When Children Love to Learn

I recently read the book When Children Love to Learn.  It is a collection of essays on Charlotte Mason's teaching philosophy, which has been making a comeback over the last decade or so. Like most books I read, I didn't agree with everything 100%, but I took some great ideas away from it. I lean toward the classical education model myself, but I love Ms Mason's focus on "living" books, narration, and developing a love for nature and the arts. Check out the book if you're interested in learning more; it was a thoughtful but easy read. Here are a few of my favorite quotes, all from the introduction:

Children are best educated through careful relationships on the part of the adults—the parents and teachers—who are themselves in a lifelong process of learning and subject to the same duties and freedoms within a Christian worldview

This book soundly rejects the view that a child’s ultimate worth lies in either intelligence, material circumstances, what he or she might become through grooming or talent, or anything else except in this remarkable fact—that he or she has been made in the image of a personal and infinite God and is especially confirmed by Jesus: “. . . of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14).

This guide attempts to follow a tradition of giving serious thought to what Christian education today means for all children everywhere, to enable them to be learning for life and everlasting life. This is education for a purpose and not as a status symbol. Of course it means having skills to earn a living, but it also means glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.

Every child is created and uniquely gifted by God. They learn in their own ways and at their own pace. Forcing them into learning things they are not ready for leads to boredom, burnout, or feelings of inadequacy. In contrast, opening their eyes to learning and wonder in an appropriate way creates lifelong learners.