The Importance of ‘Learning by Doing’- Ensuring your child is ‘well educated’

Key takeaways from this blog:-

1. The role of parents in ensuring that a child is ‘well educated’.

2. The importance of encouraging your child to acquire ‘skills’ for life. 

3. The differences between acquiring skills and academic learning.

4. Delving into the concept of ‘learning by doing’.

5. The importance of applying theoretical concepts to real life situations effectively.

Ernest Istook, a former American politician aptly stated that ‘Education begins at home and I applaud the parents who recognize that they, not someone else, must take responsibility to assure that their children are well educated’. This is true in the case of Mahaan, a 7th grade student, based in Chennai, India, who loved learning and acquiring new skills. His quest for knowledge and new skills began when his parents took time off from their busy schedules to take him to various places such as the library, the grocery store and the local park. Now one may ask, ‘what is a child of 12-13 years possibly going to gain or learn from these trips? Is he not supposed to be at school studying and revising the taught concepts at home, instead of spending time outside and running errands for his family?’ Every parent reading this blog, while having their child’s best interests at heart may have this question. However, what one might not know is though schools do teach the required concepts through theory and practical sessions and aid in the development of a child, at the academic level, they do not teach them the required ‘skills’ that are required to survive in a competitive world, where there is only survival of the fittest. In other words, educational institutions that stress on the skills required for personal development in children to help them survive in such a world, are scarce. Given this, a trip to the local grocery store, the bank or the library may also seem insignificant, but there are a very few parents who realize that these trips may actually help in the overall development of their child, both personally and academically. A trip to the local grocery store, for instance, will help a child improve on their numerical and mental ability skills by using concepts such as percentage and discount and calculating this to decide on the best deals, further helping them understand the value of money and how best this can be spent effectively to get the best. A trip to the bank will help them understand concepts such as profits, losses, simple and compound interest, apart from how finances work and come up with ideas on how they can save money in future. These are apt examples of real life situations which will help a child understand the concepts taught in school, acquire life skills and apply them, as appropriate, in real life situations. This will make them confident, raise their self-esteem and help them in the long run. 

Mahaan was lucky to have parents who were staunch believers of learning through life experiences and ‘learning by doing’. This was one of the reasons why they took him on such trips, despite enrolling him in school. This resulted in Mahaan developing a unique set of qualities that set him apart from the rest. He was an inquisitive learner, always seeking knowledge and understanding in every aspect of life. He firmly believed that an hour spent exploring and discovering was an hour well invested. This also increased his attention span. His ability to stay focused was truly remarkable. Even as a kid, every small talk was an opportunity to gather valuable information. He engaged in conversations not just for the sake of talking but to extract meaningful insights from every interaction. Whether it was a casual chat with a friend or a brief encounter with a stranger, Mahaan saw every conversation as a source of knowledge. This improved his ability to associate and apply concepts imbibed to real-life situations effectively, constantly and consciously work towards self improvisation. He also states facts aptly, this ability and skill arising from information gained from previous conversations. He has not only showcased his individual brilliance, but has also highlighted the power of being an inquisitive learner who values every hour spent in the pursuit of knowledge.

Given this, Mahaan has left an indelible mark on his peers as a dedicated learner and a focused individual, thanks to his parents.

Proud to say, he is a part of Prodigy Kids.