Video Killed Authentic Learning

In a fast paced world, children are more inclined to sit down and watch shows which will enhance their learning in areas like counting numbers, familiarizing the alphabet, colors, shapes and a lot more. It may sound good, well… Think again. Parents sometimes just made their kids --- video addicts, unknowingly.

Nothing beats painting with your own hand. Do not use any gadget and you will be surprised how one child could create a wonderful abstract.

                A four year old child who knows how to operate the computer, ipod, ipad or laptop is quite amazing. A three year old child who draws using his / her notepad is brilliant. A two year old child who knows how to use laptop and chooses his/ her own show is quite impressive. The younger the children slanted in technology, the more fascinated people are. Have you tried giving these children pen and paper handy? Have you tried letting these kids master the “scribbling progress” of their childhood? Have you tried to let them create drawing with different colors and let them appreciate their own work? Then again the answer is NO. That’s how videos kill authentic learning.

Kurt's abstract painting. I hope he gets better when is already 3 years old.

                Just because adults these days, parents to be exact or guardians wanted to make things easy for their kids, doesn’t mean they have to forget what authentic learning process is.

Kurt with his Uncle. His Uncle is playing the guitar while he learns how to do the beat box.

                Authentic learning is real life learning. There is nothing more extraordinary than learning how to mix the primary colors to produce secondary colors. Touching and feeling the sand when at the beach or just by the garden doing gardening teaches a child the difference between smooth and rough objects. It even teaches the child with what type of soils are there like sandy, loam and clay. They would even familiarize the insects like worms, small spiders and bugs around the house or in the garden if they would try to put down the gadgets and face what really exists before them. Kids would even memorize the difference between a shrub plant, trees and vines. In the internet, they would know that there are flowers with lovely smell and some were made into perfumes or colognes but have they really tried smelling one? They should try it.

Nothing beats authentic learning especially when the child gets involve and touches the soil and stones.

Pre-school Lesson: Soft and Hard, Smooth and Rough, Dirty and Clean

I get stinky. I get dirty. But see??? I learned!

Besides, what's the use of anti bacterial soap if you're not going to use it after the play.

                There should be a mix lesson of technology and authentic learning. One should not supersede the other for it will only create chaos in the young’s mind.

                Here are some benefits of authentic learning:

1.       Makes children more creative.

2.       Makes children do critical thinking.

3.       Makes children’s senses be more keen like smelling – the difference of the scent of rose from that of a sampaguita or ilang ilang flowers.

4.       Makes children familiarize simple topics like rough and smooth, small and big, dry and wet, soft and hard and a lot more.

5.       Makes children experience the relevance of their existence to that of nature.

6.       Makes children be one with nature by simple gardening task – which eventually instill in their minds the great need of saving the plants.

7.       Lets children define life as simple happiness without valuing for money or gadgets alone.

8.       Provides opportunity to reflect.

9.       Provides opportunity for them to create something without computers like wooden car toys, a mini house toy and a lot more.

10.   Makes them mingle with real people of their age, not just mingle with social networking sites.

11.   Makes them appreciate and value the creations of the Lord.

Have fun mommies! I hope you enjoy!