First Teacher - (Preschool Version)

Author: Zhou Congxiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: How to Cultivate Interest
When a child develops an interest in a certain area, they have already succeeded half the way. Compared to adults, children have one obvious characteristic: a lack of willpower. Adults can use willpower to do things they are not interested in, but children find it difficult to do so. Almost everything they are willing or unwilling to do is influenced by their personal interests. Therefore, to help children develop their abilities and qualities smoothly, master knowledge and skills, we must first stimulate and cultivate their interests. And how to cultivate children's interests is a question every parent must seriously consider.
Environmental Influence
Everyone may have heard the saying, "People are the children of their environment." Although this statement is somewhat absolute, it profoundly reveals the close relationship between people and their environment. From the moment a person is born, they are deeply influenced by their surroundings, and some of their physiological and psychological characteristics are consistent with the characteristics of the environment they are in. For growing children, the kind of environmental stimuli they encounter will determine the kind of influence it has on them. Based on this psychological principle, when we hope to spark a certain interest in our children, we should provide the corresponding environmental stimuli. If we want to cultivate a child's interest in painting, parents can spend one or two hours each day painting intently in front of them. Even if the parents don't know much about painting, it doesn't matter. As long as they pick up a pen and paint seriously, the quality of the painting is irrelevant. What matters is the parents' demeanor and attitude when doing so. When the child is attracted and inspired to join in, parents can even pretend to take the paintbrush away or act as if they won't let the child paint, which will further stimulate their interest in painting. If parents want to inspire their child's interest in picture-word recognition, they shouldn't force the child to recognize or recite the words. Instead, they can read the picture-word cards aloud every day with enthusiasm and excitement. Young children love to imitate, so they will definitely be interested in picture-word recognition. If parents hope to spark their child's interest in music, they can play some famous classical music tapes every day at home. After a while, they will notice that the child has unknowingly developed a love for music.
Game-Based Stimulation
For children, play is life. Play holds an immeasurable magic for them. In play, a child's mind and hands are free, which is essentially a joyful and autonomous form of learning. Therefore, when cultivating a child's interests, parents are best to use the form of play, so that they can guide the child, educate through fun, and let the child learn through play and "play" to gain knowledge. For example, if you want to teach a child math, simply telling them "3 - 1 = 2" will be difficult for them to understand and remember, as their thinking is primarily visual. However, if you take out three balloons and tell them, "I have three balloons—red, green, and blue. Suddenly, the green balloon explodes. How many balloons are left?" they will easily understand "3 - 1 = 2." Using similar methods to help children learn will spark their interest in learning and make them enjoy it. Practice has proven that when children are interested, they will study attentively and learn proactively. Therefore, parents must be careful to nurture their child's