Education and parenting go hand in hand

Learning at home is not meant to recreate the classroom, and while there are differences in classroom set ups around the world they still all follow a formula that does not translate to the home environment. We can not have rows of desks facing a whiteboard and a PowerPoint presentation ready to go, that isn’t how educational theory and parenting can blend. There is a wealth of information out there about education and parenting that it can be difficult to navigate and difficult to find the place of theory within our parenting.

But even if we pretend theory doesn’t impact us as parents, it does. There is a reason why parents use reward charts, why parents give clear choices and why suggest play based learning is all rooted in the past, in a theory and in a previous understanding of the world.

Next post, we dive into the alternative learning space but before we do, we need to take a walk through the pages of history. When studying my Masters, I stumbled on to a wide range of educational theories that opened my mind to how we got to where we are and other ways of working. In my mind, the education and the theories of learning started as a collaborative process, I pictured that the best minds in the world, sat around a table, drank tea as discussed learning at length before decided on a way forward, however, the reality is not quiet that simple. In reality, a number of theories, ideas and pedagogies all developed around the same time in different parts of the world and still impact us as parents today.

First let’s look at some key players

Piaget

Ever heard of object permanence? This was the founding father. Jean Piaget was Swiss psychologist who was the first to complete a systematic study of child development. His theories of cognitive development and learning are still evident today. From our object permanence DIYs to the importance of play and doing in construction understanding.

Piaget believed in the construction of knowledge that children are active in their own learning and adapt to their environment. He described two processes for learning new information; assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation whereby children fit their new knowledge into what they already know (like a child sees a kookaburra but calls our “crows” as all birds are crows) whereas accommodation forces a child to alter what they already know to suit the situation (child sees an emu that can not fly and has to change what they know about birds).

The last aspect to consider is how Piaget describes learning within 4 key stages, this linear model builds from concrete understandings to symbolic meanings and then to abstract thought.

So what does that mean for you Mama? It means Play is the work of childhood (Piaget). It means play is enough, concrete materials, hands on learning are center to this theory.

Vygotsky 

This theory is all about social development and views child learning and development in the context of their environment and the people within it.

Vygotsky (1978) states:

“Every function in the child’s cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people and then inside the child. This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals”.

This makes learning a process of cultural learning, where the environment of people, ways of being are critical to how we grow and learn.

Digger deeper into this is is one of my favourite concepts! There is so much to Vygotsky’s work, but if you walk away with one this from this post it is this: Zone of proximal development. What is it you ask? It is working with children with the zone just beyond what they can do on their own to stretch their thinking, ability and learning. When we only work with a child within their ability level we don’t challenge or extend them, while if we only work beyond what they can do with help and everything is too hard, giving up becomes the easiest option.

Howard Gardner

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin

Proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983, the theory of multiple intelligences has changed the way we view learning. These go beyond learning styles to describe different intellectual abilities. They include:

• Linguistic intelligence (“word smart”)

• Logical-mathematical intelligence (“number/reasoning smart”)

• Spatial intelligence (“picture smart”)

• Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence (“body smart”)

• Musical intelligence (“music smart”)

• Interpersonal intelligence (“people smart”)

• Intrapersonal intelligence (“self smart”)

• Naturalist intelligence (“nature smart”)

This means that ‘smarts’ moved beyond reading, writing, maths and science. Gardener argues that as a society we need to not only focus on these but on all the ways we as individuals can demonstrate intelligence.

Skinner

B.F. Skinner, American psychologist, is the corner stone of behavioural theories, describing learning is a function of change in overt behaviour. Skinner believed in observing the outward behaviour to understand learning, as it is “simply more productive”. Therefore this implies that if we can’t see the behaviour has the child learnt?

Reinforcement is the key element to this theory, that we need to look at the cause and the consequence of each behaviour. That if we see our children demonstrate a desired behaviour that we positively reinforced it to ensure that it will reoccur. These theories are clearly demonstrated in the star chart on the fridge, each star is reinforcing a behaviour so that we see it again. However, be careful as not all reinforcement is positive and not all reinforcement is through tangible items. Picture a child who only gets attention when they display a negative behaviour, then they will continue to demosntrate this to gain attention, same as if a child gains attention for cleaning their room, then they will continue this behaviour.

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WOW … Information overload now what?

Step 1: Find a map

Over the next few weeks, I will release a map, to find educational treasure but be mindful that there is not perfect destination for each child or family. Some families go to the same family vacation spot year after year while others jump all over the place and both are valid approaches. I will break these down further and then jump onto some amazing alternative educational theories that I am sure you have seen lurking around the internet. Bringing onboard some amazing Mamas to share their knowledge and provide their guidance in finding your way through learning and child development within the home. Then once we have done that …

Step 2: Read your child

Observe your Child. Who are they? What do they need?

The educational approach for each individual child can be different. Consider the following questions

1. Does your child like clear direction or to guide themselves?

2. Is your child more imaginative or practical?

3. Does your child respond to listening, watching or just trying something new?

4. Does your child light up with people, or prefer working alone?

5. What space invites your child for learning? Consider both indoor and outdoor environments.

6. What do value as a parent?

Step 3: Dive Deep

Find books, talk and learn. Find out who the best theorist are that suit your child and your family then read, follow the best people online and read some more.

Read items written by the theories and read different peoples interpretations.

Watch a lecture series, listen to a podcast

Immerse yourself … questioning, doubting, considering each principal, practice and ideal and how it suits your family life.

Step 4: Follow your gut

Pick and choose … picture this part as the pick and mix lolly bar. Choose elements of different theories and ideas that best fit with your family. Reject practices that don’t align with your beliefs and values.

To be a good Ma, you don’t need to follow a rule book, this is about finding the rule books, dismantling them and creating a rule book just for you and your family.

Don’t like the view that children are fully formed at birth? GONE

Don’t like the idea of children using glass cups from 6 months? GONE

Don’t want to fantasy animals or magic for your toddler? GONE

It is that simple and that easy, trust that you know your child better than anyone else and you have their best interests at heart.

Step 5: Don’t justify

 You have got this! There is zero rules with parenting and sometimes that can be tough, but armed with all the information and observations of your child all this to be freeing. Freeing of guilt and of judgement. You have got this. You have got the best information in your corner and you can take on the world!

Want more?

Over the next few weeks I will dive deep for you into a few key early childhood educational theories; Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio Emilia. Each post will contain some background, key resources and an interview with an amazing Mama who knows her stuff! Stay tuned and if you have any questions for these pop them below!