Every parent wants to see their child perform excellently in school, and one of the things you can do to help them is to encourage them to become independent learners. Too much parental involvement or help in your child’s assignments may adversely affect their ability to be self-reliant.
Raising your child to become an independent learner benefits them as it prepares and equips them with the skills needed for college and their future career. Your child will be able to take ownership of their education and responsibility for themselves. If you’re wondering how to raise an independent learner, here are a few pointers:
Enroll Them In An Early Childhood Program
The first step to raising independent learners is enrolling them in an early childhood education program. These programs provide your child with a unique learning environment with professionals to guide them in every step they take. It also allows them to gain new experiences and develop a love for learning at a tender age.
These programs are also convenient for you if you’re a busy parent, as they allow extra hours to run errands. You can enroll your kid in various programs, including a defined Montessori education that helps your child to develop greater comprehension of language, science, mathematics, and social interactions through hands-on learning, collaborative play, and self-directed activity.
Create A Homework Routine
Assignments are vital for students of all ages as it teaches them how to solve problems. It creates an opportunity for the kids to review what they learned in class and to learn how to be responsible for their education. However, children are playful and forgetful and may need constant reminders to do their assignments.
The best way around this is to help them create a homework routine. Here are simple steps to creating a better assignment schedule for your kids:
Set up a working space: Create an elegant space where they’ll do their assignments. Ensure it’s well-lit, with all the necessary supplies, like pencils, papers, and erasers, and ensure it’s distraction-free.
Create a timeline: Another way to create an effective homework routine is to establish a well-defined schedule for your kids. You can ask their teachers how much time they should spend on a particular assignment to help you assess their performance. If they’re having trouble completing their homework within the timeline, consider discussing it with their teachers and getting them help.
Give them options: Consult with your child before setting up homework time. Ask your child when they want to do their assignments to avoid scheduling them during their favorite shows or playtime.
Allow some time to break: Your kid may struggle to maintain concentration for a long time. Therefore, you may want to allow breathing time between assignments to help your kid focus.
Ensure your kid sticks to the plan: The homework routine you’ve created for your kid won’t be effective unless they’re consistent. Therefore, ensure your child sticks to the plan.
Don’t do their work for them: You can help your child with the first two questions of their assignments and then give them space to do the rest by themselves.
A homework routine is crucial for raising an independent learner. It ensures they complete their assignments on time and teaches them time management skills and how to set priorities. It also increases your child’s success and performance in school. However, to ignite productivity, you must impose straightforward and cut guidelines on how, when, and where to do the work.
Set Them Free
Another way to raise an independent learner and boost your child’s academic performance is by allowing them to explore ideas, skills, and interests. Don’t be that parent who dictates and forces their interests on their kids. You could have been good in sciences and practicals, but your kid may be better at languages and physical activities. So, give them space to do what they like best.
Motivate Your Child
Motivating your child is also a crucial step toward raising an independent learner. However, you should use the proper form of motivation. You’d want your child to learn because they understand the value of education and how expanding their knowledge will help them achieve their best future, not because they fear punishment.
Let Them Learn From Failure
No parent wants their kids to fail, but that’s how they learn. Becoming a self-learner involves taking responsibility for their own mistakes. Always helping them revise for exams or do their homework won’t motivate your kid to be better. You must learn to step aside and let them organize their schedules.
Conclusion
Raising an independent learner isn’t that challenging. However, you must know when to step in and when not to. You can help your child become an independent learner by enrolling them in an early childhood education program, creating a homework routine, and motivating them to learn from failure. This way, your child will be responsible for his education and have more self-confidence.
