“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attraction.” - Albert Einstein
As parents, one of our most important goals is to nurture a self-motivated child. This is because self-motivation plays an important role in building children's self-esteem and increasing their learning abilities.
How can we play a part in guiding them towards being a self-motivated individual?
TIP 1: Encourage children to keep asking “WHY” and be curious
As parents, we sometimes get caught up in wanting to prepare our children as best as we can. We believe that a structured curriculum at pre-school may help our children become better prepared for the difficult tests and examinations in the coming years. Research reveals that it is not test-based and traditional worksheets, but rather creativity and curiosity that plays an important role in learning in the long run. We want our children to discover a genuine love for learning as we strive for them to develop a positive disposition towards challenges. We aim for them to keep on asking “WHY” and be curious. Let us work together to encourage creativity and curiosity among children, so that they can be better prepared to face the complex challenges of the future.
TIP 2: Be there during important events and celebrate milestones achieved
As parents, it is important that we are there during important milestones and present to celebrate their successes, both big and small. Spend as much time together doing different things to build a solid bond, and communicate with them genuinely. It is extremely motivating for our children to know we are there with and for them every step of the way.
TIP 3: Nurture creative thinking
Adults often wonder and comment on young children’s creativity in drawing, imaginary play and invented languages. Creativity is the use of the imagination or original ideas. It has the ability to increase a child’s desire to learn and at the same time supports intellectual development. According to research, when we encourage divergent thinking in children, it fuels their creativity and encourages them to think out of the box. Supporting children’s creativity and curiosity through their ability in art, dramatic expression and creative responses to problems help to stimulate their motivation and passion for in-depth learning.
