After much, highly-publicized critism, McDonalds defended their Happy Meals by claiming that children have a choice of fries or apple slices. Of course this doesn't work, because almost no kids choose apple slices over fries. I can just imagine the screaming that would take place in my minivan if I passed out Happy Meals with apple slices instead of fries! Last week McDonalds announced that they were going a step further. They will now provide both apple slices and fries in every Happy Meal, and the serving of fries will be slightly smaller. This solution just seems like a waste of a lot of apples to me!
If my child has fries and apple slices in his Happy Meal, he will choose to eat the fries and throw out the apple slices. If my child has a choice between video games and reading a book, guess what he's choosing. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones--you have a child who chooses apple slices and reading. You lucky parents can stop reading at this point. Ok, for the rest of us, how do we inspire our children to eat the apple slices?
In Love of Learning Phase, with children under fourteen who are still falling in love with learning and building their confidence as learners, you inspire by creating the right environment. Create an environment in which your children or students have choices, but all of the choices are contributing to a great education and to learning the skills of Love of Learning Phase. Create an environment in which learning is enjoyable and accessible.
The front lines for all homeschoolers is the home. Create a home where learning is cherished and fun. Play games together. It doesn't have to be an educational game--your child can learn something from almost any game out there. My five-year-old son learned about math grids from Battle Ship! Act out math problems, bake cookies, write and act out plays, read silly poetry and memorize a couple to perform for a family night... I believe a home cannot have too many books! I know that can become an expensive endeaver, so use the library or book swap with friends. Have manipulatives out and available for kids to play with. You can buy all kinds of manipulatives in teaching stores or online, but you can also make your own for little cost.
Your children love to spend time with you. So learn with them! Read together. Read outloud to them, even if they already know how to read. I still read aloud to my 12-year-old. It's a very special time for us. Play with them, so that you can take advantage of those wonderful teaching moments that pop up naturally. Work around the house with them. There's a lot of learning that can happen as you clean the house, sort the laundry, care for pets, plan meals, run errands, etc...
What about that stuff they don't want to learn? What if they refuse to eat apple slices, even if that's the only option? First of all, hang in there, because eventually they must eat. Boredom often precedes creativity. Eventually they will choose something from the environment you have created.
If my child has fries and apple slices in his Happy Meal, he will choose to eat the fries and throw out the apple slices. If my child has a choice between video games and reading a book, guess what he's choosing. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones--you have a child who chooses apple slices and reading. You lucky parents can stop reading at this point. Ok, for the rest of us, how do we inspire our children to eat the apple slices?
In Love of Learning Phase, with children under fourteen who are still falling in love with learning and building their confidence as learners, you inspire by creating the right environment. Create an environment in which your children or students have choices, but all of the choices are contributing to a great education and to learning the skills of Love of Learning Phase. Create an environment in which learning is enjoyable and accessible.
The front lines for all homeschoolers is the home. Create a home where learning is cherished and fun. Play games together. It doesn't have to be an educational game--your child can learn something from almost any game out there. My five-year-old son learned about math grids from Battle Ship! Act out math problems, bake cookies, write and act out plays, read silly poetry and memorize a couple to perform for a family night... I believe a home cannot have too many books! I know that can become an expensive endeaver, so use the library or book swap with friends. Have manipulatives out and available for kids to play with. You can buy all kinds of manipulatives in teaching stores or online, but you can also make your own for little cost.
Your children love to spend time with you. So learn with them! Read together. Read outloud to them, even if they already know how to read. I still read aloud to my 12-year-old. It's a very special time for us. Play with them, so that you can take advantage of those wonderful teaching moments that pop up naturally. Work around the house with them. There's a lot of learning that can happen as you clean the house, sort the laundry, care for pets, plan meals, run errands, etc...
What about that stuff they don't want to learn? What if they refuse to eat apple slices, even if that's the only option? First of all, hang in there, because eventually they must eat. Boredom often precedes creativity. Eventually they will choose something from the environment you have created.
If there is something that you truly believe they need to learn...get to work! Figure out a way to inspire them! Don't just give up and feed them the fries. Figure out a way to make those apple slices appealing. What activities do they already enjoy? Can you integrate this learning into an activity they already enjoy? Ask other parents and teachers for creative ideas. If it's truly important, you can figure out a way to present it without coercion.
And eventually, they will choose apple slices over fries...but that's a few years down the road.
And eventually, they will choose apple slices over fries...but that's a few years down the road.
