How do children learn? How can parents support them?

When we see how fast and how much our children learn in the early years of their lives, we are easily astonished. It comes with our little geniuses not just a learning method for carrying. In addition to the "trial and error" principle, children learn primarily through reinforcement and through observation and imitation.

Learning - what is that? By and large, we always talk about learning or the learning effect when we acquire something we did not know or knew before. So learning is only possible in situations in which something new and unprecedented is encountered. Children are always the same and as parents we can increase the learning outcomes of the child by creating incentives and certain situations. Incidentally, the learning success is measured by the respective behavioral change. Only then is it "proven" that a child or a person has learned something new.

Always in it? Why learning for the transceiver model does not really work

In the school system, the transceiver model is still widely used. The child is taught theoretical knowledge by means of a frontal lesson, but it often can not or only partially applies it. The effect: It's just memorization that probably can not really be used in practice. The crucial mistake in "instilling" knowledge is that knowledge never seems to be permanently anchored through linguistic mediation from outside. The learning effect arises only when the heard or read knowledge is practically tried out.

Trial and Error - learning by trial and error

Babies and toddlers, who are not easily influenced by the language, therefore learn directly and practically according to the "Trial and Error" principle. They try and have success or failure. This will help you understand more and more about how the environment and you work. They develop new skills and get to know their own abilities and limits. The learning principle of trial and error is applied to children in all imaginable situations: whether they want to persuade mom and dad to bring out even more sweets or erect a building block tower as high as possible. The child tries and fails and keeps trying until it succeeds. These learning tasks can take place in short periods of time or last for days, weeks and months, depending on how complex the learner is.

If the most successful variant is found, the child is still far from finished. The empirically discovered method is checked again and again for your success. For example, think of the toy that falls out of the stroller over and over again - your child does not want to annoy you, it does research and, in case of doubt, learns something about how the adults work.

Learning through (positive) reinforcement

This principle of learning can be harnessed by parents to steer your child in certain directions. When learning by positive reinforcement "good" behavior is rewarded by pleasant consequences, negative behavior is ignored. Especially the second point is important, because otherwise a child can internalize inappropriate or unwanted behavior through this principle. For example, when a child is soothed by chocolate or gifts at every tantrum, they learn to use their anger as a means to an end. From the learning effect arises so quickly a behavior or habit that is not desirable.

Learning on the living model

Children observe their parents and adults and imitate their behavior. Here, learning takes place to a great extent, because as "models" are usually used the people who loves the child and have a role model character. In model or observation learning, various processes take place. Thus, new behaviors are built up that the child did not know before; existing behaviors can change, for example, by involving the positive reinforcement. Furthermore, the "models" can also provide stimuli that facilitate the application of already learned behaviors.

How to help your child learn

The child has to handle the act of learning on its own, but you can create an environment that encourages learning and gives the child many incentives and opportunities:

Create a safe atmosphere and environment in which your child can try fearless.
Pay attention to the learning processes of your child and be available as a contact person.
Trust the competence of your child and let it try out many things independently.
Create an environment with stimuli that encourage you to try and learn.
Play with your child.
Kindly and lovingly deal with mistakes and defeats of your child.

Make learning always fun and enjoyable.
Our children bring great potential. The freer you move and the easier you can try it out, the more satisfying and sustainable are your learning successes. Above all, your child also learns his own abilities and talents and develops a healthy self-esteem and a life-affirming attitude.

Did I forget something? Can you think of any more points?
I´m looking forward to your experiences and additions.

DAD-Chronicals : How do children learn? How can parents support them?