Re: When are children NOT learning?

From: Nina Sazer O'Donnell
Email: nina.sazerodonnell@gmail.com
Date: February 13, 2006

Comments

Hi Billie:

Thanks for your kind words. We know that children are always learning, even if they are learning things we'd like them not to learn....but all of their experiences are teaching them about their world. The best ways to foster the qualities you refer to is to teach and interact with them in ways that let them know that they are truly known and understood and to extend their learning. That requires teachers and parents who are learners themselves and who can accurately observe what children are interested in. Then these adults can offer experiences that respond to children's innate curiosity and stretch their thinking. Recent research is teaching us how young children learn that other people have thoughts and feelings that is different than their own at about age two. Once they have this awareness, adults can begin to model compassion and help them learn to understand their own emotions and the feelings of others.