The caregiver’s guide to teaching and learning abstract ideas
Raising children is an everyday lesson in teaching and observation. Each caregiver has natural areas of expertise rooted in our professional training or personal interests. Exploring numbers is more manageable for parents who work in finance, while literacy-focused lessons may come naturally to avid readers. All of us who interact with children will encounter topics that stump us. How do we explain gravity to a curious space enthusiast when our training is in art? Conversely, how do we delve into the interactions between light and colors when our expertise is in aerospace engineering? Sometimes, letting the abstract be precisely what it is, abstract, is a fun chance to learn and grow together!
What do you do when you encounter something abstract or challenging to explain?
The easiest way to help children understand abstract topics is to make a game out of it and compare it to their everyday lives. Try giving your child paint or colors with two pieces of paper and ask them to create the same artwork on both pages. Most likely, they will create abstracts or opposites. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to develop fun ways to foster interest, knowledge and confidence in these important tasks.
You don’t have to worry about having the answers to every question or having the perfect way to explain concepts. Children are already easily impressed by grown-ups and are naturally wired to learn from experience, exploration, experimentation and a little instruction. Simply start with what your child already knows and play to the next level. If you get stuck, plenty of playful learning activities are easy to do on the internet.
How can parents reinforce lessons with school-age children, especially when they may not know or understand exactly how they’re being approached in the classroom?
Parents often mention how challenging it is to help their children when the homework has limited instructions and doesn’t look like it did when they were in grade school. If your child is excelling in the classroom, have them explain what they are doing so you can see how the concept is being framed. Then, you can apply the lessons being taught to everyday activities.
If your child is struggling with the work and you don’t recognize it, do not hesitate to ask their teacher for information to support your child’s efforts. Most educators are happy to help when a caregiver wants to help their child grow. None expect you to be an expert in the worksheets they send home.
Why do silly and playful things seem to make a more meaningful impact on a child’s understanding?
Making learning silly shows children how much we like learning and eliminates the resistance that can arise when faced with something difficult. It also makes it more memorable and encourages children to be eager to return to work when it is time to think.
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