Helping Our Children Learn

Wanting to help our children comes naturally to parents. However, how do we go about it without helping them too much all the time? Since my last post, some of you started to contact me asking, "How much is too much help?" As an educator and a parent I know the struggle of trying to help when you see those little faces struggling or when they ask you for help with those big puppy eyes. It just melts our heart and we go to help. I completely get it. Unfortunately, if we continue to help all the time, these little people will always depend on us and never on themselves. Our goal is to raise children who are independent and have self care skills. How do educators do this with 30 kids in the class? Good question!

I strongly believe in Vygotsky's interpretation of children's cognitive development. He argued that language was the foundation to cognitive development, thus, through social interaction with a knowledgeable person we transferred multitudes of skills. In other words, interactions with someone who is more skillful than the learner (ex., a teacher, tutor, parent, older child) will lead the learner to build onto their knowledge. This is known as Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (Figure 1). Learning happens through scaffolding and guided participation to help a child get from where they are to where we want them to be. For example, an older child who already has mastered counting and number value will show the learner (who has difficulties mastering this skill) how to use a ten frame to count from 1-10. Through observation and participation we lead the learner to build onto their knowledge. 

How does this relate to our daily lives? Using this process, we can help our children build onto their cognitive skills. Through daily conversations, social interactions and learning through play invitations. We can help children go from what they already know to building onto their learning. Follow my Instagram page for fun interactive learning opportunities and educational resources to build onto your child's developmental skills. Remember to always talk to your children and be aware that children absorb everything in their surroundings. Back to our original question, "how much is too much help?" Well, we can acknowledge that the child is having difficulties and encourage them to try things on their own. We can guide them towards how to accomplish a task (ie., putting on their shoes) but not do it for them. When they accomplish a task on their own or learn something new, we can praise and reward!

Happy Parenting Monday!