The secret to helping kids love to learn!

I've been there before...

I have things all planned out for our learning time. I have my rose-colored sunglasses on which provide visions in my head of how great the day is going to be, how much we'll get done, how cooperative the kids will be...

and then BAM. The kids wake up and the vision is shattered...

Attitude. Resistance. Complaining.

Have you been there, too? Are you hearing things like: "I hate school!" "School is SO BORING" "Do we HAVE to do learning time today?"

If not, congrats! That's amazing. Keep on doing what you're doing.

If you're like me... this post is for you, Mama!

The biggest secret I have found to change that cycle (or prevent it from happening at all)...

Find out what your CHILD wants to learn and find ways to support them.

Agency-based education is so powerful. We are all much more capable of remembering things when we’re learning things we are interested in. We’re more likely to dive deep and become masters of things we enjoy.

I’m not saying your child should play with LEGO blocks all day. Don't get me wrong.. we LOVE LEGO blocks here at our house!! And kids learn a lot from playing with them! But no, I don't let my kids play them all day.

I’m not saying to let it all go and neglect them... NO. UH UH. NEVER.

Help to INSPIRE them. SUPPORT their passions.

HOW?

First...Listen to them. While LOOKING at them. With your phone somewhere FAR AWAY from you so your brain doesn't get hijacked... no judgment here... I'm still overcoming my own slight phone addiction.

Notice...What questions are they asking? What subjects make their eyes brighten? What can they talk about for hours at a time?

Next...Have mom meetings, one on one (we'll do a whole post on those later!), and ask them what they would like to learn about.

and one of the most effective things of all…

Spend time learning and growing yourself… what are YOU passionate about? Do you remember?

I forgot for a while...

My husband is THE BEST at this. Over the years, he has always had some project he is working on, some new skill to master, some new subject to study. Super inspiring.

I used to do the same. And then I had kids, and I stopped giving myself permission to take the time to do that. Big mistake. Don't do it. Keep learning. Keep growing. Do things you love. It fills you up and helps you be a better mom and wife. Some of my old hobbies I'm picking back up:

Playing the violin and piano

Cake Decorating- I used to make wedding cakes!

Photography

What are yours? Find things that make you feel alive!

When I started taking the time to do some of those old things I used to love, I was surprised at how quickly my kids would gather around me, super curious with what I was doing, and wanting to be a part of it, too.

There's often nothing more inspiring to a child than watching their parent working on a hobby or learning a new skill. So do it! And let your kids join you if you can!