If you want children to get excited about learning and develop into lifelong learners, let them take control.

But…

Will my children learn if they take control? How can my children determine what to learn?

Interest based learning (IBL) allows children to discover more information about what they are already interested in. When IBL is the focus for children, they are more likely to retain what they are taught and to develop a curiosity to discover more. Motivation and interest matters, and we all learn better when we are interested in a topic.

IBL creates an education that is specifically tailored to the child. The curriculum is focused on what interests each child. IBL works best with homeschooling because the child leads the way rather than learning a prescribed set of information that is typical in a traditional school setting.  Additionally, with homeschooling, parents can spend more time on a skill or lesson if the child is struggling with a concept. Or, if the child understands the concept quickly and wants to explore more topics, the parent has the flexibility to make it happen.

When students are allowed to move at their own pace, they experience less frustration and more success. Gifted students no longer need to wait for others to catch-up, and those who are struggling and need more time, do not need to feel embarrassed or judged. When students lead the way according to their interests, they gain more confidence because they have more say in what they want to learn. And, we all know that if we are doing something that interests us, we tend to gain a more in-depth understanding because we want to know more as opposed to spending time on a topic that bores us.

Students learn the same necessary skills that all children must learn; it’s just that the topics are geared more towards the child’s interests. In contrast to theme-based learning where students learn information connected to a specific topic, IBL may teach the same topic, but it allows children to take a deeper look at what interests them about the topic.

For example, if the topic in theme-based learning is transportation, children will learn about all types of transportation throughout several classes over a set period of time. In an IBL education, children will also learn about all types of transportation. But, if the child demonstrates a special interest in airplanes, it becomes an opportunity to dive deeper into understanding the history and types of airplanes. The topics of interest can be paired with traditional subjects, so children learn all of the necessary skills. Yet, they are less bored when learning about a topic that interests them. Less boredom equates to a motivation to learn.

The homeschooling environment works best with IBL since parents are invested in creating a love for learning in their children. As you sit on the floor and play with your child, take note of their interests. What holds your child’s attention? Which activity makes them laugh or smile? The answers to these questions become the beginning of IBL. Let them lead the way as they play.