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  • Encourage curiosity and watch your children grow

    Thursday 17 March 2011

    Categories: Education, Extra curricular

    Put culture and young children in the same sentence and there will be some who respond with ‘there’s plenty of time for that’. That’s because there’s a tendency to view culture as something serious, worthy and perhaps a little heavy-going – in short not the sort of entertainment that the average primary school child is likely to appreciate.

    Culture, though, is about far more than going to the theatre to watch a three hour Shakespeare play, sitting through a ballet or visiting an art gallery to stare at a lot of paintings. To enjoy largely adult pursuits like that you have to have to have developed an understanding of the creative process because only then can you begin to appreciate the skill, passion and genius involved.

    Young children are curious – they learn through exploration, experience and play. Eager to discover more about the world around them, they thrive on stimulus and challenge and love using their imaginations. Most of us have been pestered by the ‘why’ question but, irritating as it can often be, it’s a healthy sign of a probing, active mind.

    My advice is take advantage of this thirst for knowledge by introducing your child to a range of different activities that educate them in a fun, engaging way. Read stories to them, let them take part in family activity sessions at your local museum, library or theatre, take part in things like garden treasure hunts, draw together, listen to music, visit historical monuments or houses and bring them alive with make–believe and storytelling – the possibilities are endless.

    You don’t have to do all the above at once, of course. Children need to be stretched but they shouldn’t be over-stretched. You want your son or daughter to be confident and happy, not driven to anxiety by parental competitiveness. Enjoy your time together, feel relaxed in each other’s company and try not to get stressed out by a need to keep up with the Jones. You can achieve a huge amount by sitting with your child and looking through a book, going on a nature ramble or investigating rock pools. Feed their imagination and encourage curiosity but don’t wear yourself out – and them – by trying to cram everything in at once.

    School should be a big help. Hopefully, by the time your child goes to nursery or starts off their primary education, they will already have the personal confidence that home and the reassurance of loving, positive parents helps develop. A good school will build on this, encouraging their progress and providing learning opportunities that are often sociable as well as interesting.

    The more actively involved a child is, the more they are likely to gain from the experience – and the more experiences they have, the more they begin to compare and contrast. That’s how an individual’s critical faculties are developed and why taking education out of the classroom as often as possible is a vital component in intellectual growth.

    Let them see it for themselves and enjoy the many advantages it offers. Not by drawing up a packed educational schedule but by sharing memorable moments and gently enthusing them with the thrill of finding out more.

    Culture and young children really do go together. And it’s anything but boring.

    Posted by Caroline Pascoe

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