Yvette Salvaris
Education is a funny thing. Immediately when people hear the word the first thing they think of school. For some this can trigger bad memories of failed exams and teachers who yelled in class. For others its about playground antics and friends. But what if I told you education is helping your child be the best they can be in an ever changing world? And that education has changed .
Children learn in many different ways. In today’s education system there is a huge focus on play based learning for the younger years. For some parents this is a strange concept, the fact that playing can be learning, especially in a formal school setting. However when you break it down, play based learning is a great concept.
Children learn so much by the simple act of playing. They learn socialization skills such as how to share and communicate with others. They get lost in their imagination and become more creative and practice the art of mindfulness. Play based learning also encourages thinking, writing, and talking. Don’t forget playing can be so much fun that children tend to forget they are actually learning, which can be a good thing.
Technology is a funny thing. As a parent you are encouraged to limit your child’s screen time. However children are encouraged to be bold and experiment with technology. Education is becoming more tech focused which will help children adapt to our ever changing technological needs as a society. Children from a young age are exposed to using ipads and laptops instead of pen and paper. If a child has a project to do you will find them watching a YouTube clip on their topic or going a google search. This is a lot different from looking though a library catalogue to find information in a book!.
There is also a strong focus on teaching skills more then teaching content. It’s a known fact that skills better equip children for the future. Group work is also becoming increasingly more familiar in the class room. Group work teaches skills such as how to work with others and negotiation which are very useful in the workplace. By teaching these skills, we are better equipping our children to become the best they can possibly be.
As the world changes, it is important that we also change the way we teach children. Its it important to enable a child to be the best they can be by teaching them in ways that result in meaningful outcomes. At the end of the day we all want what is best for every child, and education is the tool to help us help them live their best life.
