Sometimes, we look at a child learning the British, American or Nigerian curriculum and our first question is:
"Why doesn't this child understand this yet?"
But perhaps a better question is:
"How is this child processing what I am teaching?"
A Primary 3 child, for example, is still developing attention, memory, self-control, reasoning, confidence and emotional regulation. These skills don't suddenly become perfect because the child has entered a particular class.
🧠A child needs time to think
When you ask a child a Mathematics question and they don't answer immediately, it doesn't always mean they don't know it.
Sometimes, the child is still processing the information.
Give the child a few seconds.
Ask, "What do you think?"
Let them explain.
Don't immediately give them the answer.
đź“š Curriculum is important, but the learner comes first
The British and American curricula encourage more than memorisation. Children are expected to reason, communicate, solve problems, explain their thinking and apply knowledge.
That means our teaching must also change.
We shouldn't only ask:
"What is the answer?"
We should ask:
"How did you get there?"
"Why do you think that?"
"Can you find another way?"
❤️ Patience is part of teaching
Some children learn quickly.
Some need repetition.
Some need pictures.
Some need examples from everyday life.
Some need to make mistakes several times before the concept finally clicks.
That doesn't mean we should lower our expectations.
It means we should change the route to the destination.
🎯 Train the child, not just the memory
A good learning environment should help a child develop:
- Self-control
- Concentration
- Independent thinking
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Confidence
- Curiosity
- Numerical reasoning
- Reading and comprehension
- The ability to learn from mistakes
And these things take time.
We shouldn't rush a child's thinking simply because the curriculum has a timetable.
The goal is not just to produce a child who can pass an examination.
The goal is to develop a child who can think, question, understand, communicate and eventually learn independently.
As parents and tutors, sometimes the most powerful thing we can give a child is not another worksheet.
It is patience, encouragement and enough time to think.
Teach the curriculum, but never forget the child learning it. ❤️