It is a moot point to argue that each of one of our almost seven billion people on planet earth is unique. This is true not only of our physical markers such as fingerprints or retinae blood vessels, but also of our psychological makeup. Even this varies through time with our bio-rythyms. So much so, that we commonly hear someone say that he is a morning person or a night person depending on when he feels the most energy. Why then, do our curricula treat all as one? The answer is easy: it is convenient to do so. I mean, how else could it be done? As I wrote elsewhere, it’s not the fault of the curricula designers, no curriculum can cater for the differences of every single child. It just cannot be done. Sure we can categorise children into different learning groups and label them as slow learners, bright kids, or whatever, but “all in all it’s just another brick in the wall”.
Learning takes place best when it is conducive – period. At one point in time the body /mind may feel like learning something mechanical, another something artsy; sometimes linguistic and yet another time, mathematical. I think it is important to incorporate this concept into the education of our children. It’s no work really, you don’t have to figure their moods or anything out. You can’t. Just pick up on their signals and try to work with it when you can. It is not all that difficult. Approach it the way Sun Tzu recommended that one approach battle in the Art of War. He states that it is futile to plan for every eventuality; just be informed as you can; equipped as you can; and as flexible as you can; move forward with a positive mind.
On the pragmatic side, if your child is old enough to assist you in what you are doing, or have to do, at any point and needs your assistance to do something else, suggest that you all can finish your task first together and then you’ll be able to move onto what he or she wants. There are no rules, only room for creativity. It might be poignant to refer to the old Biblical proverb, “…incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thine heart to understanding“