Tips for Raising a Child Who Loves to Learn

October 1, 2010

We were in the airport this weekend on our way to lead workshops in Phoenix, Arizona. As we waited in the line to go through security we were chatting with one of the TSA agents. After looking at all of our presentation gear, he inquired about our travels. When we told him we were educators going to present workshops to other teachers, his face lit up. He asked if we would please tell teachers, so they would in turn tell parents of their own students, his "Top Three Tips to Raising a Child Who Loves to Learn and has a Great Background of Information." Here they are:

1. On the wall of each of his children's room, as well as in their family room, he hangs a world map and a US map. When the family is reading a book, magazine, newspaper, watching a program, or having a conversation, they can always discover where in the world the subject is located.
2. Each night at dinner, they muse over 5 words from books, newspapers or magazines they've been reading. The words are written on a piece of paper, discussed, and a challenge issued. They have to use the words in conversation the next day. The next evening's meal begins with raucous banter revolving around who used the words, how they'd used them and how many times they'd snuck them into conversation. Choosing new words is a responsibility they all share.
3. He reads to his children every single day. He began when they were infants and continues without ceasing. He reads to his high school aged children and the college sophomore at every return visit home. From board books to a lively mix of classics, best sellers, newspaper articles, magazines, instructional manuals and editorials, their lives are rich and deeply immersed in text.

Needless to say, we were impressed! With great pride he told us about his oldest son who graduated with high school honors and went on to do something no one in his family had done before; gone to college. He fully expected his other four children to follow the same path.

What a gift. What a legacy. What an inspiration. So, we'll do better than pass it on at our conference, we'll pass it on to all of you. Imagine what the next generation would be like if they came from homes like this one, where learning is expected, enjoyed, and loved.