Thursday, March 05, 2009

Helping Children Appreciate the Value of Learning

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

 

From TODAY, Voices

Monday, 02-March-2009

 

By Dr James Dobson

 

If you were in National Service, you probably remember a drill they put new recruits through in basic training. You had to put on a protective mask on and enter a room filled with tear gas, and stay there until you were told to leave.

 

I nearly tore the door off of the building when I was finally allowed to “escape”.

 

The sergeant showing us how to put on the masks didn’t have to be a great teacher.

 

If we failed to follow instructions, we were in for a terrible experience in the gas-filled building. In other words, we were motivated to learn.

 

My friend, Dr Cliff Schimmels, defines motivation as the ability of the learner to see the applied value of the lesson to be learned.

 

We need to establish a clear relationship between what our children are asked to do, and where they’ll be able to go when that knowledge has been acquired.

 

Advertisers say, “Sell the sizzle, not the steak.” If we can teach our children the advantages of learning, they’ll want to cultivate their minds.

 

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