DJI--the largest drone maker in the world). We provided access to classes and people who could help him with his dreams. And we make sure he has time to focus on what he wants to focus on, not just what we want him to focus on.
From this experience, I have learned the value of asking kids questions again and again until you find the golden question which will lead to the golden answer. And to really listen to the answer, and give it a name. And then, help your child pursue it. If you don’t have the skills or expertise to help your child with whatever they’re passionate about, find someone who does. It could be a friend or family member. Or it could be a class in the community.
How have you gotten your kids to be excited about learning? How have you helped discover their passion? I’d love to hear--please comment below.
How have you gotten your kids to be excited about learning? How have you helped discover their passion? I’d love to hear--please comment below.
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