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When we talk about raising kids who love learning, it feels easy with younger kids. We can let them play, give them hands-on learning opportunities… but what do we do when our kids are older??
Just because our kids are older doesn’t mean that they have to start to hate learning! We can continue to foster a love of learning in them, even in the middle and high school years. Play is still incredibly important, it just looks different in the older years – and it doesn’t have to just mean that we give them screens or put them in organized sports.
Our kids need to know that learning isn’t just about tests and textbooks or learning because someone told them to learn it, but that it’s about real life. They need to know that it’s about learning about what they’re interested in so that they can pursue those interests and turn them into a career!
Here are some tips for encouraging a love of learning in older kids:
Tap into their interests
What do they love to do? What are they interested in reading about? What things do they talk about nonstop? What makes you think of them when you’re away from home?
These interests could turn into lifelong hobbies, a side job, or even a full-time career – especially if we nurture these interests. Let them explore and dive deep into the things they are interested in, through books or classes or hands-on activities.
Let them have a say
When kids are older, they need to have a say in what they’re learning. This doesn’t mean that you need to give them full control, but we want them to take ownership of their learning. So ask their opinions, give them a chance to choose some of the books or pieces of curriculum you’re going to use for the year. And when they feel that something they’re doing isn’t beneficial to their education, listen and talk about it together!
Fewer screens
I know that not everyone is on the same page about screens, especially for teens, but it is incredibly important for kids to have relationships, activities, and time when they are away from screens. The way our brains work when we are on screens is different from how we interact, play, and learn in real life. Their brains need time to be bored and creative! Our kids use screens, but we prioritize our time off screens and put limits on the time our older kids spend on devices.
Balance Activities with Free Time
As kids get older, it’s easy to fill up their evenings with constant activity. Sports, church groups, jobs, babysitting, music lessons, etc. None of these things are bad! But filling up their time too much doesn’t give them enough time to explore their interests, have downtime, or have time together as a family. Watch the video Keeping an Unburdened Schedule for more tips on this.
Set Up Learning Spaces
If you want your kids to love learning, you need to create space for it in your home. Obviously with older kids, you aren’t giving them sensory bins. But even older kids need the space to create and explore. This might look like:
- art supplies and space to use them
- a desk or table of their own for writing, drawing, etc.
- legos (yes, even teens might still like playing with legos!)
- tools, wood, and other supplies for building
- things to tinker with – circuits, electronics, etc.
- books and programs to experiment with coding
- supplies for learning survival skills (ropes for knot making, pocket knife for whittling, etc.)
- sports equipment to play at home
- tools like a magnifying glass, microscope, etc. for them to do science experiments
Check out the post Setting Up Your Homeschool Space to Encourage Natural Learning for more tips.