Author: Dr. Sandra Tsang
Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration
Three-year-old Ho Yan is affectionately called a “ scholar-lord” by her grandmother because she loves learning and enjoys going to school. When she attended preschool for the first time, she confidently bid farewell to her mother and happily stayed in the classroom to participate in activities. She was intrigued by the new toys and willingly shared them with her classmates. At the end of the school day, she could easily say goodbye to her teacher and classmates, returning home happily with her mother without any difficulties in adapting.
Ho Yan ‘s performance may be attributed to her naturally friendly disposition, but credit should also be given to her parents and family members for nurturing her with strategies that encourage joyful exploration and learning. They understand:
- Children must learn: The transition from a vulnerable infant to a self-reliant individual and a lifelong learner is the result of continuous growth and learning. Being overly protected and pampered can hinder a child’s learning and progress.
- Children need comprehensive learning: Some parents may focus solely on enhancing their child’s intellectual abilities but fail to recognize that child development encompasses physical, psychological, social, and moral aspects. It requires appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and skills to progress systematically. Therefore, adults should provide opportunities for children to learn comprehensively rather than solely emphasizing knowledge acquisition.
- Children learn naturally: As children grow physically and intellectually, their range and depth of exploration expand day by day. With physical and cognitive growth, coupled with opportunities for exploration, children naturally learn to solve problems and gain experiences and knowledge.
- Children learn happily: The saying, “ Failure teaches success,” encourages perseverance in the face of failure. However, in reality, happiness is the true mother of success. The more joyful the learning process, the more satisfaction it brings, and children will be more engaged in their efforts. “Success” does not necessarily mean completing a specific task; it lies in the experience gained and the ability to solve small problems, accumulating the capacity to handle more complex issues. The satisfaction derived from the process itself is the source of happiness, motivating individuals to pursue existing or new goals.
- Children learn actively: The satisfaction derived from joyful learning promotes curiosity and drives individuals toward higher goals. For example, when a child is building a tower of blocks, they fearlessly make repeated attempts, always aiming to build it higher. In early childhood, when a child is attempting to kick a ball, if adults patiently wait for the child to try again instead of immediately helping them stand or stabilizing the ball, the child will be happier to practice and succeed through their own efforts. In terms of academic learning, the “learn to read, then read to learn” approach is crucial. By gradually expanding their vocabulary, children naturally absorb knowledge from books based on the words and pictures they recognize. Therefore, taking children to the library for free exploration is a cost-effective and highly beneficial activity that promotes joyful learning and is highly encouraged.
