Ongoing research in child development, neurological science, educational psychology, and related fields continues to inform attitudes and perspectives about how children learn, how educators teach, and how parents can support their children both at home and at school.

There’s no one educational or parenting approach that’s suitable for every child; moreover, in the whole scheme of things, there’s still a lot to learn. There’s an ever-increasing wealth of information as parents seek to increase their understanding of intelligence, educational opportunities, and ways to identify and address their child’s learning needs. Parents have questions and concerns, and these affect their attitudes. They may wonder what to do first, next, and after that, in order to encourage and support their child’s learning.

TAKING INITIATIVE: THREE VITAL POINTS

1. It’s prudent to both proactively and reactively acquire pertinent and current information. By being resourceful, parents can find out about child development issues, the nature of intelligence, and how children learn. However, there’s a proliferation of resource material to sift through, read, consider, and then apply. Therefore, it makes good sense for parents to collaborate with their child’s teachers and, if necessary, with other professionals (such as psychologists, speech therapists, caregivers, coaches, educational consultants. audiologists, and social workers)—plus grandparents and extended family members. Together, and based on the lived experience and specific needs of the child, they can build a suitable framework to address whatever requires attention. For example, parents may want to acquire information relating to their child’s achievement and aptitude, social and emotional well-being, programming, or domain-specific areas of strength and weakness.
2. Remember that parents’ attitudes about a child’s learning journey can be influenced by many factors. These include the following:
   — the type and accuracy of the resource material parents acquire, reflect upon, and apply;
   — the kinds and extent of support provided by educators, counselors, and other professionals;
   — the degree of networking and sharing of useful information with others;
   — and the extent to which parents are open-minded, flexible, and responsive when confronting rough patches encountered over time at home, in educational settings, and elsewhere.
3. Pay attention to your child’s perspectives and to their learning and play preferences. Children may not be able to express or fully understand what they’re feeling or what they need. However, their own attitudes, curiosities, uncertainties, tendencies, assumptions, excitabilities, cognitive levels, and questions about their learning and development matter. What are their concerns? These can be addressed through parents’ investigative and advocacy efforts, buoyed by supportive parental attitudes.

SUPPORT AND RESPONSIBILITY

Parental attitudes about a child’s learning trajectory tend to be invigorated and made more positive when understandings are clarified and when they perceive success in finding and providing appropriate learning opportunities for their child.

Here are suggestions for providing optimal guidance as children grow from the early years onward:

1. Appreciate your child’s uniqueness. This includes their interests, experiences, learning preferences, and ways of functioning.
2. Recognize that every child — regardless of age — has an active role in creating their own intelligence. Listen. Chat. Observe. Encourage. Embrace familial teamwork.
3. Be wary of misinformation. Such material can be bewildering, daunting, overwhelming, or misleading. Cultivate inquiry, regularly access community support systems, and seek informed material and understandings about learning from multiple reliable sources.

Parents who keep all the above-noted information top-of-mind are well-positioned to become attitudinally stronger and, thereby, better equipped to respond to their child’s needs.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Many of the ideas shared here also appear in the segment Parental Attitudes, written by Dr. Joanne Foster and published in the Encyclopedia of Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent. Sage Publications. 2:668-670.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Joanne Foster, Ed.D., is a multiple-award-winning author of several books. Her most recent is Ignite Your Ideas: Creativity for Kids. She has written scores of articles for First Time Parent Magazine and other publications. To find out about Dr. Foster’s writing, presentations, and newsletter—and for resources on supporting children’s learning and well-being—go to https://joannefoster.ca

Cover Photo by Andrea Piacquadio