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How turning on your child’s ‘Learning Switch’ will further support and accelerate their development.
This happens all the time during a therapy session…
All of a sudden there is a pause, a quietness and stillness in the child I am working with. Then I watch in amazement: the focus of their gaze as if in deep thought, or a smile appears on their face as if in appreciation of something new, something interesting. That’s followed by an openness and responsiveness to the ‘movement suggestions’ I am conveying through my touch. All of these signs tell me: this child’s ‘Learning Switch’ is on.
The ‘Learning Switch’ is, of course, a metaphor and not a bio-mechanical device in our brains. It implies that at any given moment, your child can either be poised to learn or not. When the Learning Switch is turned on, your child becomes more alert, interested and better able to take in information. This increases the likelihood for them to learn something new.
To further support and accelerate your child’s development, it is very important for you to notice and recognize whether your child’s Learning Switch is on or off. When it is off, what you do with your child can have little effect. When turned on, your child is receptive not only to the sights, sounds, smells, taste, and sensations from the world around him but also receptive to the feelings and sensations within their body. With the added focus and attention to this stimulation, your child can begin to learn in an accelerated way.
Important changes begin occurring in your child…
3 PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR YOU TO EXPLORE
Is the Switch on?
Learning to recognize when your child’s Learning Switch is turned on will further support you to help your child to learn at their best. You’ll also know to give your child space when they are not primed for learning. Remember the signs mentioned above? Your child’s eyes get brighter. Your child moves and follows what you are doing with them. Your child smiles or laughs and is happy. Your child is curious and interested, more aware of what’s going on around and within themselves.
Avoid turn-offs
Watch out for signs of turn-off and avoid them. Is your child tired or hungry? Is your child uncomfortable or maybe something is hurting? Is your child bored and uninterested in what you have to show them? Is your child feeling stuck or powerless in any situation?
Provide turn-ons
Find out what interests your child. It could be certain sounds, colours, shapes, games, activities, or certain foods. Use them as incentives to motivate interaction and movement exploration. Use the other 8 essentials: Movement with attention, Slow, Subtlety, Variation, Enthusiasm, Flexible Goals, Imagination and Awareness. Combining any of these essentials with something your child likes is almost certain to turn on their learning switch.
When as parents you widen your focus and see your child beyond their limitations, you turn your own Learning Switch back ON, making you a better parent/partner in supporting your child’s growth and development.
Adapted from “Kids Beyond Limits” by Anat Baniel.
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO PONDER:
- What turns my ‘Learning Switch’ on? What turns it off?
- How can I keep my own ‘Learning Switch’ on?
- When was the last time I immersed myself in doing something I love?
Now it’s up to you to engage yourself in this process.
