Should My Child Be Reflecting?
Should my child start reflecting on their experiences?
The short and obvious answer is yes! But do we teach our children how to reflect effectively? Although reflecting on our experiences can help us gain greater clarity and make sense of the situation we’ve been in, this is a skill that takes time to develop. The art of reflecting doesn’t come easy to everyone and its benefits can be maximised through developing a structured way to reflect.
How can my child’s reflections be more structured?
The important thing to remember is not to make the process of reflection more complicated than it needs to be. Therefore, the structure of reflecting must be explicit and simple, but still challenging and require them mentally engaging in the process
Think of reflecting as creating a sandwich.
Start of at the bottom (1st slice of bread) by simply describing the experience in its simplest form.
Example: I went into school and Mr Smith led a gymnastics session for our PE class
Then you start adding the more interesting fillers! What went well in the experience and why? The question of why is where the child starts reaping the benefits of reflecting. The why comprises of what factors contributed to it going well, and what were the consequence of it.
Example:I was able to perform two cartwheels in a row! [Cause] This was because I took time to concentrate on Mr Smith’s demonstration of a cartwheel. [Consequence] This meant I understood how to place my feet when I landed.
Then the child must consider what didn’t go well (note that I didn’t say bad, as every experience should be seen as a learning experience not a bad experience). This is the same process as before; what was not so good and why.
Example: I wasn’t able to hold a handstand for one second. [Cause] This was because I wasn’t making my tummy tight. [Consequence] This meant I was more wobbly and would couldn’t hold the handstand for long.
Finally, the most important part of all, WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS? (the 2ndslice of bread, without it it wouldn’t be a sandwich!). Each experience holds value to the child’s development, but we need to get them to figure out what they’d do next time if they had the same experiences.
Example: Next time I will make sure I concentrate during Mr Smith’s instructions on how to do a skill, and I will tense my tummy when doing a handstand so I can hold it for longer.
Being able to reflect at a young age will help the child see the benefits of reflecting and being true to themselves, develop their self-awareness and ultimately mould a growth mindset within them.
Article by Edgar Chekera