Rediscovering the Joy of Learning
Advice for Teachers and Parents in an Age of Control
“Watch a toddler explore the world and you’ll witness the purest form of learning.” They touch, climb, taste, ask, and absorb. As Terry Underwood insightfully writes in “You Have Got To Be Taught to Sit Still and Listen”, we baby-proof our homes for good reason: toddlers are born learners, fearless and curious, driven by instinct to make sense of the world.
But something happens as children grow. We shift from encouraging exploration to enforcing compliance: “sit still,” “pay attention,” “follow instructions.” We slowly replace curiosity with control. And in doing so, we may be sabotaging the very thing that makes us human—our ability to adapt, solve problems, and learn deeply.
This article offers a reflection and a challenge: how might we, as teachers and parents, preserve the power of curiosity in our children’s lives—especially in a world increasingly shaped by change and technology?
Learning Begins With Exploration, Not Instruction
In his article, Underwood draws on the work of philosopher John Dewey, who more than a century ago warned against confusing experience with education. “We do not learn from experience,” Dewey famously wrote, “we learn from reflecting on experience.” The toddler’s chaotic but purposeful play isn’t just adorable—it’s the foundation of understanding.
While other mammals teach through doing—watching, copying, and trying—humans often rely on direct instruction. We pass down abstract knowledge in classrooms, with textbooks and tests. And yes, this system has merits: it helps transmit complex ideas efficiently. But Underwood asks us to pause and reflect: What do we sacrifice in this shift?
We may be weakening children’s natural learning systems—curiosity, initiative, reflection—in favour of speed, efficiency, and control.
Dewey’s Warning: The Cost of Too Much Control
Dewey’s educational vision, as Underwood reminds us, wasn’t nostalgic but forward-looking. He believed schools should be laboratories of democracy where children learn by doing, experimenting, and working together. He called this directed living: a balance of structure and guided experience.
This isn’t a call for chaos or anti-discipline. It’s a call to align our methods with our goals. We say we want critical thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and adaptive citizens. But too often, we produce compliant followers trained to recall rather than reflect.
If we teach children only to follow instructions, how can we expect them to lead in uncertain futures?
John Dewey in a Nutshell
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
– John Dewey
Dewey’s core beliefs:
Learning by doing
Reflection deepens understanding
Education must evolve with society
Schools should foster democratic citizenship
Balancing Structure and Exploration in Classrooms and Homes
To be clear: children need structure. They need guidance. But that guidance must make room for experimentation, agency, and play.
For Teachers:
Use project-based learning where students solve real-world problems.
Introduce reflective routines: “What surprised you today?” or “What would you do differently next time?”
Incorporate choice: let students pick books, tools, or pathways within a lesson.
Invite AI and tech tools into your classroom—not to replace teaching, but to enhance inquiry.
Try This in Your Classroom
📝 Reflection Journal: End each day or week with three prompts:
What did I discover today?
What was difficult?
What do I want to explore next?
🧩 Exploration Time: Set aside 30 minutes weekly for “independent inquiry” on any topic students choose.
🤖 Ethical AI Challenges: Have students compare AI responses with their own research. Ask, “Can we trust this? Why or why not?”
For Parents:
Ask open-ended questions like “What did you figure out on your own today?”
Provide unstructured time for play, building, reading, or exploring.
Model curiosity—explore new things with your children, from recipes to podcasts to nature walks.
Tips for Parents
Encourage “boredom.” It invites creativity.
Ask, “What questions did you ask today?” instead of “What did you learn?”
Explore together: visit a museum, build a puzzle, try a science experiment at home.
Praise effort and curiosity—not just correct answers.
The AI Dilemma: A Mirror of Our Instinct to Control
Underwood notes a modern version of this age-old tension: the emergence of artificial intelligence in education. While some educators welcome AI as a tool for personalised learning, others want it banned entirely.
This reaction, Underwood argues, mirrors our instinct to clamp down on uncertainty. But fear may not be the wisest guide. As Dewey emphasised, education must evolve alongside society. And today’s society is being reshaped by AI, automation, and global complexity.
To ban AI outright is to build yet another cage around curiosity.
Instead, we should teach students to use AI ethically and creatively. Tools like ChatGPT, Khanmigo, or Diffit can support exploration, not replace it. When used wisely, AI becomes a catalyst for questions, not just answers.
Preparing Children for a World That Doesn’t Yet Exist
Dewey’s most urgent insight may be this: “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” The world is changing faster than ever. The ability to memorise and comply may help students pass exams, but it won’t prepare them to solve the problems of tomorrow.
We need to raise children who can:
Think critically,
Reflect deeply,
Adapt quickly,
And act ethically.
That means cultivating habits of curiosity, exploration, collaboration, and wonder, not just content mastery.
Conclusion: Reclaiming the Joy of Learning
Underwood writes, “The toddler who fearlessly explores every corner of the house might be revealing the path forward.” Not recklessness—but courage, creativity, and trust in our natural learning instincts.
As parents and teachers, we stand at a crossroads. Will we continue to control, measure, and restrict? Or will we reawaken the fearless learner in every child?
Let’s remember what we knew when they were toddlers: learning is a journey, not a script. And the best journeys begin with curiosity.
Signs of Over-Control
⚠️ When to Rethink Your Approach:
Children ask, “Is this right?” before attempting.
Fear of failure outweighs willingness to try.
Learning feels like a checklist, not an adventure.
If this sounds familiar, consider: what would it look like to trust their curiosity again?
Sources:
Underwood, Terry. You Have Got To Be Taught to Sit Still and Listen.
Dewey, John. Democracy and Education (1916), Experience and Education (1938).
Mehta, Jal, and Fine, Sarah. In Search of Deeper Learning (2019).
Papert, Seymour. Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas (1980).