Our daughter started school last September, so we know first-hand that starting school is a big milestone, for both children and parents! As little ones step into the world of classrooms, uniforms and new friends, parents often wonder, how can I keep my child curious and excited about learning outside of school?
The truth is, while teachers play a large role, what happens at home is just as important. By creating a supportive, playful and curiosity-filled environment, you can help your child develop a lifelong love of learning.
Here are some simple, effective ways to nurture that spark now your child has started school.
1. Make Reading a Daily Ritual
Reading is one of the most powerful ways to fuel a love of learning, when our daughter started school, the main focus initially was on her reading. We recommend setting aside 10 to 15 minutes every day to read together. We found initially our daughter was tired when she got back from school, so we found reading while doing her hair in the mornings worked for us. She was awake and more alert to practice her reading and phonics. Repetition builds confidence, vocabulary and comprehension. But does your child actually understand what they’re reading? Comprehension is important, asking open-ended questions like “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character did that?” helps to encourage deeper thinking.
2. Celebrate Questions, Not Just Answers
Children are naturally curious. When they ask “why?”, it’s an opportunity to explore together rather than rush to a quick answer. If your child asks, “Why does the moon change shape?”, turn it into a mini project, look it up together, watch videos, or draw the moon’s phases. This teaches them that curiosity leads to discovery.
3. Connect Learning to Everyday Life
School lessons come alive when they’re linked to real life; maths becomes fun when measuring ingredients for baking and Science comes alive in the garden while spotting insects.
4. Encourage Creative Play
Not all learning comes from books or worksheets. Building with blocks, role-playing with toys, drawing and storytelling all strengthen problem-solving, imagination and critical thinking.
5. Praise Effort, Not Just Results
Children thrive when their effort is recognised more than the outcome. Instead of only celebrating a correct answer, say things like; “I love how hard you tried” and “That was a clever way to solve the problem.” This helps to build resilience and a growth mindset, helping children embrace challenges instead of fearing mistakes.
6. Stay Curious Together
One of the best ways to encourage a love of learning is to model it yourself. Share your own interests, read books alongside your child, or try a new skill together, like learning a recipe, a craft, or even a language. When children see that learning doesn’t stop with school, they’ll naturally follow your lead.
Sparking a love of learning doesn’t mean piling on extra homework, it’s about making curiosity, creativity and discovery part of everyday life. With small, consistent steps, you’ll help your child see learning as an exciting adventure, not a chore.
At Little Scholars Playground, we believe that education should be fun, accessible and inspiring. Explore our range of learning resources designed to make learning at home joyful for both children and parents. Shop here.
