What if children have freedom to choose how they want to learn? Isn’t it an amazing question one must ask themselves.
In education traditional schooling always limits kids by giving them a rigid structured curriculum, fixed time slot and time for gaining knowledge.
The traditional classrooms provide teachers who decide when, how and what to learn. The approach is ideal for learners but reduces creativity skills, curiosity and confidence.
To solve this problem children-led learning is one of the refreshing methods one can consider while studying. It plays a vital role in a learner’s life. Let’s explore everything in detail.
Table of Contents
- What is Child-Led Learning?
- How Child-led Learning Works?
- Principles of Child-led Learning
- Child-Led Learning in Schools
- Benefits of Child Led-Learning
- 9 Activities involved in Child-led Learning
- Difference Between Child-Led Learning and Child-Play
- Parents Role in Child-Led Learning Development
- How to Implement Child-Led Learning in Children?
- Examples of Child-Led Learning
- Conclusion
What is Child-Led Learning?
Child-Led Learning is one of the popular and beneficial techniques in which children drive or lead their own learning with lots of interest and curiosity.
In simple words, it is different from teacher-centered learning because here kids learn what they really want to at their own pace.
It is also an advantage for kids with learning difficulties in school and includes various activities such as art work, role play, singing etc.
Child-led learning is an ideal way of promoting self-directed learning, student engagement and inquiry based learning.
How Child-led Learning Works?
The combination of observation, freedom of choice, investigation and research, reflection and facilitator as a teacher are the mantras of how child-led learning works.
To know everything in detail let’s get into deeper understanding:
- Observation: It starts with observation by teachers and parents who look at children how they are interacting in the environment, are they curious and solving the problem or challenges?
It’s important for teachers and parents to understand kids’ liking, disliking and their difficulties to provide the right direction without stopping them or becoming their limitations.
- Freedom of Choice: Freedom of choice simply means that kids can choose whatever they like or are curious about. It can be anything from activities, real life projects to learning unique novels.
Understand the benefits of reading books for knowledge and growth of children.
This freedom helps them to enhance their personality and understand what they really want. However, the decision should be taken by a free mind to learn something new.
- Investigation and Research: In child-led learning learners can enhance their critical thinking problem solving and innovation abilities with the help of investigation and research.
By letting kids find their own answers or giving them hints will enhance these 21st century skills.
- Reflection: Refraction is all about the process of understanding the learning experience, evaluating the result and analysing what they have learned.
This can be done by discussion with other students, self discovery, and connecting with the group. Children can ask others thoughts and share their feelings.
- Facilitator as a Teacher: The role of the teacher is to provide materials, guidance and facilitation rather than stuffing the child with a set curriculum. It becomes oriented toward assisting the child with his/her learning process and discovery of knowledge.
By accessing resources asking questions, increasing curiosity helps them to explore their learning path.
Principles of Child-led Learning
Child-led learning ensures that children take ownership of their learning journey.
There are some key principles enhance child-led learning in student:
- Freedom and Will: Freedom and will is something child-led learning offers to each individual. Here they can have the opportunity to choose what they want to study.
Freedom and flexibility in learning help them improve their self motivation, willpower and decision making skills.
- Admiration of the Learner: Every learner is different in their learning abilities. The facilitator should celebrate each learner’s style, speed and technique.
This allows learners to feel respect and valued in front of students.
- Intrinsic Motivation: Intrinsic motivation is aimed at by centering attention on the interests of the child. Children only get driven by a natural curiosity and appreciating learning rather than being driven by rewards or pressure.
- Inquiry-Based Learning: Inquiry based learning or question driven technique is the best way to get a solution of curiosity.
In simple words children open to ask any questions and facilitators help them to find out answers.
- Flexible Learning Environment: In a flexible learning environment students can grow and develop a better personality which ultimately leads to academic growth.
Flexibility in classroom setting or homeschooling are adaptable to choose various creative learning activities like reading, writing or exploring outdoor activities.
- Social Learning: Social learning means kids connect with other students to share their knowledge, ideas, problems and find solutions as a team.
It also guides them to help each other and share resources whenever needed.
Child-Led Learning in Schools
The principles of child-led learning are crucial. However, implementing these in schools is helpful for everyone.
So, now, more closely, how does the use of child-led learning vary over educational stages:
- Child Led Learning in Early Years
Learning can be child-led, especially during the early years (generally birth to age 6) when children have a desire to explore and experiment. This area does not attract as much attention to structured lessons as it does to a variety of opportunities to explore things, and to use one’s senses.
Early childhood education helps in activities such as free play, storytelling for learning, outdoor and indoor learning activities to promote movement.
Here the facilitator observes children and guides them to gain the fundamentals of essential skills.
- Child-led Learning in Primary Schools
Child-led learning in primary schools guides learners to collaborate academic learning with playful activities.
The facilitator ensures that learners explore different and new topics to get more knowledge.
Some common examples such as project based learning, choice based assignments and open learning space to improve both academic and personal development.
Benefits of Child Led-Learning
There are multiple benefits of child-led learning in learners’ lives. It guides them to take control of their learning, reduce stress, a positive learning environment etc.
Some common benefits one must consider before implementing child-led learning are:
- Children should Take Control
In child-led learning kids should take control of their learning which helps them to increase self direction and confidence.
This way learners take care of their education and make right decisions for growth.
- Promote Stress Free Learning
Child-led learning is an impactful way which promotes stress free learning.
It reduces anxiety, exam stress and leads them to focus on understanding the concept instead of memorising.
- Make use of Learning Environment
The learning environment is considered as an important part where students work, experiment and explore different things.
Child learning encourages them to learn in a desired environment such as a library, outside nature or science lab.
- Foster independent and deep learning
Choosing your own subject or topic lets the children become independent which directly faster deep learning.
It helps them to understand the real meaning without stressing out on rote learning.
- Speed up the Process of Learning
Kids become more motivated and confident when they choose interesting topics to learn instead of rigid structure.
This may speed up the process of learning and make them love and engage.
- Nurture Curiosity
Curiosity in learning becomes the stepping stone of continuous learning. Children ask questions to answer and explore new things and the loop continues.
This forms a mindset of lifelong learning and self-esteem for deeper engagement.
- Promote Exercise
Child-led learning promotes different kinds of exercises that help learners feel happy and enjoyable. Exercise in nature walk, indoor and outdoor activities.
It helps in improving cognitive development in children and gives them a fresh start with physical and mental activeness.
- Cultivate Critical thinking
Child-led learning cultivates critical thinking by asking questions, exploring answers and making right decisions with sharp development of problem solving and analytical skills.
9 Activities involved in Child-led Learning
For effective learning incorporating activities based on kids interest is an ideal way to use child-led learning. Here are top ten child-led learning activities one should consider:
- Playing with a ball
Playing with a ball is one of the popular child-led learning activities that fascinates kids. It helps children with motility development, collaboration and coordination of movements.
Materials Required:
Light weight ball in different sizes, open area to play different games.
How to do It:
One can throw, catch, kick or play pass-pass with their classmates. There are different methods in which kids can play alone or in groups.
Pro Tips:
Learners can choose any game related to ball and play in the biggest and open area like school ground.
Parents can ask if they can score 10 to 12 times in a row or play passing the ball without touching it.
- Playing with blocks or legos
Playing with the blocks or legos can be an interesting activity especially for young learners.
They can freely make or build anything they want through these blocks/legos which faster creativity, improve problem solving skills and fine motor skills.
Materials Required:
Wooden blocks, foam blocks, or Lego sets and flat building surfaces.
How to do It:
Give the material required to make and let them create new pattern sorting or making structure. Ask them to give a name to their creation.
Pro Tips:
Avoid showing perfect examples, let them think how to assemble. With time, it is difficult to increase their thinking skill.
- Exploring Kitchen Items
By letting children explore kitchen items promote sensory skills, imaginative play and basic life principles through spoon, plate and other utensils.
Materials Required:
Safe kitchen utensils such as wooden spoons, measuring cups, whisks, plastic containers. And various ingredients for sensory play: rice, flour etc.
How to do It:
Let kids choose whether they want to cook, bake or cut in different ways or make a team to learn continental dishes.
Pro Tips:
Let the mess and learn how to do it properly in the next try. Don’t help but guide them by knowing ingredients or recipes.
- Bringing in Interest-Based Toys
Toys that children have interests in are made to match the curiosity that is peculiar to a child and it enables them to learn at their own pace. These toys may be educational but should be as well in line with the interest of the child in order to have a meaningful learning.
Materials Required:
Toys related to the child’s current liking or interests.
How to do It:
Place a toy in a catching position, let them grab and make a story around it to interact effectively.
Pro Tips:
Rotate toys of children to increase their curiosity or interest about what next?
- Busy Boards
Busy Boards or sensory boards/Montessori activity board, an effective way which encourages child-led learning methods in students.
It engages learners in hands-on exploration activities and play. It also promotes skills such as fine motor skills or cognitive development.
Materials Required:
Buy from the store or make a DIY busy board with switches, locks, buttons, zippers, latches etc.
How to do It:
Kids can discover all the characteristics of the board which engage them to figure out each.
Pro Tips:
Trial and error processes ensure children’s mental health development and new features increase engagement.
- Imaginative Play
By attending nature, children understand the environment, biology and natural sciences, experiencing them rather than hearing about them. Also, it has got sufficient physical activity opportunities and facilitates interest in the natural world.
Materials Required:
Costumes, props, or household items and space for role-play.
How to do It:
Allow them to create their own character, support them if they ask and let them create a story around other characters.
Pro Tips:
Don’t interrupt and have that change their story. Ask them to end with a moral.
- Building Projects
Building projects uses a mix of creativity and problem-solving and involves designing, planning and carrying out a task. This can be anything between a nice piece of craft to the more complicated DIY concept.
Materials Required:
Craft sticks, cardboard, recycled materials, tape, glue, child-safe tools.
How to do It:
Let them choose what they want to build and offer materials to create the project.
Pro Tips:
Don’t interrupt their mistakes, let them tackle on their own and celebrate the process or efforts they are putting in at the end.
- Artistic Expressions
Artistic expressions means children expressing their different art work with their creative thinking skills.
It is an amazing activity which helps learners to explore and express their ideas, thoughts and feelings.
Materials Required:
Paper, paints, crayons, clay, or natural materials like leaves, twigs, stones.
How to do It:
Let the child decide the subject style and medium to work free handed without any interactions or guidance.
Pro Tips:
Offer different tools to boost their confidence and let them think how to use it.
- Investigating Interests
In this activity kids get multiple opportunities to choose and investigate their interests. This will ensure in-depth understanding and student engagement.
It creates inquiry based learning environments to support and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Materials Required:
Books, internet access, videos, field trip options related to the child’s chosen topic.
How to do It:
Ask them what they like to learn and let them research and investigate on a particular topic by reading books, searching on the internet or asking elders.
Pro Tips:
Parents and teachers should avoid overloading with information, let them lead the pace.
Difference Between Child-Led Learning and Child-Play
Understanding the difference between child-led learning and child-play is essential to implement effectively. Here is a detailed look both:
| Aspect | Child-Led Learning | Child-Play |
| Focus on | Skill development and exploration. | Fun, creativity, and emotional expression. |
| Purpose is | To acquire knowledge and solve problems. | To explore and socialize. |
| Structure | More structured with goals and outcomes. | Unstructured, spontaneous play. |
| Guidance | Involves adult support and guidance. | Minimal adult intervention, child-driven. |
| Materials | Learning tools and educational resources. | Toys and props for imaginative play. |
| Learning Outcome | Knowledge acquisition, critical thinking. | Emotional, social, and creative development. |
Parents Role in Child-Led Learning Development
To foster child-led learning, parents play a major role in their development. Knowing the role of parents ensure the effective implementation of the technique:
- Offer Stimulating Environment
As a parent make sure children get what they want for example resources, tools, internet material and guidance.
Make sure you are available to provide their specific needs of books, art material, trips to nature and make the environment interesting for learning.
- Encourage Curiosity
Parents can also increase curiosity by asking different questions. For example, what material do you need today?
Encourage them to choose their own material and make them familiar learning style and activities they can like.
- Give Independence and Alternative
Offering multiple choices increases their curiosity and helps them to make a routine on desired alternatives.
By this way kids explore more alternatives by themselves and decide which activity to take up and how to do it.
- Help, Do Not Command
Parents should guide learners and make them familiar by giving different choices. Do not recommend any specific advice.
The motive is to support and let them learn in their own way without any interruption or modification.
- Be a role model of loving to learn
Children tend to imitate adults. The involvement of parents in learning with an interest and curiosity builds up the same sense among children.
Lifelong learning can be demonstrated by parents who include in their hobbies reading, solving problems, creativity, etc.
- Be Patient and Observe
As a parent you need to be patient and observe child learning. Look at their choices, implementation and result.
Also help them if they need it or ask for any kind of feedback.
How to Implement Child-Led Learning in Children?
Understanding and implementation of child-led learning ensures growth in both personally and professionally.
These are some practical steps to adopt a child-led learning process:
- Make a Welcoming Learning Environment
Prepare an environment in which learning is made as free as possible and involve children to have freedom of obtaining different materials and resources. This can be books, puzzles, art material or even nature such as rocks and leaves.
- Observe Interests
Facilitators and parents must lead to the child’s interest and help them to align effectively.
Children love nature including science projects, outdoor activities and books can help them to increase knowledge with interest.
- Encourage Exploration
By offering various opportunities related to task experiments, outdoor trips or online group projects encourage exploration in children.
Let them work on their curiosity, find out solutions that fail and work again to improve their critical thinking skills.
- Offer Choices
Instead of offering one learning style let them choose what they want to do each day. Ask whether they want to learn something new, work on science projects, paint or explore any creative activities.
- Ask Open Ended Questions
Ask questions that make one think, e.g., What you think will happen when we put this color on? The use of open-ended questions fosters creativity and analyses; it makes the child think about what he/she has learned.
- Allow Thinking
Once the activity is done, prompt children to discuss what they did, what worked, what didn’t and how it was. Reflections enable them to digest what they have learnt and to strengthen the learning process.
- Not Results, But Effort
Sometimes results are not the same however effort and the process of doing it is effective. Remember to praise even if the results are not as per expectations.
This encourages children to work on mistakes and strengthen their self-esteem without any learning pressure.
Examples of Child-Led Learning
Here are some best examples one can go through to understand the implementation of child-led learning:
Learning in a Play Setting
Different play based learning pathways increase curiosity and interest. For example, creating a fort, building with blocks, playing with a ball and many more. These activities give them freedom to work in their own way.
Kitchen and Cooking Discovery
A child is being asked to assist in the kitchen, say by mixing things, measuring some flour, or slicing tender fruits. Naturally occurring during the process, they learn about measurements, textures and even cause-and-effect (e.g. what happens when we add more water).
Conclusion
Implementing an education method like child-led learning is one of the best decisions for children. It gives a mindset to increase curiosity, interest and love towards learning.
Learners are allowed to learn according to their own style, pace and technique without any intrusions.
This helps them to explore their own personality, understand what they like and dislike and increase confidence to make decisions.
Whether the child is at an early stage or in a primary school, implementation of child-led learning is effective to embrace their critical thinking and problem solving techniques.
To know more one must read various problem solving activities for students.
Let your child explore their own way of learning and make them comfortable with process and result!
