Learning
Sometimes we forget that learning is a lifelong thing...
Something happened and it looks like i may have to 'learn' something 'learnt' again. But this post is not going to be about that...
It is about children learning and how sometimes i forget the fact that they are learning constantly. From the things they see, the things they hear, the things they weren't meant to see or hear... Sometimes learning is purposeful, and alot of times, it is unintentional (for better or for worse).
And with children, having learnt something doesn't always mean that it's learnt 100% of the time. Sometimes it's because they were distracted. Sometimes it's because they forgot. Or perhaps even that they just cant be bothered to demonstrated what exactly it was that they have learnt. Other times, it may just well be that we have wrongly assumed that they have learnt something but actually, they have not (but convincingly 'bluff' their way through).
How do we tell which is the case, when it comes to children and their learning?
I think it bores down to making alot of observations, linking what we have observed to the knowledge we already have of the child, and trying to be as objective as possible as well as taking into consideration the context and skills required. Which actually is alot more work than people think. That is why, no one really gets it correct all the time because there are just too many components involved. But the more one tries, with practice hopefully one gets better at it?
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Recently i asked Kiddo if she wanted to learn violin or the piano. Her answer was unequivocal "No". But asked if she wanted to learn violin, painting or dancing, her answer would always be "dancing.. like ballerina". My first reaction (which lasted quite a while) was "Oh no..." Strange as it seems, i do not have visions of Kiddo prancing around in little pink tutus and in fact, do not even find kiddos dancing in little tutus cute (apologies to anyone who has kids doing ballet). I have, however, entertained thoughts of Kiddo and I learning violin together (aww.. little kids holding their little violins are so adorable) or perhaps even doing a duet on the piano. But it appears like Kiddo is not very interested in fulfilling Mami's dream.
A couple of times, I thought, "What the heck.. what would a would-be 3yr old know? Let's just sign her up for some music classes and get her interested! She would play the violin soon enough".... But.... let's examine some evidence here first:
- From early toddlerhood, Kiddo would always insist that i play on the piano while she sits on my lap to listen. She has tinkered with the keys once in a while but never really sustained any interest.
- From the time she could walk confidently, she would always rather i play and sing on the piano, while she prances around. Lately, fluttering around with the piano cover, pretending to be a fairy/ballerina.
- At the concert with the Melbourne Symphonic Orchestra which featured some ballet dancers, she was focused on dancing and following the ballerinas and didn't really care much about the musicians or the instruments (She could identify several instruments by their sounds and look but i think that's the extent of her 'ability' and interest).
Something happened and it looks like i may have to 'learn' something 'learnt' again. But this post is not going to be about that...
It is about children learning and how sometimes i forget the fact that they are learning constantly. From the things they see, the things they hear, the things they weren't meant to see or hear... Sometimes learning is purposeful, and alot of times, it is unintentional (for better or for worse).
And with children, having learnt something doesn't always mean that it's learnt 100% of the time. Sometimes it's because they were distracted. Sometimes it's because they forgot. Or perhaps even that they just cant be bothered to demonstrated what exactly it was that they have learnt. Other times, it may just well be that we have wrongly assumed that they have learnt something but actually, they have not (but convincingly 'bluff' their way through).
How do we tell which is the case, when it comes to children and their learning?
I think it bores down to making alot of observations, linking what we have observed to the knowledge we already have of the child, and trying to be as objective as possible as well as taking into consideration the context and skills required. Which actually is alot more work than people think. That is why, no one really gets it correct all the time because there are just too many components involved. But the more one tries, with practice hopefully one gets better at it?
.
.
.
Recently i asked Kiddo if she wanted to learn violin or the piano. Her answer was unequivocal "No". But asked if she wanted to learn violin, painting or dancing, her answer would always be "dancing.. like ballerina". My first reaction (which lasted quite a while) was "Oh no..." Strange as it seems, i do not have visions of Kiddo prancing around in little pink tutus and in fact, do not even find kiddos dancing in little tutus cute (apologies to anyone who has kids doing ballet). I have, however, entertained thoughts of Kiddo and I learning violin together (aww.. little kids holding their little violins are so adorable) or perhaps even doing a duet on the piano. But it appears like Kiddo is not very interested in fulfilling Mami's dream.
A couple of times, I thought, "What the heck.. what would a would-be 3yr old know? Let's just sign her up for some music classes and get her interested! She would play the violin soon enough".... But.... let's examine some evidence here first:
- From early toddlerhood, Kiddo would always insist that i play on the piano while she sits on my lap to listen. She has tinkered with the keys once in a while but never really sustained any interest.
- From the time she could walk confidently, she would always rather i play and sing on the piano, while she prances around. Lately, fluttering around with the piano cover, pretending to be a fairy/ballerina.
- At the concert with the Melbourne Symphonic Orchestra which featured some ballet dancers, she was focused on dancing and following the ballerinas and didn't really care much about the musicians or the instruments (She could identify several instruments by their sounds and look but i think that's the extent of her 'ability' and interest).
I guess i am not adversed to letting her join a ballet class for pre-schoolers and see how things go from there. She may not get serious about it as she gets older (interest change) and there's where one of my dilemmas come in... if ballet is not MY interest (or aspiration for her), would i be able to provide some discipline for her to keep her going or just happily let her drop out as and when she wants to because of my lack of interest? At the moment, i am inclined to believe that i would do the latter, and would probably do the former if she were to pick up a musical instrument for example. Knowing the importance of discipline when learning a skill may not be enough to keep Kiddo going (I am being frank here) because i know myself.
As much as i wished that Kiddo will explore and decide what she wants and hopefully enjoy whatever she does... i cant help but realized that alot of that depends on ME (and my own notions of interest/learning/enjoyment). Would being aware of this fact, make me more objective when helping Kiddo pursue what she likes? I certainly hope so! But i am realistic enough to know that my own personality and interests may sometimes come into conflict with my greater aspirations (of myself as a supportive mom)...
As much as i wished that Kiddo will explore and decide what she wants and hopefully enjoy whatever she does... i cant help but realized that alot of that depends on ME (and my own notions of interest/learning/enjoyment). Would being aware of this fact, make me more objective when helping Kiddo pursue what she likes? I certainly hope so! But i am realistic enough to know that my own personality and interests may sometimes come into conflict with my greater aspirations (of myself as a supportive mom)...
