Discovery

I’ve been thinking…

…about learning.

Most synonyms associated with “learning” suggest schooling — studying, knowledge, to be taught.  

I like to think about learning as discovering. We don’t have to be in a classroom for that.

Five of my now six grands are in school — pre-k to 2nd.  They are learning — in the formal sense — reading, writing, and arithmetic, and so much more.  

But what excites me is seeing and hearing about their discoveries.  

A tree came down on John’s favorite path.  High winds blew it down, but on close inspection, the base of the tree was completely decayed.  A big discovery:  trees have a life span, and that tree was in its last days even before the wind pushed it over. 

Cara was concerned about Daisy’s sore leg.  A conversation with the veterinarian helped her discover that her little dachshund’s short legs can’t walk as far as Cara can go on her bike.  Cara devised ways for Daisy to go with her – just not all the way on her little legs. 

Cam is excited to see the turtles again on their logs in their local pond.  He discovered that the warm weather entices them to come up from their muddy winter lairs deep under the water.  

Mallory and Jamie experiment bake all the time.  Jamie discovered that flour needs baking soda to rise, but don’t add too much.  Mallory experiments with all kinds of foods for smoothies and has hit on her favorite — strawberry and banana.    Both Mallory and Jamie have discovered the number of teaspoons in a tablespoon, and the number of tablespoons in a quarter cup.  Ratios! 

Learning happens all the time — on walks, in conversations, by hanging out in the kitchen. 

My wish is that “homework time” could really be “discovering time.”    Conversations, creative play, and activities (like those on the ACTIVITY page of this website!) are rich with discoveries.  Quiet times when little ones read for fun with their adult reading partners are always moments of delightful discoveries.   

School is a wonderful blessing in children’s lives.  But home does not need to be an extension of school.  Relax and enjoy discovering all the wonders that life holds outside of the classroom. 

For a real-world extension of this theme see “Resources” on this website:  Faith Thayer Fitzgerald, MD  touts the power of “curiosity” — the precursor to “discovering.”