You’ve watched children at play, right? They build worlds, invent dialogue, and establish rules.

In short, they do this:

formulate, form, put together, devise, design, invent, compose, concoct, contrive, work out, hatch; fashion, mould, model, shape, frame; forge, engineer, fabricate, manufacture, hammer out, thrash out.

Cognitive learning is using our brains to understand through thinking, remembering and solving problems. Cognition is the process of thinking. Cognitive (or mental) awareness is an understanding of what’s going on around you.

Put aside, for a moment, the physical skills involved in driving a vehicle. Concentrate on the cognitive abilities you need each time you get behind the wheel.

It’s a no-brainer that we influence the children in our lives. Our behaviours as adults have a profound impact. Children observe without knowing they are doing it. You realise they have observed when they demonstrate one of your behaviours.

Learning is constant; we never stop. Much of it stays with us our entire lives. Remember the fumbling fingers trying to tie a shoelace? Once mastered, we retain it forever. (And we tend to do it the same way forever.)

You are your child’s first teacher. Before the formalised school setting, children learn through play and curiosity.

One of the many ways we learn is through curiosity. Scientists are curious. Engineers are curious. They want answers, so they go about trying to find them. Young children are naturally curious.

Early learners discover textures by putting things in their mouths. As they grow, their levels of sophistication improve. They know the beach sand isn’t worth eating, but the piece of apple is.

We all think critically. Critical thinking is a life skill that guides us when making decisions. For example, deciding what to have for dinner involves critical thinking. You gather information about ingredients in the fridge or pantry and organise them into a workable recipe.

Welcome to 2025! New year, new blog topics, new books. This year, we’re going to focus on learning theories. First up, The Play Theory. (There’s a short video here.)

All of us learn through play. Yes, even we adults benefit from play.

Watch a toddler interact with their environment. From picking up things and tasting them to banging them together, their brains encode vital information.

Dear Parents, Merry Christmas.

In today's fast-paced world, children's stamina and well-being play crucial roles in their overall development and academic success. Understanding the interconnectedness of physical health, cognitive function, nutrition, and emotional well-being is essential for creating an optimal learning environment.

As parents, we walk fine lines. We want our children to find their feet and make us proud. Of course, developing human organisms will get it wrong. Mistakes form the basis of learning. I have yet to meet someone who has learned from not making mistakes.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to talk with your children. Notice the words ‘talk with,’ which contrast with ‘talk to.’

Talking with your children means having a conversation, whereas talking to them implies a one-sided discussion in which one party talks and the other listens.

Nurturing growing minds is among the most rewarding things we can do as parents. A bunch of other adjectives apply here as well. Frustrating is top of the list. I want to back that up with two verbs–sustain and support.

Reliability is not just a trait, it's a powerful tool that brings certainty, generates trust, and builds solid relationships. As children grow older, they rely on their relationship with you. They need to know you’re there for them, and your reliability is what makes you an integral part of their lives.

I began my teaching career when challenging students were handled using a process called ‘behaviour modification.’

There were many supporting theories about why behaviour modification worked. However, as my career progressed, I uncovered many more theories about why it didn’t work. One key factor was the lack of effective communication.

Parenting is a beautiful journey, but it’s not without its challenges. Children, like many adults, exhibit a wide range of behaviours. From stubbornness to destructiveness, these behaviours are more common than you think.

We parents have rubbed shoulders with the ‘O’ word–an obstinate person. Each one of us displays it. Each time we stare at something unpleasant, it appears. Adults are great at making excuses:

‘I’m too busy …’

‘I don’t have time …’

‘That’s not in my job description …’

Our imaginations are wonderful. A child’s imagination conjures stories and characters from playthings, while an adult’s imagination predicts. It is our sixth sense. It’s our ‘what if’ function.

A child’s imagination is powerful. We adults can manipulate that power. Like all power, it can be used for good or not so good. Do we wonder why imagination takes a beating as we grow older?

Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

Maintaining a child’s focus is difficult, especially if distracted by something else. Screens, anyone?

If your child has a full working range of senses, feel blessed. Navigating a complicated life without one or more is challenging. Let’s focus on our ears. They get us out of trouble if our backs are turned and we can’t see a threat.

Let’s revisit a key point from our previous discussion-the significance of a structured morning routine. It's crucial to have one, even if it may seem like chaos at times. The key is to ensure that everyone is ready and off to their destinations. Remember, chaos can be its own reward, but only if you navigate through it.