WHEN IS LEARNING EFFORTLESS? |
| Why is it often a struggle to get children to study? Part of it has to do with the modeling they receive from peers, adults, and the media. Movies and television, particularly commercials, glorify the idea that people will be happier when they buy the latest products or are engaging in non-academic "fun." Yet the reality is that many families find reading, writing, and studying to be enjoyable. Visiting museums and historical sites are examples of family activities that inspire further discussion and research. Families who go against examples found in the media and choose to model studying as pleasurable make a deep impression on children. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi is a professor at Claremont University who has written extensively about how adults and children experience a state called "flow." In his books Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience and Good Business: Leadership, Flow and the Making of Meaning, he describes the state of flow as one where there is deep concentration on the task at hand which alters the individual's perception of time. This is often experienced when reading a good book, connecting a jigsaw puzzle, or participating in a hobby - time flies and you forget oneself because you are so immersed in the activity. How can flow be fostered in young people? An increasing level of challenge and use of skills needs to be present along with feedback. The individual needs to sense improvement and the invigorating challenge of increasing levels of complexity. To encourage effortless learning show excellence is pursued by family members to the point that learning is pleasurable and, in fact, a hobby. Such modeling matters, draws children to the activity or to imitate the activity, is memorable, and fosters curiosity as well as a love of continual learning. |
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