How Children Learn
Encyclopedia
How Children Learn is a nonfiction book by educator John Holt
, first published in 1967. A revised edition was released in 1983 with new chapters and commentaries.
The book focuses on Holt's interactions with young children, and his observations of children learning
. From these experiences he attempts to make sense of how and why children do the things they do. The central thesis of his work is that children learn most effectively by their own motivation
and on their own terms. He opposes teaching in general, believing that children find it just as patronizing as would an adult, and that parent
s should only provide information as it is requested.
Children learn best when they are not pressured to learn in a way that is of no interest to them. For example, the first thing all educators should do is evaluate which type of multiple intelligence students' possess and teach and assess them individually on the basis of this.
John Caldwell Holt
John Caldwell Holt was an American author and educator, a proponent of homeschooling, and a pioneer in youth rights theory.-Biography:...
, first published in 1967. A revised edition was released in 1983 with new chapters and commentaries.
The book focuses on Holt's interactions with young children, and his observations of children learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
. From these experiences he attempts to make sense of how and why children do the things they do. The central thesis of his work is that children learn most effectively by their own motivation
Motivation
Motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals. Motivation is said to be intrinsic or extrinsic. The term is generally used for humans but it can also be used to describe the causes for animal behavior as well. This article refers to human motivation...
and on their own terms. He opposes teaching in general, believing that children find it just as patronizing as would an adult, and that parent
Parent
A parent is a caretaker of the offspring in their own species. In humans, a parent is of a child . Children can have one or more parents, but they must have two biological parents. Biological parents consist of the male who sired the child and the female who gave birth to the child...
s should only provide information as it is requested.
Children learn best when they are not pressured to learn in a way that is of no interest to them. For example, the first thing all educators should do is evaluate which type of multiple intelligence students' possess and teach and assess them individually on the basis of this.