Did you know that enjoying school can help children develop a broader general knowledge base? A recent study published in the journal Child Development found that school enjoyment is positively associated with general knowledge development and general knowledge is positively associated with school enjoyment, particularly for children from lower-income families.

The study followed 1,364 children from Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia as they progressed from preschool through kindergarten. Researchers measured school enjoyment using a scale that assessed children’s self-reported enjoyment of school, interest in schoolwork, and feelings about going to school. Children’s general knowledge was measured using a standardized test covering social studies and science domains.

The study found bidirectional links between children's general knowledge and their school enjoyment, meaning children who reported enjoying school more in preschool tended to have higher levels of general knowledge in kindergarten, and having higher levels of general knowledge in preschool was associated with higher reported school enjoyment in kindergarten.

Interestingly, however, the association between preschool enjoyment and kindergarten general knowledge was double the association between preschool general knowledge and kindergarten enjoyment, which suggests that school enjoyment in preschool may be especially important in developing children’s general knowledge base as they grow.

While the results suggest that promoting school enjoyment might have positive effects on children's general knowledge development (and vice versa), there are other factors at play, such as curriculum content, teaching quality, and access to resources. Nevertheless, there are things parents can do to support their child's learning:

1. Encourage curiosity: Ask your child about what they learned in school and help them explore topics that interest them.

2. Provide resources: Have books, educational games, and other resources available at home to supplement what your child is learning in school.

3. Stay involved: Attend parent-teacher conferences and stay in communication with your child's teachers to better understand what they are learning and how you can support them.

4. Provide a supportive environment: Create a quiet and comfortable study space at home and minimize distractions during homework time.

By supporting your child's learning and fostering a positive attitude toward school, you may just help them develop a strong foundation of knowledge that can serve them well throughout their academic and personal lives.

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Source:

Jirout, J. J., Ruzek, E., Vitiello, V. E., Whittaker, J., & Pianta, R. C. (2023). The association between and development of school enjoyment and general knowledge. Child Development, 94(2), e119-e127. For a free download of the full text, visit the journal of Child Development.