3 learning tips that are easy to implement

All parents want the best for their children. And there is no shortage of parenting guides that suggest to mums and dads how they can achieve this. With all the demands placed on parents (and their children), it's easy to lose the joy of parenthood and childhood. A focus on happy family life and incorporating principles of learning through play into everyday situations can reduce stress and help children realise their full potential.

When children are active, engaged and committed, they are motivated and have a better memory.

Learning through play includes all the elements that make it easiest for children to learn. When they are active, engaged and not distracted, they are motivated and have better retention. When children interact with others, they build greater knowledge and develop social and emotional skills.

Learning is more meaningful when it builds on existing knowledge step by step and when children can test and try out new ideas when solving tasks - for example, when trying to build a tower. And last but not least, children are motivated to learn more when it is fun.

Skills that children need

Bringing these principles of learning through play together helps children to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. This involves much more than simply memorising and repeating content. Children need to be able to work well together, communicate their ideas clearly , think critically, find creative solutions to problems and overcome challenges with confidence and tenacity.

Parents should worry much less about their children having lots of expensive toys or extracurricular activities. Instead, how about everyday activities that you can do together? These offer many opportunities that are not only fun, but also prepare children for the challenges of growing up.

In today's ever-changing world, children need the following six skills, among others: Collaboration, communication, content handling, critical thinking, creative innovation and self-confidence. Through daily playful learning experiences, parents can help their children build these six skills.

1. cooking as a universal experience

When parents cook together with their children, it can be great fun and involve lots of laughter, singing and fun. Children need decision-making and maths skills to follow the instructions in a recipe step by step. They encounter maths when they measure, count, pour and stir.

They use their creativity and critical thinking as they modify or invent new recipes and explore the properties of food. Cooking connects children to their family and culture and can be a social and collaborative experience as everyone works towards a common goal.

The world is filled to the brim with opportunities for learning adventures.

The preparation of a meal is slightly different every time as, for example, the ingredients do not always feel, look or taste the same. Parents can always give the children different tasks or change the level of difficulty of the recipes. Children are proud of their creations. What's more, cooking is a skill they will need to develop into independent adults.

2. excursions into nature

The environment provides ample learning opportunities, free from distractions at home such as music, television or countless toys that can sabotage learning. Running around in a park, hiking or working in the garden are all «real» activities that keep your mind on the task at hand.

Children find meaning in nature and their parents can guide their urge to explore by giving them tasks and accompanying them as they discover new information about it online or in books. Their vocabulary expands and incorporates many different new terms, such as maple, gloss or foliage. Children can describe the properties of stones and trees, count and categorise sticks or blades of grass. They can sort sticks by length and leaves by colour.

The outside world is a great place for children to develop theories and find answers. For example, what happens when we let things of different weights roll down the same hill? Does a leaf tell us which tree it came from? Can we make a human figure out of twigs and leaves? Outdoor activities like these allow children to be creative, exercise their critical thinking and engage in maths and science.

3. help in the household

Even young children can help out around the house - toddlers often want to help with mopping, sorting or tidying up, older children can wash their own clothes. These tasks require prosocial behaviour, physical activity and purposeful engagement. Cleaning can be a meaningful activity for children because they experience the effect directly in their everyday lives. It also builds their self-confidence as their efforts are appreciated by the whole family.

Working together makes household chores socially interactive and collaborative. Families can work together to decide who takes on which tasks and how these tasks can be completed most efficiently. Children learn to express their own intentions and understand those of others. And they can come up with new creative approaches to fulfil the tasks. Carers can suggest small tasks at the beginning and increase the level of difficulty over time.

Even if helping around the house is not usually considered fun, it is still enjoyable to do a task that is appreciated by others. Combined with games, music and jokes, the playful aspect of helping around the house is further emphasised.

Whilst not all play needs to explicitly promote a child's learning, it is important to remember that the world is filled to the brim with opportunities for learning adventures. With a different mindset, we can discover the joy of education in the context of everyday activities. Or as Mary Poppins put it: «In every job that needs doing, there's a little bit of fun. If you find the fun - bang! - the work is a piece of cake.»