Many educators now recognize the value of hands-on learning. By doing and experiencing something, learners understand more about the subject. The simple act of counting cubes, sorting objects, and making quick observations keeps them engaged and enables the body to be part of the learning process.
Most young children learn faster with hands-on learning. They learn through copying, observing, and experimenting with their hands and body. Children do this as early as after a few months they have been out in the world.
Here are the top reasons why hands-on learning is the best way for children to learn.
Continuous Engagement
Skill development relies on hand-eye coordination and mind-muscle connection. Hands-on learning with various materials with unique textures becomes integrated into a child’s mind. For instance, teaching the alphabet to children with pictures and images can immediately become tiresome for young children. Alternatively, using playdough and sand to form letters keeps them engaged and interested in what they can do and create.
Real-World Learning
Actual experiences teach much more than understanding the theory behind them. Sweeping the house with a parent teaches them about cleaning the house rather than just being told to do so. Real-world learning keeps young children involved even if their attempts aren’t helpful because the experience opens up something inside them.
Interaction with Nature
Nature is a rare experience for most children today. Technology and urban settings have made it challenging to bring children to natural sites and wildernesses. Hands-on activities will expose them to these experiences by going on excursions to learn about farming, gardening, and how to take care of the environment.
Studies have shown that interaction with nature helps physical and mental health. Furthermore, young children exposed early to nature will gain deep respect and belongingness when they step out of their homes.
Sensual Exploration
Making a mess is a crucial part of learning for young children. It engages their senses and helps them learn more about the world and encourages children to see, touch, smell, hear, and taste the experience. For example, playing with non-toxic slime or paint is a great way for young children to interact with their five senses. They might also encourage them to learn the names of the materials or describe the experience.
Left-Right Brain Activation
Hands-on activities activate both hemispheres of the brain. A child’s creative and sensual side will work with the logical side of the brain when forming a letter using clay or other materials. Multiple activities, like talking and listening, activate both areas of their brain and helps them learn and remember their lessons faster. Providing More Than Peach Children’s Book to your child is the best way to boost his learning ability
Fine Motor Skills Development
Hands-on activities create valuable mind-muscle connections for children, such as cutting, sticking, sorting, moulding, and manipulating. Writing is also a huge part of fine motor skills development and will help them do important tasks like tying shoelaces or performing delicate operations with their hands.
Gamified Learning Process
Hands-on lessons can be a gamified process that encourages students to understand the lessons using materials and create an innovative solution that makes failure a valuable part of the process. Working with your hands, muscles, and the brain keeps your entire body from being idle and having true engagement with the topic. Taking notes is an unrelated activity and doesn’t feel like an organic part of the lesson.
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