Fostering the desire to learn.

Without the desire to learn there can be no wish to obtain new knowledge. It is because of the desire to know even more knowledge than what our own limited experience can offer that we resort to watching documentary programmes, listening to others who possess knowledge that we have yet to come across and reading books and other materials that give us understanding on subjects otherwise not within our reach.

As we know the importance of the desire to learn, we would certainly like to know how we can foster such a desire? How do we gradually lead the child to want to know more?

Firstly, all learning goes from the known to the unknown. Take, for example, a child’s path to literacy. The child must begin with the sounds for things in his/her environment. When he/she has understood such sounds as ‘flower’, ‘book’ and ‘ice-cream’, then only can he/she proceed to the written word. When he/she has achieved the ability to recognize and read words, he would like to show that he can do it.

When my son first knew how his name, 'Seng’ was spelt, he would point out words having his name on boards bearing the names of shops; names such as ‘ Wah Seng Doby’, ‘Lee Seng Coffee Shop’ and so on. With praise for his ability to read other words too, he would look forward to learning even more words. The desire to improve his vocabulary has begun.

As I have said before, the whole world is the parents’ audio visual aid to assist the parents to teach their children. However, unless we use these freely available aids, they are useless and meaningless. Parents have to be the teachers in this world classroom. Talk to your children. With enthusiasm, point out things the child have yet to learn, name them and tell them how wonderful the things are. If parents do not think flowers beautiful, certain fruits strange(Strange to the children), constructed buildings marvelous, views breath-taking, ponds lovely, the breeze sweeping over the water surface creating linear movement on it exhilarating and such wonders of man and nature fascinating, how can the children be aroused to realise what great, incredible beauties surround us! With such introductions to their surroundings, children can begin to take interest and see the wonders around them. With the interest aroused in them, they would want to learn more. Later when they read of them in books, there is association of the new information with knowledge already established from the actual environment by the parents. Taking children out to enjoy, see and appreciate however much it is possible for parents to offer them is taking the first step to spark the desire for knowledge.

My sons and nephew were taken to the Ipoh zoo. We had one of the most enjoyable days in our lives watching the delightful movements, the beautiful colours of the many creatures and birds, and listening to the various sounds they emit. As parents, we pointed out all these and indirectly have them listen to and imitate as well as use new words; sounds and vocabulary that would otherwise hold no meaning for them.

Then, some days later, at the library, books on animals proved to be interesting, with them pointing to animals they have seen at the zoo, delightfully expressing themselves on what they know of those animals and birds, connecting with the places they were seen. From here, they went on to animals not found in the zoo and parents could arouse curiosity with questions such as ‘Why do you think such animals are not in the zoo we went to?’ Of course, parents may have to supply the answers but that is how interesting knowledge is dispensed to the eager, curious minds. Thus, in like manner, we can introduce other things to our children and continue to sustain such interest with appropriate reading materials and pictures.

When children develop a thirst for knowledge, learning becomes a pleasure which sweeps aside even tiredness. That is the power of the desire to learn.

From here on, all our precious children need is encouragement with appropriate materials such as books, toys and, if possible, the real-life objects such as pet- birds, dogs, cats and fish.

With the care for real things, parents can cultivate a love for such things. And love is one of the most important, beautiful feelings in our world. That will have to be discussed in a future posting. Without love, where can there be purpose in life?