Using Child-Led Learning

With many concerns about kids heading back to school this fall parents are in a tough place. Parents need to work and can’t take an active role in teaching their children. On the other hand parents don’t want their children to fall behind either. Today we discuss Child-Led learning which is a form of Home Schooling that may bridge the learning gap for busy parents.

What is Child-Led Learning?

Children are naturally curious and will actively seek to learn themselves when it’s something they enjoy. Think kids who want to know everything about dinosaurs, space, or animals! It’s about following those passions intuitively and giving your child the resources they need to follow those passions.

Child-led learning also allows children to learn in the format that they prefer. Some may enjoy watching a show, some may prefer reading or even acting!

Overall, Child-Led learning creates more engaged learners and instills a life long love of learning in little ones.

Create Themed Weeks

Moving from structured learning to child-led learning can be an adjustment for kids. Consider creating themed weeks for your child to explore with a little bit of structure. Over time your child will learn to follow their own wants and needs.

You can start the semi-structured play with themes. Start off by approaching a topic your child already loves and build on it. Create a list of activities with your child and consider working towards a goal that your child enjoys as a “final project”.

For example, if your child loves dinosaurs create a list of possible learning opportunities together. Each day have your child choose their preferred dinosaur related activities.

• Childrens books about Dinosaurs
• Educational movies about Dinosaurs
• Dinosaur colouring books
• Math worksheets with that use dinosaurs to count
• Dinosaur related toys for children to play

Tracking Progress

With true child-led learning, there is a lot less structure than typical which can make tracking progress difficult. Consider giving your child weekly tasks to complete by the end of the week.

Based on our Dinsoaur example above here are some fun projects your child can create to show their learning.

• Have your child create a play about what happened to the dinosaurs
• Help your child create a report on their favourite dinosaur (What they ate, where they lived etc)
• Musically inclined kids can make a song about dinosaurs
• Draw a storybook about dinosaurs

Everything is a Learning Opportunity

It’s important to recognize that almost everything is a learning opportunity. Consider baking a cake: a child will measure ingredients (math) and watch the cake turn from liquid to solid (science).

If your child is interested, consider having them help you with chores around the house they usually wouldn’t.

Create Learning Stations

True child-led learning allows for little interference from adults. The best way to make this happen is to give your child the resources they need for them to explore on their own.

Consider setting up permanent learning stations that your child can move around throughout the day. Some station ideas include:

• Crafts station: Crayons/Activity or Colouring Sheets/Glue Stick/Stickers
• Book Nook: Wide variety of books
• Drama Station: Puppets/Costumes/Props
• Math Station: Math Activity Books/Counting Blocks/Play Shop with fake money

More Resources

Child-led learning is very simple but also a bit difficult to understand considering the schooling that we are used to. Below we have listed some great websites that will help get your family started!

How to Implement Child-Led Learning in your Early Years Setting

Child Led Learning: How it Works & 3 Big Benefits

Home Learning Resources List for Schools and Families

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Kinder Buddies Oakville Child Care is a Quality First Daycare and Infant Care facility in Oakville, Ontario. We take care of children from the age of 6 weeks to 5 1/2 providing nutritious meals and fun activities all day long.