Reading, Writing & Harry Potter
Motivating Children by Celebrating Their Interests
How can parents and homework compete with Harry Potter, Pokemon and PlayStation? The simple answer is that they can't. However, parents can use these hot trends to motivate children to learn more and in the process teach the children skills that will transfer to their classroom learning.
Since studies show that the average child spends three to five hours a day watching television, it may seem there is not much extra time for educational activities at home. I have faced these challenges as an educator and I've developed several techniques to turn the things children enjoy into an opportunity to promote additional learning.
The first step for you as a parent is to identify what gets your child excited and to learn about it yourself. Read the hot children's books, play your child's favorite video games and listen to music together. In short, learn about the toys, games and activities that dominate your child's world. Then, look for creative ways to add an educational component to your child's favorite activities.
For example, if your child can't get enough of Harry Potter, ask her to identify locations from the books on a map - do they exist or are they fictional? Or, encourage him to find a pen pal in England to compare his or her life and everyday activities with one of Harry's country mates. Since magic spells are a big part of the series, ask your child to come up with some of her own to test if they really work.
Games can also reinforce school lessons. When children play with their Pokemon cards, have them calculate the total value of the cards' hit points. They may not even notice they are putting math lessons to work. The cards can also help sharpen a child's categorization skills. Your child can explore history by researching the origin of Pokemon and even learn about Japanese culture.
Science is just as easy to incorporate into everyday activities. Ask your child to calculate the distance of a scooter ride. Compare the speed of a downhill ride versus an uphill ride. Research other methods of transportation and the scientific explanation of balance and speed. Search the Internet with your child for science-related Web Sites that might help to uncover the science behind a favorite sport. Find out how the speed of a baseball pitch affects the hitter's ability to hit a home run, or why a soccer ball is shaped the way it is.
Yes, even Britney Spears and N'Sync have a lesson to teach. Your child's favorite music stars can be an avenue for self-expression. By memorizing lyrics or even writing their own, children can learn the importance of the written and spoken word. They can research the artists' background and find out what it takes to make a CD.
Parents can combine these enjoyable activities with the basics of motivating a child - goal-setting, reward and reinforcement. Plan out activities and assignments with your child. Determine together the steps of the process and when the assignment will be finished. Provide the tools to complete the task. For larger projects, I recommend that you offer mini-rewards throughout the process to keep your child motivated to see it through. Rewards can be as simple as a pat on the back or an ice cream cone. When the project is complete, review it together and congratulate your child on a job well done. You can even present your child with a hand-made certificate of achievement. Share your child's success with other family members - nothing makes your child feel better than to "overhear" you singing his or her praises to another.
All of the skills learned through these activities will translate into the classroom by reinforcing geography, analytical, comprehension, reading and research skills. By joining in your child's fun, you'll also demonstrate that learning takes place everywhere and that it is enjoyable. As an added benefit, you might even learn something along the way!
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