CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN FROM LIFE.

Byline: Greg Steckler and Gerald Deskin 

Children learn in a variety of ways. They learn from observing their parents, friends and teachers. They learn by reading and watching TV. They learn by playing with a computer, but they learn especially well by doing. In particular, children learn by exploring their environment. Some of the best memories are those of exploring and playing outdoors.

Learning by doing outdoors - by finding animals and insects, by sharing with other children - is an excellent way for children to understand their environment. There is something about the ``hands on'' approach that teaches us information we never forget. The very lack of structure in the outdoors allows children to be more creative and to make up their own worlds. Children seem to get into fewer fights when they play outdoors, maybe because they can either play together or play alone in their own territory.

It doesn't take a lot of space to play outdoors. As long as there are trees and some grass, children seem to be happy surrounded by nature. Learning to camp, or going fishing allows children to appreciate and value nature.

Learning by doing indoors can also be exciting, and it is the main method for teaching children. Children learn in unstructured situations playing with their toys and with other children. Children can also learn about the outdoors by watching educational TV programs. We know more about far away places and about animals and birds by way of excellent educational TV programs. This is sometimes the first step in children wanting to see these animals at a local zoo, or later actually going to some of these places and exploring on their own. Most zoos have a special area in which children can touch and sometimes hold the more domesticated animals. Many children have animals as pets and, through caring for them, acquire a sense of responsibility.

Learning by doing on the computer allows children to explore new areas that are clearly exciting and informative. Because of the interactive nature of the computer, one can talk to people in distant places easily and inexpensively. While this is an exciting and fascinating way to learn about other people, as well as ourselves, we have to monitor our children lest they abuse this approach. One of the benefits of the computer is that children can learn about almost any subject quickly and easily - and have fun while doing it. They can also talk to others with the same interests. Yes, this approach can have its dangers, and parents need to monitor what younger children are doing on the computer.

Structured play has its place, too. Children love to play board games that are structured. However, parents must remember that they need to provide children with an opportunity to explore and to learn by doing in unstructured situations. We learn best in situations where we can discover ourselves. Our long-term memories are filled mostly with these kinds of experiences. Of course, we learn a great deal of information from our books, but it is of a different quality than what we learn by doing, exploring and experiencing.

Suggestions for parents: 1. Besides learning from books, allow your child to learn by doing. 2. Provide experiences in nature by various means, such as camping, fishing or by simply playing in the woods. 3. Try to find toys, games, or things for your child that allow them to use their creativity, rather than those that are very structured.