Why Joy Matters in Learning
One of the reasons that mental health has been declining for children is the nature of the way they’re being taught. The focus on the three Rs day after day is not good for children who need to have a variety of activities in the course of the day. If there is joy in learning children will work hard and with enthusiasm, if they’re solving problems and overcoming challenges, they become motivated and work is fun.
There is a lot of evidence to show that having fun and learning are closely connected. Neurological studies show positive emotion increases the likelihood that information will be encoded and stored in long term memory. In children who are joyful, curious, and anticipating excitedly the brain releases dopamine and that plays a direct role in attention and retention. It’s a chemical response which helps signal that what is happening matters and is worth remembering. It is always worth engendering a little excitement to encourage children to process what they’re learning and make the learning last
Educational psychologists like Hidi and Renninger have shown that interest is a key driver of deep learning moments that feel fun, can spark initial interest, and fuel the work that follows. Engaged children ask more questions, they make better connections and keep trying. It isn’t that fun is the goal, but it often becomes a powerful catalyst to draw children into a real understanding.
When our artists are doing art experiences with the children the rooms can sometimes be surprisingly quiet; it’s not because the lesson is boring, it’s because they’re so absorbed and challenged that they’re totally engaged in what they’re doing. A key reason why the arts matter in schools is that they bring joy and that joy and enthusiasm will spark the curiosity, challenge and the excitement of discovery that will rub off in other lessons. It’s why we encourage teachers in the schools we are working in to use art in other lessons, to explore the possibilities of acting out stories or finding songs that can be sung that will embed a piece of learning. Using the arts makes learning come to life, shows it has purpose and is worth the effort it demands. These experiences alter the way that learning itself is perceived. What could be a boring endurance becomes an exciting activity to participate in.
