LET THEM EXPLORE: 3 Lessons I learned from my children

LET THEM EXPLORE:  3 Lessons I Learned From My Children

I have always enjoyed exploring the world around me. As a child I would spend hours every year outside my home where tadpoles, to my amazement, would transform into frogs.

I would never put my naked hand inside muddy stagnant water today. But, I sure had no qualms about it back then.

Children are naturally curious and exploring is one way they feed their need to learn and understand the world around them.

At first I tried to allow my children to ask questions and seek answers in the pursuit of knowledge. But, there were a few unexpected lessons that I learned along the way. I want to share those with you today.

1. Exploring allows humans to think and problem solve at a pace that is not only comfortable to each individual  but also allows time to enjoy the experience.  When we have an enjoyable experience we want to share those with the people we care about. We are more likely to retain the learned information for a longer period of time if we enjoyed the experience and shared it with others.
2. Exploring develops a love for learning. A child that has difficulty reading, many times, will learn more by exploration. Exploration appeals to more senses and is more than just words on a page; it puts us were the action is. Kids love to be near the action where they can smell, touch, hear as well as see.
3. Exploring keeps our bodies moving instead of vegetating on the sofa in front of the television.  Fresh air is good for our physical and emotional well being. Most children spend a great deal of time sitting at a school desk. This is all the more reason to have them outside exploring the world around them.

Some children may need a little encouraging at first. Help them by exploring with them. Pay attention to their reactions and how awestruck they are. You will gain a better understanding of how each of your children are wired. Maybe your daughter just wants to pick flowers and your son wants to dig worms. Let them. But, if their desire is for tad poles, I suggest you bring a jar.