Edited by author 02-09-2004 01:18 AM
( a lead off post borrowed from the manager's New Liberty Village education forum)

Children are very smart. They learn quickly how the world works, and know keenly what they don't know. They also want to grow up to feel confident and competent. Kids (natural kids) WANT to learn and to learn everything. Witness a 2-year-old in action to see what the natural learning of a human child is. In my experience, this remains, unless it gets dampened by coercion or testing. Only then does the joy of learning become dulled.

I have not seen an unschooled child yet that didn't swallow learning in whole bites. (Even one I know with serious dyslexia is an incredible learning machine when left to her own devices! She simply needs some help with reading.) My two are 14 and 10, and both still consider learning the greatest game in the world. Does it not require subtle, but intelligent nudges by parents?

Generally, the loss of the desire to learn is done by a formal educating program (done anywhere) that does not come from inside the child. The more the child's own desires are guiding the learning, the more intense the educating will be. Certainly a good parent will provide access to materials, people, areas, books, outings, interests of their own, interests of others, etc., to their children. These are fantastic jumping-off points, and will instigate HUGE amounts of learning. The older the child, the more they think of on their own.

Reading TO a child will also stimulate all sorts of interests; questions from the child, resulting in the provision of more books and interesting situations being provided; parent as guide... Again, the older the child, the more they think of and do for themselves. A parent interested in learning will be mimicked at the younger ages. Curiosity in new stuff and a can-do attitude are "catching." Children who grow up with these will be at an advantage.

The less quizzing and testing, the better --- because, again, kids are smart, and KNOW. "Knowledge, freely given, is a golden gift; testing is a demand for repayment."
Enjoy and appreciate the process, if you decide to embark on it; it's pretty nifty. - Ellen