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After long weeks of summer vacation, many of us—parents, students (and teachers) alike — are struggling to return to routines, schedules, and the structured learning environment that school provides. But before we jump back into the familiar rhythm of the academic year, I’d like to pose a question: Did our children really take a break from learning?

 

What Does It Mean for Our Children to Learn?

We often associate learning with what happens in the classroom—lessons, homework, and exams. Yet, learning is far more expansive than that. It’s a continuous process that doesn’t pause when school lets out for the summer. In fact, some of the most meaningful learning experiences happen outside of school, in the simple, everyday moments of life.

During these holidays, your children might have embarked on adventures, discovered new hobbies, or spent quality time with family. They might have faced new challenges or enjoyed the freedom to explore their interests. These experiences—whether big or small—contribute to their learning journey. They help shape their understanding of the world, develop their creativity, and build their character.

 

 

Learning Is an Active Process

Even when our children learn something relatively quickly, it’s still a multi-step process. To learn, they must encounter new information, pay attention to it, coordinate it with what they already know, store it in their memory, and apply it. This might explain why we often have such vivid holiday memories—those experiences were active learning moments.

Learning involves ongoing, active processes of inquiry, engagement, and participation in the world around us. They actively learn when our children are fully engaged, whether in play, conversation, or exploration. This process is essential for them to make sense of the world and to integrate new knowledge with existing understanding.

 

Environment Is Everything

Creating environments that support brain development is a complex task. Experts in neurology and education agree that a child’s physical and mental development should be considered as integrated factors when building an environment suitable for learning. The human brain is essentially hardwired for social interaction, which allows us to connect to the experiences of others. Positive relationships facilitate learning, so learning environments should be community-oriented.

 

Our children’s experiences—and, therefore, their brains—are shaped by the meanings and understandings they gain from their surroundings. Language, for example, has properties specific to one’s culture, greatly influencing young people. As parents and educators, it’s crucial to recognize that everyone learns differently and that our environments can significantly impact how our children absorb and process information.

 

Did Our Children Learn Something During the Holidays?

Let’s reflect on the past few weeks. How did our children engage their minds during the break? Did they encounter new ideas, solve problems, or use their imagination unexpectedly? Or did we, as adults, perhaps overlook these learning moments because they didn’t come in the form of traditional schoolwork?

It’s essential to recognize that learning doesn’t take a holiday, nor should our awareness of it. This doesn’t mean we need to impose strict academic activities during the break. Instead, it’s about valuing the learning that happens naturally through play, exploration, and conversation.

Think back to the holidays: Did your child surprise you with an insightful question? Did they invent a new game or take on a new responsibility at home? If they did, then they were learning. And if we didn’t notice, it might be time to broaden our understanding of what learning looks like.

 

Why Is Learning So Important, Inside and Outside of School?

As we prepare for the new school year, let’s consider how we, as parents and educators, can support a broader view of learning. Learning isn’t confined to the classroom—it’s an ongoing process that nurtures curiosity, encourages imagination, and fosters resilience.

The growth mindset, a concept developed by Carol Dweck, is particularly relevant here. It teaches us that intelligence and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset is not just for students; it’s for all of us who guide and support them. It reminds us that learning happens everywhere, all the time and that our role is to recognize and nurture it in every context.

Learning is the foundation of personal and social development. Whether it’s through the structured environment of school or the freedom of summer, every experience adds to our children’s growth. As parents and teachers, our task is to help them see the connections between what they learn in school and what they experience in life.

 

Looking Forward: A Year of Learning Together

As we look ahead to the new school year, I encourage you to join me in fostering a learning environment that extends beyond the classroom. Let’s work together to ensure that our children carry the lessons of the holidays into their academic lives. How can we help them connect what they’ve learned during the break to their schoolwork? How can we encourage them to bring their creativity and imagination into their studies?

This year, let’s not just send our children back to school—let’s send them back to learning. Let’s approach the school year with the mindset that every moment is an opportunity to learn, grow, and inspire. Together, as parents and educators, we can make this year not just about academic achievement but about cultivating a love for learning that lasts a lifetime.

So, did we really take a break from learning this summer? Or did we just change the classroom?