The Learning Blog
KLIF Blog is for sharing tips, ideas, activities, products, reviews and competitions that will help create a fun learning environment in your home for your children.
Learning from Siblings
I have talked in the past about how important your role as a parent is in your child’s learning however today I would like to touch on the role of siblings in learning.
I have 3 boys – one in year 5, one year 1 and a 3 year old. Ever since my eldest was in school, my 5 year old has been so keen to learn everything his big brother was. Whenever my eldest brought home homework, we would have to create some for Mr 5.
My eldest has had learning difficulties throughout his schooling experience so to have a child so keen to learn and pick up on concepts was great. There is no pushing with Mr 5 as he wants to learn and do as much as he can. He has picked up many of the concepts his elder brother took longer to achieve.
I am now seeing the same thirst for learning in my 3 year old. He loves to be able to do the things his big brothers do. He loves it when either of his brothers read to him - asking them what is this word, or what is this letter and he copies many of the things Mr 5 does, repeating letters, pointing out letters, counting etc.
The most obvious activity he wants to accomplish to be like his brothers is to write his name. He watches Mr 5 often write his name and everyone else’s and really tries hard to write his own. Here is one of his recent attempts at his name – Oliver. He knows it starts with a big O, has an L and a V. We are still working on the other letters.
At the shop the other day, we were sitting having a special morning tea while the boys were at school, and he proceeded to find all the O’s on the signs around us, then the B’s for his big brother and then the N’s for Mr 5.
He watches, listens and follows them very closely – soaking up all their knowledge.
Do you have younger ones who love to learn from their siblings? What do they learn the most?