Teaching kids to love learning

Read about a debate in the forum recently about the use of flash cards versus books, in teaching a kid how to read. One parent who tried using flash cards, now advocates teaching kids to read the 'natural' way - using books, while other parents testify that the use of flash cards is equally effective. One parent asked, "Can't we use both? like how a typical kiasu Singaporean might be?"

This question strikes me as kind of weird. Why is a parent who uses all kinds of mediums and methods considered kiasu? Maybe this thread is with reference to the Glen Doman teaching method, which is now a rather popular 'new-age' method among many young parents today.

Nonetheless, I still find that this statement/question kind of reflect how inflexible we Singaporeans can be. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I truly believe that learning should be in all forms, through all different kinds of mediums, especially if we were to cultivate a love for learning in our kids.

Being here in The U.S. had changed my perspective of childhood learning in many ways. I was just surfing the PBS Parents website (a public education website for kids in the U.S.) not too long ago, and found it to be a very enlightening site. Public education and public schools here in the U.S., seemed to be in the slumps with many parents complaining about how ill-equipped the public schools are. In fact, many parents who can afford would rather send their kids to private schools, and some would even want to give homeschooling a try. Yet, as a Singaporean, I find the PBS website enlightening?! Oh dear, has Singapore really fallen behind so much in our education system?

Anyway, going back to the issue about teaching kids to love learning, i found that the best form of learning, is through the little things that happen in our everyday lives.

For instance,

1. The learning of ABCs
Now at 16-17 months, I would say that Ariel knows most of the letters in the alphabets. She could pick out specific letters in words she sees everywhere - in the mall, in the books, in the playground etc. The medium we used includes: her alphabet activity mat, the Starfall website, the posters, her Dr. Seuss Alphabet books, and other books.

2. The learning of Math and Numbers
Somehow, Ariel knows that counting can be done with fingers. We try to introduce numbers to her through the little things in life, from things like throwing cotton balls into her container and me counting them, to counting Papa's fingers during bath time. And of course, not to forget the Baby Einstein DVDs, and the Up-to-Ten website that featured a song about telling time. She now knows that 12 O'clock means putting both hands up. In all, I believe in making use of every opportunity to teach her Math, simply because Math is something that we use in our everyday life. I'm also looking forward to teach her more about shapes once I embark on making homemade playdoh for her.

The above are just some things we had done with Ariel since she turned 1. Although I have nothing against the enrichment classes that many Singaporean parents put their kids through, I believe that to truly cultivate an inquisitive mind and a love for learning, learning through things found in our environment is much more effective than confining kids to lessons and a classroom.