So our 5 year old has declared she is a scientist. She takes random ingredients from around the house and mixes them, calling them her “experiments.” Yes - her projects can get quite messy, but here are three reasons I believe in a child-led education.
1. She Frequently Ask Questions
I’m so grateful her growing mind seeks to learn more. She inquires about things I would never think to ask - and I’m happy we are able to have fun and explore possible answers together. For example, while finishing up our brunch, she asked “what’s the difference between cow milk and almond milk?” This led to an hour long blind-folded experiment with charting and exploring some of our senses (sight, smell, taste, touch).
2. Learning Through Play
I largely consider “play,” this uninterrupted, unstructured, enjoyable time, to be a significant part of our learning. Our five year-old is given the freedom to explore and discover new things she is interested in for extended periods of time (which she would not be able to do if we had busy schedules of school and work). While I usually have content I would like to cover, having her lead keeps ours days much more interactive and interesting.
3. Focusing On Her Passions
Why ask “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I’m confident our children are honing in on their skills for lifework now. I’m proud that our daughter has added scientist to her growing list of passions. I’m also happy we are able to delve into topics she is really interested in.
Want to see how we incorporate this?
Until next time…
Love The Journey,
