The primary responsibility for teaching our children lays not on the church and not on the schools but in our own homes. It is our role as parents to teach our children about the gospel and about our Savior. As I studied the section in the Teacher Development manual on creating a learning atmosphere, I saw a multitude of ways that we could apply these precepts not only in our wards and branches but in our homes. Because there were so many fantastic points, I’m going to break this down into a series over the remainder of the week. Today, I would like to address ways to make the physical learning environment a place of learning.
We teach our children primarily in our homes. A home that invites the Spirit will be more conducive than a home that distracts and detracts. Several of the steps noted on preparing a Sunday classroom could easily be applied in our home. First and foremost, we need to keep our homes clean and orderly. Please note that this does not mean spotless. If you have children, spotless may seem like a distant memory. Instead, create a “comfortable and inviting atmosphere.” A home filled with clutter makes for a cluttered mind. The times when my kitchen, for instance, has gotten out of control seem to be times when I cannot get anything accomplished. Dinner is an ordeal. Cleanup seems futile. Similarly, our bedrooms can quickly become “hide this from the guest” spots instead of sanctuaries. This applies to our entire homes. As we minimize clutter and make our homes appealing to our children, they will feel more comfortable.
Similarly, add personal touches to your home that make your children feel as though they live there, too. Did you ever visit a grandparent or great-grandparent’s house and feel uncomfortable? The house was clean and beautiful, but it was a 100% no-touch zone. At the very least, make sure your children have a place to call their own. Also, keep an eye on your décor. The prophets have counseled us to hang a picture of either the Savior or the temple – if not both – in our children’s bedrooms. Taken to the next level, we would place pictures of spiritual significance throughout our home. These will help keep our children’s minds on the eternal perspective, and may prompt questions in and of themselves.
Another section that seemed to apply was on lesson materials. While we have formalized learning in the form of FHE and family scripture study, there are other times when our children ask impromptu questions that can easily be pointed in the direction of the gospel. While we probably won’t have scriptures with us at all times, it is essential to know where they are. Ideally, we are studying them on a daily basis, which should make locating them easier, but there are always days when they seem to have become invisible. Similarly, I like to keep most of my gospel materials in one location, on a specific bookshelf. This makes it easy to locate manuals or books as needed. (It also simplifies searching for Sunday-appropriate reading material.)
Finally, we should ask our children to help us. As our children participate in both housework and decorating, they feel more like they are a part of their home. This helps them feel more comfortable, which promotes learning.
The physical environment is the first and perhaps easiest step in creating a learning-centered home. (I can’t believe I’m saying that, with all of the struggles I have with housework, but it is true.) Over the rest of the week, we will talk about the actual atmosphere of our homes and how these can promote learning. In the meantime, I hope that some of these simple steps will help your family become more receptive to gospel learning.
All quotes are from the Teaching, No Greater Call manual unless otherwise noted.
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