My mother does not give up and she never has on anything. I love her zest for life. She has never ever let me accept defeat when it comes to goals that I’ve had or even if it is just making sure that I never lose my zest for life. ~ Sameera Reddy
Today is the final letter in the alphabet… Z, and the word is ZEST.
Children with reading and learning difficulties often face a wide range of challenges that can make it difficult for them to keep up with their peers in the classroom.
They may struggle with processing information, following directions, and understanding complex concepts… among other things.
As a result, they may become frustrated, disengaged, and even develop negative attitudes towards learning.
However, fostering a sense of zest in these children can help to counteract these challenges and support their academic success.
When I talk about zest, I’m not referring to the orange or lemon or other citrus zest you get by grating the rind of the fruit.
No.
I’m referring to the Zest that is characterized by enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to try new things.
Do you want to know why it’s important to foster zest in your child who’s having trouble reading and learning?
Here are 3 reasons:
- Zest helps to maintain motivation: Children with reading and learning difficulties may experience frustration and discouragement, which can lead to a lack of motivation. Zest helps to counteract this by creating a positive and enthusiastic mindset towards learning.
- When children approach learning with a sense of zest, they are more likely to stay motivated and engaged with their work.
- Isn’t your goal to keep your child motivated and engaged with their work while working on strengthening their weak skills?
- Zest promotes perseverance: Children with reading and learning difficulties may encounter obstacles that make it difficult to understand and apply new information.
- A sense of zest can help them to persevere through these challenges by maintaining a positive attitude and a willingness to try new approaches.
- Zest encourages a growth mindset: Children with reading and learning difficulties may develop negative attitudes towards their abilities and potential. A sense of zest can help to counteract this by encouraging a growth mindset.
- Children with a growth mindset believe that their abilities can improve through effort and practice.
Despite the challenges that children with reading and learning difficulties face, it is important to remember that they are capable of academic success. By fostering a sense of zest and passion for learning, you can help to counteract negative attitudes and frustration.
Celebrating small victories, encouraging curiosity, and providing supportive resources can all contribute to a brighter future for these learners. Let us inspire and uplift them, so that they may reach their full potential and thrive in the classroom and beyond.
If your child has trouble reading and learning, join the Parenting Hub, where you can connect and network with parents who share similar challenges, ask questions, and seek and find solutions. If you know someone who has a child with learning differences, send them the above link.
I think Zest was a brand name for a brand of body soap. Not the one that promised to bring you back to life.
Doesn’t everyone need a zest for life? When things get tough as they will from time to time it is the zest to keep plugging on that makes the required work possible.
I listened to a graduate “old boy” in his mid twenties addressing a class at his high school alma mater. He stopped university in his second year and started up his own company. The company has one hundred employees of determined young people. This leader has partnered with likeminded determined people. His example of the type of determination that is required to be successful goes something like this.
“I take a cold shower every morning. Not because I like cold showers or I need them to wake up. I take them to remind myself that I have to keep doing the hard things so that I can accomplish what others can’t.”
Kind of like why we keep blogging every day.
Thanks Florence for continually providing us with the encouragement and Zest to keep going.
I love this, Florence, zest for life is so apparent in small children and so easily noted as having been squelched in older children. Thank you for encouraging parents to continue fostering this zest for life and learning in their children.
My husband had trouble reading until he found “Call of the Wild”. He had no idea cool books like that existed and it made him a life-long reader. Great article!