Children Learning

Children Learning

Introduction

Learning is a basic human activity, and it occurs all the time. But the early years of childhood are the most significant period of life in the context of learning, because during this time, children learn motor co-ordination, language, the making of social adjustments, the setting of work habits and the beginning of routines that set patterns for life. By and large, the home and the school provide a powerful learning environment for children in childhood.

Children have a variety of educational needs and the school meets these. The school plans the educational activities as well as physical activities and children have to adapt to new routines. They also learn to communicate with other children, sometimes from different cultures and with adults they do not know. They also learn to adjust to a group situation. The child-adult ratio is much higher in school and a child will not get so much individual attention or so much one-to-one dialogue. These new experiences help them to boost some great qualities like mutual co-operation, peaceful co-existence, respect for others and tolerance.

Classrooms for young children vary in design. However most contain centers. Children should be able to move independently throughout the area and work in each daily. Through this arrangement, children learn organizational skills--an important concept to master for the present as well as the future. The early childhood center must provide selections of indoor equipment from all the following areas of interest. They should be of sufficient quantities so that children can participate in a wide range of activities. Consider the age and development of the children when making selections (Small 1999).

Early childhood environments for learning percussion instrument

Rich in Experience. Children need to explore, experiment, and learn basic knowledge through direct experience. Indeed, childhood is a time when we learn firsthand about the physical world; the feel of water, the constant pull of gravity, the stink of rotten fruit, and the abrasive feel of concrete on a bare knee.

Rich in Play. Play provides a way for children to integrate all their new experiences into their rapidly developing minds, bodies, emotions, and social skills. Brain research supports this idea, stressing that children learn best through an integrated approach combining physical, emotional, cognitive, and social growth.

Rich in Teaching. The role of the teacher is critical in a child's life. Children depend on teachers to be their confidant, colleague, model, instructor, and nurturer of educational experiences.

Rich with People. Clearly children need lots of exposure to other people in their early childhood years. One of the greater weaknesses of is that our children have less exposure to the diverse group of people living in their town.

Significant to Children. Young children need to feel important. Children need chores or helping jobs to do that are appropriately chosen on their abilities. Children need to feel that what they do is meaningful to someone besides themselves.

Places Children Can Call Their Own. A basic human need is the need to belong. Children need to feel they belong, ...