Children begin learning in infancy and continue as a life-long process. Even as an adult, you constantly learn new things, whether it be directions to reach a new destination or complex theories. Understanding the learning process in young children will help you to aid in your child's intellectual development.
Cognitive Development
Cognitively, young children develop quickly. According to the Child Development Institute, by the age of 3 your child knows nearly 896 words and can communicate in short sentences. Your child shows imagination and tells simple stories, using language as a method of exploring her thoughts. As a young child, she wants to understand her environment and may actively seek out answers to the many questions forming in her mind through exploration of her environment.
How Children Learn
According to the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, children learn by doing. Learning in young children occurs through the interaction of a child's thought process with experiences in the external environment. A child finds motivation to learn in his own desire to explore and make sense of his world. As a young child, he will learn through the manipulation of and interaction with objects and people.
Motivating Learning
Intrinsic motivation, or motivation your child finds within herself, provides the most benefit to learning, according to the National Association of School Psychologists. Your child may do certain things simply because she wants to. For example, your child may choose a box of blocks and begin stacking them. She does not do this because she was told to, but because she wanted to. She made her choice and the act of choosing and the result of playing with her chosen object provide satisfaction. A child has an increased chance of learning and retaining information when intrinsically motivated, so making learning fun and using activities your child finds interesting will increase the likelihood that she will learn and retain the information.
Effective Learning Environments
Facilitate learning by creating a positive learning environment that makes your child feel safe and supported, advises the Administration for Children & Families. Teachers and caregivers should balance direct teaching and allowing children to explore the environment. Plan challenging activities with a learning purpose in mind, and encourage respect among peers. Also, provide adult-to-child conversations. Maintaining order, making learning fun and listening to your child will help you create an effective learning environment.
Considerations
Learning disabilities negatively affect your child's ability to learn and retain information. Learning disabilities include dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism according to HelpGuide.org. If you suspect your child has a learning disability, contact your child's school or pediatrician to request a screening.
References
- Child Development Institute: General Developmental Sequence Toddler through Preschool
- North Central Regional Educational Laboratory: How Young Children Learn
- National Association of School Psychologists: Early Childhood Motivation
- Administration for Children & Families: Creating a Learning Environment for Young Children
- HelpGuide.org: Learning Disabilities in Children
