A Home Culture of Learning

A child's education should not, indeed, does not end when he steps off the school property. The attitudes he encounters and the habits he observes in his parents' behavior have a strong chance of being passed on to the child. While great teachers may come and go, the parents are the ones who are there, day in and day out throughout the years.

Parents can adopt a wide range of techniques to encourage their child to value learning. Something as simple as asking, "What did you learn at school today?" elevates education to a place of importance by showing it is worthy of discussion, and the child gets the opportunity to reinforce what was learned by retelling lessons in their own words. If you want to go even further than this, don't hesitate to pick up a good book, discuss ideas and current events with other adults, or learn a new skill or hobby - all before your impressionable child's eyes. Children notoriously imitate even the most miniscule behavior they observe in their parents. Why shouldn't those behaviors serve their education? Curiosity will be nurtured, and completing homework may not be so painful if the child is positive about learning.

Benefits of such behavior are not limited to the school-age children, either. Younger siblings who can barely crawl will grow up seeing learning and school as very natural, positive aspects of daily life. Parents and children can bond by reading together and pursuing common interests. The entire family, in fact, can become its own culture of learning where knowledge is sought after and highly respected. In this way, parents can begin to lay the groundwork for their children to be lifelong learners.