What is Education?
Have you ever thought about what education really is?
One of the biggest reasons we started My Curious Child is because we truly believe education is important for our children. But what exactly is education? Or rather, what should education be to help our children experience its true value in their lives?
As a parent educator, I can’t speak for society. But I can speak for my family and what we hope for. And this is something you can do too—reflecting on what education should mean for your family. We shouldn’t let the broader system solely define the type of education our children receive. As their main stewards, we can take an active part in shaping an educational journey that best serves them. After all, education starts from home.
When you search online, you’ll find many definitions of "education." Generally, it’s described as the act of teaching and receiving knowledge and skills, often in an institution. But as a parent, I’ve thought deeply about this and believe holistic education is more than that. To me, it’s a journey of discovering what it means to be human and developing character and skills to support a healthy, fulfilling, and purposeful life.
This perspective led me to reflect on the various aspects of education that contribute to this goal. Here’s one priority that stands out to me: cultivating the right mindsets.
Key Mindsets for Holistic Education:
A Continual Sense of Curiosity: An awareness that there’s always something new to discover and the confidence to ask questions—even silly ones.
Growth Mindset: The ability to see failure as a normal part of life, find lessons in setbacks, and keep trying with patience and perseverance.
Inner Motivation: Understanding the relevance of acquiring knowledge and skills and being willing to put in the effort to achieve goals and dreams.
A Greater Sense of Purpose: Seeing how one’s actions contribute to the broader community and society, building meaningful connections.
A Greater Sense of Compassion: Recognizing the value of kindness and respect, understanding others’ circumstances, and reflecting on the cause-and-effect of interactions.
As the world evolves, static knowledge and skills can only do so much to help our children thrive. But cultivating these mindsets can give them the tools to adapt, grow, and find purpose in whatever they pursue.
As parents, we have countless opportunities to nurture these attitudes during our time together—through conversations and shared activities. This is one reason why our Maths Stories are designed the way they are. They’re filled with opportunities to explore social-emotional topics and see how Maths applies to real life. We’re not here to create Maths geniuses (sorry to the Tiger parents out there!). Instead, we hope our stories help children see learning as a tool to support their dreams and cultivate positive mindsets along the way.
So, what kind of education do you hope to shape for your little ones? Let’s continue to reflect on this together.
❤️, J
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Discover how Stories and Play can be a great way to learn Maths for your preschooler here.
