10 Ways to Get Young People Interested in Learning

In life, we all have to pick up new skills and abilities. We’re always learning and our brains are soaking up all kinds of information. Whatever we’re doing, we are consciously and subconsciously understanding and evolving. Whether we’re learning new tech education for the future or we’re studying a particular field, our minds will have to focus.

When it comes to teaching young people new things, there will be times when they are not as interested as they once were. This may come in the form of a module that just doesn’t stimulate them as others did. This could also come down to the fact that they’re having to learn something that is just not relevant to what they want in life. Whatever the reason, this kind of thing exists all of the time. It’s up to you as a teacher, lecturer, or guardian, to make sure they care enough in order to pick up new skills and learn all kinds of things. Here are a few ways you can do just that:

Set The Right Example Yourself

Whatever you do, they’re going to bounce off. If you are miserable when it comes to the work at hand, then you’re going to promote that kind of thing for them. If you are a positive person and actively want to get things done in order to learn, then they’ll be more like that. You have so much power and you probably don’t even know it. It’s not just your words that make you this way, but your body language, too. Make sure the people you’re looking to teach or encourage see that you’re interested in what you’re trying to get across.

Don’t Force Them And Dictate To Them

A lot of teachers or guardians struggle with getting their message across. They also don’t really know the best methods of teaching. The best thing to do is to simply avoid the dictation of things. Don’t just try and put information in their minds by telling them or getting them to write things down. This will not help their ability to remember and recall it. Use ways that will help things stick.

Approach It All In Way They’ll Understand And Relate To

Every single person’s mind is different and everyone views things through different prisms. We all have different interests, too, so one way of working will not be enough to grab everyone’s attention. If you can, try and talk about things in a way that they will understand. Just talking about things in a way that you know will not be enough. You have to get in their heads and figure out how they’ll be able to piece things together.

Use Practical Methods And Not Just Theory Work

If you are sitting around and only learning the theoretical side of things, then you’re not really going to remember too much. You have to get up and do a few things practically in order to really experience what you’re learning about. Make sure that practical work is a big part of things as it will impact hugely on one’s learning. Young people will need this kind of thing, too, as they have a little more energy than older people.

Use Exciting And Stimulating Software

In this day and age, we have loads of computer software out there that can teach us whatever we want to learn. When it comes to teaching young people, there are thousands of online worksheets available – and also paper sheets that can be ordered instantly. These kinds of things are brilliant for kids, adolescents, and young adults as they are able to break up the typical pattern and stimulate the brain a little.

Make Sure Their Working Environment Is Efficient Enough

If you’re in a classroom or any kind of working area, you have to make sure that everyone involved feels comfortable. It’s not just about having all the right equipment and apparatus – you have to ensure that they’re not feeling negative or anxious in any way, too.

Don’t Make Them Feel Anxious About What They’re Doing

We’ve just mentioned this, but it’s something that should be taken seriously because mental health is just as important as most other things. If someone isn’t feeling confident with what they’re doing, then you have to tailor your behavior and responses to suit them. So many people do not reach their potential due to fear and literally nothing else. It’s sad to see.

Promote Confidence And A Fearless Approach To Getting Things Wrong

So many young people out there are afraid of failure. They’re petrified of saying something stupid in front of an entire class. Make it clear that failure and making mistakes is all part of learning. The most successful people in the world have had to fail and make silly mistakes time and time again. The more you error, the better you become in the long term. Let them know this and they’ll flourish.

Work With Individuals Closely As Well As Collective Work

Just dealing with a group of people collectively might not be enough. So many individuals in a group can feel extremely isolated and behind – especially if they’re not really all that confident. Make sure everyone is on track and feels good

Positive Reinforcement

Too much positivity can make students a little complacent. They’ll feel as though they’ve done well even when they haven’t really put in the effort that they should’ve. A lot of young people are sensitive, however, so you have to make sure that you’re letting them know when they do a good job. There are a lot of teachers and lecturers out there that will be a little cold and not fully communicate what they did and didn’t do correctly. When they reach a goal, let them know how brilliant they were. This kind of behavior can really help out someone who wants to learn. It can also encourage someone who is uninterested or struggling for confidence.

Featured image: Kar-Tr, iStock.