Help your child learn to learn.
EP07: How Does My Child Actually Learn?
“Parents are brain changers.” In this episode, Dr. Anne Gutshall joins us to break down the learning process. She describes how connections form in the brain when we learn something new. She also gives us simple steps parents can take to support this important brain work. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!
In this episode:
-Neurons are fascinating! We keep getting more, no matter how old we are. (5:18)
-Experiences cause neurons to activate, fire, and connect. (5:55)
-All brains come equipped to learn. (6:30)
-Serve and return parenting (7:15)
-Attention and memory are both part of learning. (8:48)
-The brain will get rid of neurons it’s not using – neuron pruning. (10:36)
-New learning takes time and you make mistakes. (11:45)
-Parents can capitalize on a child’s curiosity. (12:35)
-“Tell me more” is an easy and effective strategy to help children make sense of information. (14:20)
-The brain does some of its most important when we sleep. (15:30)
-The brain works best when it gets breaks. (16:47)
-Multi-tasking is not a thing. (17:15)
The Resources
WHAT PROCESSES ARE TAKING PLACE IN OUR BRAINS WHEN WE LEARN NEW THINGS?
Source: Brett Wingeier, Forbes
The brain is a neural network, a mesh of neurons all interacting with each other. We understand a lot about small neural networks, because computers can actually simulate small neural networks – which is a powerful tool for solving problems like computer vision.
BRAIN RULES
Source: John Medina
“If workplaces had nap rooms, multitasking was frowned upon, and meetings were held during walks, we’d be vastly more productive. Brain Rules reveals – in plain English – 12 ways our brains truly work.”
HOW DO I HELP MY CHILD LEARN FROM MISTAKES?
Children attending school are balancing many emotions. These emotions come from the process of learning and from learning with their friends. Our children feel pressure to achieve and perform. As adults, we understand that mistakes are an important part of learning. However, your child likely needs help to manage feelings of anxiety or insecurity that come from learning and problem-solving. Children want to be successful, but can get overwhelmed if they don’t get it right the first time.
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Ask Dr. Erica Karr a question about coaching your learner from home, and you might have your question answered on a future episode of School House.