By Evelynn Apple

Ask a child where people learn and she might reply, “School.”

Ask a fifty-year-old where people learn, and you will likely hear a different response. Adults know that most of life’s learning happens away from school. What a child learns from his parents— outside the classroom—can shape his lifelong attitude toward learning. Dads and moms can offer children priceless learning opportunities that surpass what any school can provide.

Parents can teach that learning is part of everyday life.

Do you reach for the dictionary when you hear an unfamiliar word? When an intriguing question springs to mind, do you consult an encyclopedia? Do you make special efforts to visit interesting places? Sometimes we simply want to satisfy our desire to know; at other times we need practical information to accomplish a task. In either instance our children see that learning is not something we do only to pass tests or get grades.

Nowhere is the principle of purposeful learning more important than in Bible study. If we limit our scripture learning to weekly sermons and Bible classes, we rob ourselves and our children. They should see that we read, ponder and discuss God’s Word every day—and that we use what we learn.  When we enjoy learning, our children know that it’s a vital, meaningful part of daily life.

Parents can train children to use their skills.

Life requires our children to use academic learning in business, household management, and communication. Why not challenge them to practice their skills now? Can your child plan the family’s monthly grocery purchases within your budget? Read a map and give directions? Design and compose a family newsletter?

We also train our children in practical, non-academic life skills. Do you repair your own vehicle? Train a junior mechanic while you work. Are you an excellent baker? Enlist a helper. Even simple cleaning and maintenance work is best taught by mom and dad.

It’s often easier to assume household tasks ourselves rather than delegate them to an amateur, because hands-on learning can be messy and time-consuming. But we shouldn’t miss opportunities to teach our children how to apply their knowledge. Give them permission to make mistakes as they learn, and enjoy helping them to become competent adults.

Parents can help children develop their interests and talents.

We hope our children eventually find useful, enjoyable work, so we want them to discover and develop their specific strengths. Most schools simply don’t have time or resources to custom-fit an education to every individual, but parents can do it themselves.

Does your child have a worthwhile special interest? Make an effort to explore it. A student who finds a particular subject exciting might need more time and instruction than school can provide. Help her explore the library, the internet and nearby resources. Perhaps a local expert would welcome you to visit and chat.

We should value our children’s non- academic strengths as well. A child who can dismantle and correctly reassemble a bicycle has a skill worth encouraging. Do you visit a bike shop? The owner might be happy to explain the latest cycling technology.

What would your children like to see? Ask them to suggest family field trip destinations. No matter where our children’s strengths lie, we can provide time, space and resources—outside of school— to sustain their interest and encourage their growth.

Parents can teach children to think.

The last thing we want our children to do is accept as fact everything the world presents. Much of what passes for knowledge and wisdom—-even in school— actually contradicts truth. Our children will encounter an endless stream of false theories, misguided religious beliefs and distorted moralities. Parents must train children to critically examine what they learn in school, read in the newspaper and view on television. Does it make sense? Is it true simply because most people think so? Does it mesh with what we find in scripture? How can we discover whether something is true or not? If our children are to resist error and stand for truth, we must train them to be logical thinkers.

Parents can help children develop a good attitude toward learning.

Babies arrive thirsty for knowledge. They absorb visual clues, sounds and words at an amazing rate. Some children, though, eventually develop an aversion to school and learning. What can parents do? If addiction to empty entertainment is the root of a child’s poor attitude, the first step is obvious: eliminate or severely limit the time a child is allowed to spend on these pursuits. Devoting countless hours

to television and video games can sap a child’s motivation and creativity. Once these time-wasters no longer devour the bulk of your child’s free time, you can reintroduce the genuine fun of reading, playing, creating, learning, and interacting with family and friends.

As parents, we are our children’s first and most influential teachers. By exemplifying learning and by teaching outside the classroom, we can encourage our children to become lifelong learners.