Before delving into the realm of child-led learning, I want to begin by stating that the most effective homeschooling style is the one that best suits your family’s needs. However, any type of child-led learning is more advantageous for the child and their education than any of the rigid curriculum-based styles.
What is Child-Led Learning?
The definition of child-led learning is quite simple when breaking down the words. Child – a young person. Led – to be in command. And learning – gaining skills and knowledge. However, the challenge with defining this type of learning is that each individual who follows it experiences it in their own unique way.
Every child-led approach is rooted in the ideology that children are competent learners. In this approach, instructors respect the child. They allow the student to pursue activities and/or projects based on their interests, needs, and pace. Research has shown that giving children the opportunity to self-govern and explore topics that resonate with them enhances their engagement and understanding of the subject during the learning process.
Examples of Child-Led Approaches
There is no shortage of different child-led learning styles, some of which are more well-known than others and have their own guidelines. Other styles may be followed by only a few individuals and are as creative and imaginative as a child’s mind. Remember, these guidelines only serve as a starting point to kickstart your child-led learning journey. Your personalized approach may take some time to fully comprehend, depending on your and your child’s pace.
Montessori
Dr. Maria Montessori developed the Montessori approach, which is widely recognized as one of the most popular child-led learning styles. It is designed specifically for toddlers and young children. It offers a visually appealing approach that encourages hands-on, self-directed, and self-corrected learning. This means that children choose the activities that interest them while the educators observe them as they work through the task, failing and succeeding at their own pace. Educators begin by introducing the new activity by name and describing its parts. They then demonstrate the steps of the activity slowly and meticulously before allowing the child to explore the activity independently.
Key Points:
- Prepared environment – A space where everything has a purpose and a place. All materials and furniture have child-sized dimensions, are lightweight, and easily accessible.
- Tailored materials and presentations – Are all geared towards the individual’s trajectory.
- Exploration/Discovery – Freedom for the student to explore new activities in a safe environment.
- Mixed age groups – To strengthen their social and emotional skills.
- Uninterrupted work periods – The teacher allows the students to concentrate on their work without any interference.
- Respect for the child – The educators and/or parents respect and praise the children’s choices, curiosity, and interests.
Unschool
John Holt, a former elementary school teacher, coined the term “unschooling” after observing many problems with the American school system while teaching his students. He became a famous educational critic and wrote several books on how children should learn. The philosophy of unschooling is based on the idea that children are naturally curious, intelligent, and enthusiastic learners.
Key Points:
- Flexibility – The parents must be flexible to the fast, ever-changing interests of the child.
- Supportive Relationships – In order for the child’s curiosity and self-confidence to flourish, there must be a strong and supportive relationship between the child and their mentors, educators, and community.
- Life Skills – Everyday activities become rich learning experiences.
- Play – The unschooling approach doesn’t believe there are any differences between playing and learning since most children and toddlers mimic real-life in their play.
- Emphasis on Well-being – Prioritizing the child’s emotional, physical, and social well-being over academic milestones.
Benefits
Homeschooling, regardless of the method followed, has numerous advantages associated with it. I firmly believe that the benefits of homeschooling are endless. People who are unfamiliar with this lifestyle tend to assume that there are more negative aspects. However, if you have conducted thorough research or have been homeschooling for some time, you will undoubtedly realize how baseless those so-called “cons” truly are.
People always ask me, “How does your child socialize?”. It’s amusing because, during the 8+ years that Mana was in traditional school, he was very shy, timid, and didn’t make many friends. However, since he’s been pulled out of traditional school, his confidence has skyrocketed. I often find him communicating with a wide variety of people, ranging from young children to older adults. When speaking with close family members or friends I tend to remind them of the child Mana used to be. However, when fending off strangers or acquaintances, my typical response is that he has friends from sports, the neighborhood, and homeschool meet-ups.
Here is a list of benefits that specifically relate to Child-led Learning:
1) Intrinsic Motivation
When a child is learning about a topic of their choice, they are more likely to develop an interest in that topic. Which leads to an increased motivation to find additional resources related to the topic. This process ultimately results in a love for learning.
2) Critical Thinking Skills
A child-led learning approach can help children develop critical thinking skills quickly. This is because when they explore a new topic, game or life skill, they will first plan how to approach it. After that, they will need to gather all the necessary supplies and figure out their next step. By performing all of these steps independently, they are exercising their critical thinking abilities.
3) Deeper Understanding
Because the learned topics are of personal interest to the child, they will develop a more in-depth understanding, as opposed to merely “covering” a topic.
4) Enhanced Autonomy
Making decisions on their education strengthens a child’s independence.
5) Holistic Development
Focusing on a child’s interests and needs above their academic achievements improves their emotional, social, cognitive, and physical developments.
6) Life-long Learner
Exploring and engaging in topics of individual interest generates excitement and passion, leading to lifelong learning.
7) Keen Awareness of strengths and weaknesses
When parents and educators empower children to take control of their own learning and foster critical thinking skills, the children will naturally begin to identify their strengths, weaknesses, areas for improvement, and dislikes. This can help them make more informed decisions about their future and shape their educational journey accordingly.
8) Understanding of how they learn best
This goes along with reason number 7; they will discover whether they learn better auditorily, visually, or kinesthetically.
9) Develop Confidence/Positive Self-image
Valuing a child’s interests and teaching them to trust their decisions can boost their confidence and self-esteem.
10) Less Resistant to Learning
Allowing children to choose their topic or activity in the learning process increases their interest and engagement. As the child engages in the activity, educators can encourage them to incorporate additional aspects to make the activity more complex. This will help to advance the child’s knowledge and skills.
Comparing Child-led Learning to College
I cannot speak for everyone, but my experience in college helped me realize that I didn’t completely hate learning. Even though I had always done well in school, I usually just memorized the material I needed to pass the test and then forgot everything right after. This habit became more evident when I started taking college courses. However, I did notice a change in my study habits and ability to retain information while taking classes that genuinely interested me.
I often questioned the relevance of taking courses like music history and calculus while pursuing a degree in marine biology. I was investing my money and time in a specialized field, so why waste it on subjects that didn’t align with my interests? This is something I remember when considering if I should focus more on core subjects for my homeschooled child.
When a child has the opportunity to dive deeper into a topic of interest, rather than just scratching the surface, they gain a significant advantage over their peers in terms of potential career options. For instance, I have always had a profound love for the ocean and its marine life. If I had the chance to study marine biology when I was younger, I would have immediately seized it. This would have allowed me to volunteer and intern at an earlier age and gain several years of experience necessary for a job in the field.
Conclusion
Not everyone has the ability and time to create a rich and nourishing environment needed for child-led learning. However, I believe that it is not only possible but also beneficial for homeschooling families who follow a strict curriculum to allow their children some freedom to pursue their keen interests.
Imagine a world where Simone Biles, the most decorated Olympic gymnast, was never given the chance to pursue her passion. At the age of 13, she made the decision to leave public school and began homeschooling to allow more time for her gymnastics training. Although she followed a Christian curriculum, she spent 32 hours each week focused on her training. Her story is a brilliant example of how to blend curriculum with child-led learning.
In my previous post titled “The Homeschool Dream Vs. Reality,” I shared my experience of how some children, including my oldest child, may not function well in an unstructured environment. Adopting a child-led approach does not mean giving the child complete freedom. While some children may thrive in such an environment, most still require some form of structure. In next week’s blog, I will be discussing how implementing a routine can help achieve the right balance of structure and freedom, thereby facilitating child-led learning.
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or if you think of another benefit to child-led learning!
References
https://45conversations.com/the-power-of-child-led-learning-in-early-childhood-education
https://www.readandspell.com/us/what-is-child-led-learning#:~:text=child%2Dled%20learning%3F-,What%20is%20child%2Dled%20learning%3F,and%20materials%20used%20for%20study.
https://www.kinteract.co.uk/blog/what-is-child-led-learning
https://montessoriacademy.com.au/the-role-of-montessori-educators/#:~:text=Educators%20serve%20as%20a%20link,learning%20experiences%20unique%20to%20them.
https://greathomeschoolconventions.com/blog/olympic-medalist-simone-biles
