Observation learning is one of those elusive forms of learning, especially when one wonders: How can I truly learn about what I have observed if it is not first documented in a book? It is safe to assume that book and observation learning go hand-in-hand in many respects. In fact, one would not aptly exist without the other. That makes them equally crucial to the overall education of your child. And, that is the main point of this article: learning is not always through books, it can sometimes come via observations.
As homeschoolers, it is important to allow your child to learn through vast and varied channels. No child is expected to learn all things via rote memorization and hours upon hours of reading. In fact, this form of learning would make for a very boring education, indeed. As a parent, it is your responsibility to make learning interesting and more tangible by allowing your child to explore through experimentation and observation, in addition to learning through books.
For example, one of the easiest observation experiments you can do with your child is set up a birdhouse in your yard. You can buy many types of birdhouses and all types of bird seed in most places; even in places where you would least expect. There are many varieties of bird seed combinations which determine the types of birds that will flock to your feeder. For example, American Goldfinches love thistle. They will flock to a hanging bag of thistle in no time. Or, you can purchase suet for carnivorous birds such as robins, woodpeckers, bluebirds and nuthatches. Through mere observation, your child will achieve a real sense of nature simply by watching the behavior of birds. You and your child will soon begin to identify the different types of birds by their markings and their plumes. You can even help scientists track birds by counting the number of birds that visit your feeder. For information about helping scientists visit, http://ebird.org .
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