Why Children Learn From Doing
Children do not learn only by listening to an explanation.
They also learn by doing things for themselves.
When children take part in an activity, they have an opportunity to practise a skill, make decisions and see what happens.
This active involvement can help make learning more meaningful.
Doing Makes Children Active Participants
There is a big difference between watching someone else do something and having a go yourself.
When children are actively involved, they have to think about what they are doing.
They may need to choose an answer, move something, say a word, form a letter or solve a problem.
The child is not simply receiving information — they are using it.
Children Need Opportunities to Have a Go
Children need opportunities to attempt things themselves.
This might be something simple, such as writing a letter, matching sounds to letters or sorting objects into groups.
It might also involve a more complex task where they need to work out what to do next.
Having a go gives children an opportunity to practise the skill rather than simply hearing about it.
Doing Can Help Children Understand
Sometimes an explanation makes more sense once a child has had an opportunity to use the information.
For example, a child may hear that words are made from individual sounds.
When they actually say a word slowly and listen for those sounds, the idea can become easier to understand.
The same applies to handwriting.
A child can look at a letter, but forming that letter themselves gives them an opportunity to practise the movements involved.
Doing gives children a chance to connect an idea with an action.
Practice Gives Children Feedback
When children do something themselves, they can see what happens.
They may discover that an answer works.
They may notice that something needs changing.
They may realise they have forgotten a step.
This feedback can help them understand what they need to do next.
That is one reason repeated opportunities to practise are important.
Children Learn From What Happens
Not every attempt will be successful.
That is okay.
When children are allowed to have a go, mistakes can provide useful information.
- Something may not work as expected.
- The child may notice what went wrong.
- They can think about what to change.
- They can have another attempt.
This process allows children to learn through experience.
Doing Can Help Children Remember
Children often need to use a skill more than once before it becomes familiar.
Doing gives them another opportunity to retrieve and use what they have learned.
For example, a child learning a new spelling pattern might hear it, say words containing it, read those words and then write them.
Each activity gives the child another opportunity to use the same knowledge.
Using a skill repeatedly can help children become more familiar with it.
Children Can Learn Through Everyday Activities
Learning through doing does not have to mean sitting down for a formal lesson.
Children can practise skills during ordinary activities at home.
- Sorting socks can involve matching and grouping.
- Cooking can involve counting and measuring.
- Reading a shopping list can involve recognising words.
- Writing a note can provide handwriting practice.
- Talking about an activity can build vocabulary and understanding.
Everyday activities can give children opportunities to use skills in meaningful situations.
Children Need to Do Things for Themselves
Adults can often complete tasks more quickly than children.
It can be tempting to step in when a child is taking a long time or making mistakes.
But doing everything for them removes an opportunity to practise.
Whenever it is appropriate, giving children time to attempt a task themselves can help them become more involved in their own learning.
Learning Does Not Have to Be Perfect
Children do not need to perform a task perfectly for the activity to be useful.
A child might write some letters incorrectly while learning handwriting.
They might make mistakes while spelling.
They might need several attempts to solve a problem.
These attempts are still part of the learning process.
The opportunity to practise matters just as much as getting the final answer right.
How Parents Can Encourage Learning Through Doing
Parents can support active learning by giving children opportunities to take part rather than doing everything for them.
You can:
- Let your child have a go before stepping in.
- Ask your child what they think they should do next.
- Give them time to work things out.
- Encourage another attempt when something does not work.
- Use everyday activities as opportunities to practise skills.
These small opportunities can make children more active participants in their learning.
Australian Educational Resources for Children
Educational resources can give children regular opportunities to practise skills by doing them for themselves.
Activities can be repeated, revisited and adjusted as children become more confident.
For Australian families, resources that support the skills children are learning can make practice easier to include at home.
Children Learn by Taking Part
Children learn in many different ways, but active participation is an important part of learning.
When children have opportunities to do things themselves, they can practise skills, make mistakes, make changes and see what happens.
Sometimes the best way to help a child learn is to give them the opportunity to have a go.
