This week , I have yet another post by Christopher Haymon of adultingdigest.com. This is a bit of a different subject than what I usually publish on this blog, but I thought it a very important one. And so, here is his take on how to make learning a lifelong obsession for kids.
Every child starts off curious. They pull at blades of grass, ask a thousand whys, invent games with spoons and cereal boxes. But somewhere between multiplication tables and standardized tests, that spark can flicker. As a parent, you’ve got a chance—one that matters—to keep it burning. It’s not about grand lectures or flashcards stacked to the ceiling. It’s about setting the tone, every day, in the margins of life.
Start with Curiosity
You can’t manufacture interest, but you can invite it. The trick lies in your reactions. When your child wants to know why birds fly south or how magnets work, don’t rush to Google and hand them the answer. Ask what they think first. Wander in wonder together, like co-investigators in a homemade lab. If you want to spark curiosity in children, let them see that questions are worth more than answers. That kind of culture—where it’s okay not to know, but thrilling to find out—is sticky, and it stays.
Lead by Example
If you want to raise a learner, be one. Kids are radar machines—they see what you do, not just what you say. So go back to school if you’ve been thinking about it. Not just to finish a degree or switch careers, but to show that learning doesn’t end. For example, an accredited online psychology degree program lets you juggle work, family, and study in a way that’s doable. And by diving into psychology, you’ll explore the cognitive and emotional roots of behavior, equipping yourself to help others—and modeling lifelong learning in real time.
Create a Learning Environment
A child’s environment whispers to them constantly. Not just the colors on the walls or what’s on the bookshelf, but the way space is used, the access to tools, the feel of it all. If the kitchen table’s buried in mail and laundry, learning takes a back seat. But carve out a nook, even just a window-lit corner, and something shifts. It becomes a cue. A signal that learning matters here. When designing a home learning space, think about comfort, autonomy, and just a touch of magic—string lights, a globe, a beanbag.
Encourage Questions
There’s this quiet panic some parents have, like they need to have all the answers. Forget that. The point is not to be a walking encyclopedia. It’s to model curiosity, persistence, and maybe a bit of humility. When your kid asks a wild question—something about black holes or why people lie—don’t dodge it. You can look it up together or just sit with the mystery. The importance of asking questions isn’t just about gathering facts, it’s about flexing a muscle that keeps their brain wide open. And that’s the goal, right?
Celebrate Effort; Not Just Results
Every parent wants their child to succeed. But what does success look like when they’re seven and trying to spell “chrysanthemum”? You can light up at the right answer, sure. But glow even brighter at the attempt, the retry, the mistake that turned into something interesting. That’s where resilience lives. That’s where the good stuff grows. Nurturing a growth mindset in children means praising their strategies and courage, not just their outcomes. Teach them to enjoy the climb, not just the summit.
Integrate Learning into Daily Life
You don’t need worksheets to teach. There’s math in grocery aisles, biology in backyard bugs, storytelling in the car ride to practice. Talk to your kids like they’re capable, curious minds, not tiny passengers along for the ride. Share what you read, wonder aloud about how things work, invite them into your thoughts. These everyday learning opportunities stack up quietly and powerfully. It’s not about carving out “educational time,” it’s about showing them that learning lives everywhere.
Stay Involved in Their Education
School is a massive part of their world, even if they don’t always say so. You don’t have to be class president of the PTA, but you do have to show up. Ask specific questions—not just “How was your day?” but “What surprised you today?” or “What made you laugh?” Meet their teachers. Read the notes in the backpack. Research shows that parental involvement in education improves outcomes, but more than that, it shows your child that their growth matters to you. Not in an abstract way, but in a daily, lived-in way.
You don’t need perfect parenting to raise a lifelong learner. You need presence. Attention. Curiosity. The way you speak, the way you explore, even the way you fail—all of it teaches something. Keep the spark alive by staying lit yourself. Because love of learning isn’t a switch to flip: it’s a fire to tend.