The Importance of Watching Adults at Work

We’ve all heard the phrase “You are what you eat,” but I think that “You are what you see” might be even more important to remember.

Modeling is one of the fundamental methods of raising moral, social, and well-educated children.  We all know this, but sometimes we allow our desire to educate our children get in the way of their learning.  Rather than allowing them to have the time and freedom to goof off in the garage with dad or make a mess in the garden with mom, we try to speed up the process.  We buy books about botany and physics, thinking that they are a more scholarly way to learn.  What a tragedy.

Our children need to learn skills that go beyond memorizing the most important information.  The opportunity to observe is invaluable.  Children love being involved with “real” work.  It empowers them to learn for themselves, developing essential skills and abilities.

But, what if you don’t do anything glamorous?

Repairing cars and learning to quilt seem like tasks that would be important to learn by watching, but in all reality it is the smaller tasks that are really the most important.  We do these “jobs” every day without thought: accountant, travel agent, cook, tutor and, yes, maid. What does it take to plan ahead? Create a budget? Schedule appointments? Clean oil stains out of clothes?  These are things we know, but rarely communicate.

Training our children to become skilled adults is important work.  Next week I’ll share my favorite tips for getting out of my own way and allowing my kids to learn through mentoring.  If you haven’t subscribed yet, click below to ensure that you don’t miss it!

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Play, explore, observe. It isn’t just fun, it is part of their education!

PS – My latest post is up at Sandbox to Socrates – Classical Education and the Dyslexic Child.  Take a look!