The Scene: Rethinking How We Learn
When I first started teaching my kids, I did what most parents and educators do.
I followed the “proven” methods.
Structured lessons.
Worksheets.
Repetition and drills.
And when those didn’t work?
I tried harder.
I pushed more.
I followed the system because it’s supposed to work, right?
But here’s the truth most people don’t talk about:
The system isn’t designed for every brain.
And when a method doesn’t work, it’s not the learner that’s failing—it’s the approach that needs to change.
So instead of forcing my kids to fit into a system…
I built the learning experience around them.
And what happened next changed everything I thought I knew about creativity, engagement, and education.
The Experiment: The 3 Biggest Lessons My Kids Taught Me About Learning & Creativity
1. Learning Works Best When It Feels Like Play
I watched my kids struggle through traditional lessons.
Reading drills? Frustrating.
Standard worksheets? Boring.
Forced memorization? Immediately forgotten.
But then I tried something different.
I built learning experiences around their interests.
The Fix: Learning Through Play & Immersion
- My child struggled with reading—so I turned it into a Star Wars adventure.
- My twins had sensory issues with food—so I built a mini Starbucks in the house to make eating exciting.
- When learning felt like a mission, a story, or a game? They engaged effortlessly.
Lesson: The brain doesn’t just learn facts—it absorbs experiences. Make learning feel like play, and it becomes effortless.
2. The Best Learning Happens When There’s Agency
Most traditional education systems tell kids what to learn and how to learn it.
But real engagement happens when learners have a choice.
My kids weren’t responding to standard lessons—so I gave them options.
Instead of forcing one method, I let them choose how to explore the concept.
Instead of saying, “Here’s the information—memorize it,” I said, “How do you want to learn this?”
The Fix: Give Learners More Control Over Their Experience
- Let kids (and adults) make choices in how they interact with new information.
- Turn lessons into exploration, not just instruction.
- Ask more open-ended questions—let curiosity lead.
Lesson: People learn best when they feel ownership over the process.
3. There’s No Such Thing as a “One-Size-Fits-All” Brain
The biggest myth in education & creativity?
That there’s a single correct way to learn, create, or work.
But the truth?
Some brains learn by listening.
Some by doing.
Some by seeing.
Some by breaking things apart and putting them back together.
The moment I stopped forcing one method and started embracing flexibility—
My kids started thriving.
The Fix: Adapt Learning to Fit the Individual—Not the Other Way Around
- If one method isn’t working, change the approach—not the learner.
- Offer multiple ways to engage with information.
- Celebrate different thinking styles instead of forcing a single system.
Lesson: The best creativity & learning happens when we stop correcting how people think—and start understanding how they think.
The Final Lesson: Education & Creativity Should Feel Like Discovery, Not Obligation
Before, I thought learning was about discipline, structure, and repetition.
Now I know—learning is about immersion, curiosity, and agency.
- People don’t struggle with creativity or learning because they lack intelligence.
- They struggle because the system wasn’t designed for the way they think.
And when you start designing for the brain in front of you instead of forcing a system onto it?
That’s when real learning—and real creativity—come to life.
Your Challenge This Week
- Look at something you’re trying to learn or teach.
- How can you make it feel like an experience instead of a lesson?
