Children are born loving just about everything. And then, adults get in the way.
Young children have a beautiful natural curiosity when it comes to learning. I mean, think about it. When have you ever seen a 3 year old NOT interested in just about everything that moves. Especially the dangerous stuff.
The problem occurs when teachers and parents feel that kids need to be pushed harder at younger and younger ages. Building their resumes, as it were.
(An aside...If there is ever a standardized test to get into elementary school, please expect a blog post from us entitled Stop in the Insanity, Please!)
When kids are pushed to learn something beyond their understanding, that is when the excitement stops. The saddest part is when kids feel ashamed to say they don't understand.
But, there is another way. A much more elegant way to educate children so that they love learning.
It's simple. Build a resume of positive experiences.
I'll illustrate this with an example.
Student A is 5 years old and begins piano lessons. She catches on quick, so her teacher decides to push her with harder music than she might normally assign a student that young.
Student A starts to become a little overwhelmed but doesn't feel like she can say so. A few years pass, and it's not fun at all anymore. Recitals make student A a nervous wreck. As middle school approaches, she doesn't want to approach the instrument anymore.
Life gets busy. Student A quits. The end.
Student B is also a 5-year-old beginner starting piano lessons. She is also quick, but clearly not ready to be reading music on the staff. The teacher welcomes and expects this. We meet the students where they are developmentally.
Lessons are first spent improvising, moving, and playing together. Student B loves it.
Student B plays on a student recital every couple of months. When you're 5, you're thrilled to play for an audience even if you have nothing to play.
As the years go on, student B starts to learn music reading when she is properly prepared. She is confident playing in public because she has known it all her life. She has a track record of positive experiences that has become a part of her being.
When the treacherous middle school and high school years arrive, things do get busy. But piano remains. Because student B can't imagine life without it.
Anyone can foster a love of music (or just about anything else) in their children with this approach.
You just have to follow these rules:
1. Start children as young as you can, before the rest of the world tries to make them self-conscious.
2. Let children learn where they are, as is developmentally appropriate. Don't worry about keeping up with the Joneses.
3. Remember that play is children's work. We know this from research, but the fear of being left behind often overshadows this.
4. Encourage experimentation and even the occasional failure.
Give it a try, and let us know what happens.