for National Geographic News
In a comprehensive effort to assess children's attitudes towards learning, National Geographic Kids magazine and NFO WorldGroup recently surveyed nearly 1,300 children nationwide in the 6-to-14 age bracket. One of the most significant findings: that over 80 percent of children surveyed think learning is fun.
Another important finding was that in choosing role models, those whom children considered smartest topped the list. Children said parents, teachers, Bill Gates and J.K. Rowling were their top role models. Those who ranked lowest were pop culture icons such as Britney Spears, Emimem, and Jennifer Lopez.
"I found this really surprising," said Melina Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Kids, "because it's exactly the opposite of what adults expect to hear!"
In addition, 93 percent of children said that they learn not only in school, but from experiences outside the classroom. Those who were supported and encouraged to participate in such activities by their parents typically received higher grades, had a more confident opinion of their own intelligence, and had a more optimistic view of their potential for future success. These children also were more likely to link being "smart" with being "cool," and to place a higher importance on education and making friends, than those with little encouragement. Children receiving less parental support placed a higher importance on attaining money and popularity.
"The overwhelming number of kids we surveyed said that they preferred to learn by experience," Bellows said. "But you don't have to spend a lot of money on expensive camps or fancy lessons to help them do that. For instance, if you go to see the movie Bend it Like Beckham, why not check out an Indian cookbook from the library and make Indian food together? Or if you if go to see Treasure Planet, check out the book the movie was based on—Treasure Island—and read it together."
Survey responses also helped identify four major learning types among 9-to-14-year-olds: the well-rounded learner, the competitive learner, the sporty popularity seeker, and the disengaged.
Well-rounded learners (36 percent), who were among the youngest, enjoyed learning both inside and outside the classroom, and had a strong interest in art and extracurricular reading. Competitive learners (22 percent), typically 13- to 14-year-olds, believed they must outperform their peers, were bored by unchallenging homework, and disliked art. Sporty popularity seekers (20 percent) liked to be the center of attention, enjoyed sports, and did little reading on their own. The disengaged (22 percent) tended to be isolated children who did not enjoy school, found their studies difficult, and put in only the minimum amount of effort required.
Overall, children strongly equated being "smart" with being "cool" (71 percent); however, children in the youngest subset, ages 6-8, had the most positive perception of learning as "fun" and were more likely to view being "smart" as a desirable quality.
For more information on the "Learning About Learning 2003" survey results, see the official press release. To learn how to subscribe to National Geographic Kids, an award-winning magazine for 6- to 14-year-olds, visit National Geographic Kids.
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