A Final Thought

Lifelong learners: born or created?

by SAMANTHA DHOLAKIA

How many of us loved learning as a young child?

I believe the answer to this is…. all of us. However, what we probably did not love so much were the expectations and demands that came alongside it. As children we are born with the innate ability to fail and try again without hesitation. We are born with the desire to explore, test and challenge the world around us. As we grow, we then develop and hone our skills. There are many things I loved about my years as a teacher: watching those WOW moments, planning those awe and wonder lessons, listening to the inspired and curious ideas of the children as they worked out what they thought and believed.

However, across my 16 years as a teacher, leader, deputy head, consultant and teacher trainer, I learned that the most valuable skill set of any learning experience is that of confidence and resilience.

In those early years our children seem full of positivity around their capabilities, happily sharing all they feel they are good at. However, as they grow this can change. They can become more aware of themselves, and those around them, comparing themselves and developing their inner voice and limiting beliefs…. all by the age of 7! Nowadays as a mum, certified executive parental coach, NLP practitioner and educational consultant, I am even more aware of these stages. Watching my son enter each stage of development and purposely choosing the language and parental approaches I take is certainly a challenge. But it is one of great importance!

But what is a lifelong learner?

I define lifelong learning as the continued, selfmotivated quest for knowledge either for personal or professional development. The best news is, as parents, there are many opportunities open to us that allow us to model this to our children. What we do, they see, and what they see, they do…

So, what happens?

I believe it is down to two simple but vital things: language and perception! The truth is, lifelong learners are born but not often preserved, protected and maintained. As a society we often focus on where things are going wrong, whilst encouraging comparison and the desire for perfection. And often in our parenting this is mirrored, often catching ourselves asking ‘what’s wrong?’ or ‘How could you make it better?’.

So how do we make a change and nurture those young minds in sustaining that innate desire to learn? Communication truly is key; sharing what you know and engaging with our children in everyday conversations about things that have interested you encourages curiosity. Questions such as ‘‘what if?’ and ‘what happens when?’ can get your child thinking critically and can spark further conversations.

So, I leave you with this: 8 top characteristics that you can nurture and strengthen within your child to support them in becoming a lifelong learner: • Encourage and model reading a lot • Explore different courses and activities to spark excitement and curiosity • Encourage them to seek new opportunities • Embrace change together • Allow them to explore natural curiosity • Be open to new perspectives they may have • Support them in setting their own goals and share your own • Celebrate progress, no matter how small

For more information on how to support your child or young person in developing their lifelong learning skills, email us at spdtuitionandcoaching@gmail.com.

You will also find resources, strategies and tools to support your children and family over at our free parent support group on Facebook Calming the Chaos.