Why Children Learn Faster than Adults and How You Can Learn Their Tricks

Children learn faster because they

• give the learning process a lot of time
• do not fear making mistakes and looking foolish
• focus all energy on learning a problematic piece before proceeding
• do not overthink things
• make learning fun by being playful

The brain of children can absorb new things like a sponge. Generally, kids can learn a new skill quicker than an adult. Researchers found that as a person ages, they have a more difficult time learning a new skill.

However, learning is not only for kids. Adults also have learning needs. There are many times that adults need to learn something. You may want to further your education, learn a technical skill (like programming), learn other skills (like playing the guitar), learn a new language, etc. 

If you want to learn something quickly in your “old” age, you’ll want to take these tips from children and do as they do. This article will show you exactly how to do this.

How do children learn?

By nature, children are programmed to learn until they reach a certain age and have all the skills needed to function in the real world. Schools are safe spaces where kids can learn without stress interfering with their education. They are also in an environment where they can learn from their peers. 

They look towards older children for direction and a reward, such as a smile, encourages them to continue to further their education. Children learn subject-centered going at a pace appropriate for their age. All of this is different from how an adult learns. 

How do adults learn?

Adults differ in the way they pick up a new skill because their intentions are different from that of a child. Generally speaking, adults make an active choice to learn something to continue growing as a person. 

For example, an adult who enjoys writing and wishes to publish a book may opt to take a creative writing class. They come to the class with experience, values, and the drive to use what they learn to meet their goal.

Another characteristic of adult learning is that it is learner-centered, meaning they focus on subjects that they can apply to their professional life. You will see an adult resist attending a conference or seminar when they don’t see the need for it in their career. 

The same could be said for college students. Universities require students to continue math, English, and sciences despite their majors not requiring higher education in those fields. 

The science-based explanation of why kids learn faster

It is not a myth that kids learn faster than adults. There is much scientific evidence to back this. Some of the pieces of evidence are:

• Kids’ prefrontal cortices are still developing  
• Kids have more brain plasticity than adults
• The human brain undergoes degenerative changes with age

Still developing prefrontal cortex

Kids have still-developing prefrontal cortices that make them more flexible when learning, which helps them learn faster.

One reason kids learn faster than adults is that the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex is still developing. As the name suggests, the prefrontal cortex is the front of the brain.

The brain does not develop fully until a person is up to 25 – 30 years old, and brain development occurs from the back to the front. So, the prefrontal cortex is the last part of the brain to develop.

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions like planning and decision making. Thus, the still-developing prefrontal cortices of kids mean they do not have adults’ complex planning and decision-making skills. Not being able to make and follow concrete plans means that kids’ minds are more flexible. Interestingly, cognitive flexibility helps in learning more quickly.

Unlike kids, the developed prefrontal cortices of adults mean that they experience functional fixedness, making learning relatively slower.

Brain plasticity 

Kids’ brains are more plastic, making them better at forming neural connections essential for learning.

Brain plasticity (aka neuroplasticity) is the ability of the brain to change (by rewiring itself to make new connections and strengthen existing ones) in response to environmental demands.

Neuroplasticity is essential in learning because learning occurs when connections are made between neurons in the brain.

When learning something new, a neuron in the brain is fired. The neuron releases neurotransmitters, which move through tiny gaps (called synapses) to relay messages to other neurons. Thus, connections are established between neurons to form a neural network of information and knowledge.

Interestingly, neuroplasticity is more rapid and constant during childhood. Thus, kids’ brains are naturally better at rewiring themselves (by forming and strengthening neural connections) to learn new things.

Degenerative changes occur with age

Older brains undergo degenerative changes that affect cognitive abilities. Since learning is a cognitive process, kids’ brains that are not plagued by degenerative changes learn faster.   

Sadly, just as our muscles and joints can stiffen as our body ages, our brain can also stiffen. Such brain stiffening is one of many age-related degenerative changes in the brain that seriously affect normal brain functions.

As we grow older, the brain undergoes chemical, neuronal, and structural changes, affecting cognitive abilities.

• Chemically. The brain generates fewer chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) with age. This means that there are fewer messages/ signals between brain cells.
• Neuronally. The neurons in the brain shrink with age. The shrinking of the neurons causes the retraction of their dendrites (the branched extensions that receive messages from other neurons) and the wearing of their myelin (the insulating layer that facilitates the transmission of messages). Thus, the ability to form neural pathways is significantly affected, and processing is slower.
• Structurally. The brain shrinks and loses volume with age. This is traceable to the shrinking neurons and fewer synaptic connections. 

These age-related degenerative changes in the brain reduce cognitive performance. For example, older brains show a significant decline in working memory performance (the ability to hold a piece of information in mind temporarily). Sadly, this decline can start as early as 40 years of age. Older brains will also be poor at tuning out distractions and focusing on a particular task.

Learning is a cognitive process. Since age-related degenerative changes reduce cognitive performance, younger brains that are not plagued by these degenerative changes can learn better and faster.

Key takeaways that you can learn from children

A variety of factors play a role in children learning new things faster than adults. These include:

• Having an abundance of time
• Not being afraid to make mistakes
• Using focused learning
• Not overthinking things
• Being playful and having fun

1. Kids have more time on their hands

Takeaway 1: Find more time for yourself to devote to what you are learning.

Why it works: Kids learn faster because they spend a lot of time in the learning process.

One of the most significant factors is lack of time.

Kids do not have the same responsibilities as an adult. The daily routine of a typical kid is to eat, sleep, go to school, do school assignments, and play. So, kids usually have all the time in the world to learn something.

But adults seem to have more responsibilities than they can handle. Typical adults even beg for time to rest and destress. So, while you’re cooking dinner after working all day, your kids will have the time to learn a new language or instrument.

This is the origin of the 10,000-hour rule. The rule suggests that you may need 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert at something. Interestingly, kids can find those 10,000 hours, but it’ll be difficult for a typical adult to spare even half of that time for learning.

Thus, to learn anything faster, you will have to give it more time. Finding 10,000 hours may not be possible because of all your responsibilities. However, increasing your productivity can save you some time from your everyday activities, which you can put into whatever you are learning. The Personal Productivity Course is helping a lot of students and working professionals to improve their productivity.

2. Adults develop fear-based behavior that harnesses their learning

Takeaway 2: Don’t be afraid to look foolish.

Why it works: Kids learn faster because they do things without thinking that those things will turn out embarrassing.

Another factor preventing you from learning as quickly as a child is a fear of looking foolish in front of others. 

In the process of learning, children do many things that adults consider embarrassing. Children will look back on a situation and feel embarrassed, but they don’t feel that way at all in this moment. If they were afraid to look foolish, they would not have done those things, and they would not have developed as they did.

So, to learn as fast as children do, follow the advice of the Greek philosopher Epictetus, who said, “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.” 

This advice means that you should not worry too much about conforming to what people see as normal behavior when learning anything. Don’t worry about looking foolish because of taking an unpopular step. Instead, proceed to do what your instincts dictate. And if people give you a weird look because of your action or inaction, do as kids would, and laugh it off.  

3. Kids absorb information in focused, short learning bursts 

Takeaway 3: Ditch the master plan, and put all your attention on small pieces that are new or problematic until you absorb them.

Why it works: Kids learn faster by seemingly forgetting everything else and putting all their energy into absorbing a small piece before proceeding to something else.

Another thing you can take away from the way children learn is that they focus on the missing piece of information for short bursts of time. The same cannot be said for adults learning a new skill.

When a child is reading and comes across a new word, they will focus on that one word until they understand it. It is only after understanding the word or associating it with something relatable that they proceed to something else.

The key is to temporarily forget the whole text and focus on that “one word.” Such focused learning forms stronger neural connections, facilitating processing and helping children learn faster and better.

4. Adults tend to overthink things

Takeaway 4: Don’t overthink things.

Why it works: Kids learn faster by taking leaps instead of worrying about the fine details.

As mentioned earlier, the prefrontal cortex is more developed in adults. This part of the brain is responsible for executive functions like decision-making. So adults are more prone to overthinking things.

Sadly, overthinking things does not move you forward. Instead, it’ll trap you in a circle of inaction. Worse still, overthinking can lead to worrying, which takes you downhill when learning anything.

When doing things, children do not keep going over scenarios and possibilities. Instead, their simple minds decide on something, and they do it.

This does not mean that adults’ better decision-making skills are their curse. Just don’t overdo it.

• Do not read too much into things
• Do not think up a million “what-ifs”
• Please do not be overly concerned about doing it right 
• Do not worry too much about worst-case scenarios
• Do not keep revisiting a decision (except you have NEW information)

5. Playful learning helps children retain information faster

Takeaway 5: Make life and learning fun by having a playful nature instead of being overly serious.

Why it works: Playful learning helps children learn faster.

As you already know, play is a part of children’s life. Children would play round the clock if they could.

Interestingly, playing is essential to children’s development. Playful learning is one thing that makes children learn faster. When learning is made fun, children are more eager to participate, become more absorbed in the learning, and are more anxious to repeat it.

Many adults wrongly think that playing should only be for kids. Also, with so many responsibilities, many adults focus heavily on working that there’s never time for play.

However, play is as crucial to adults as it is to children. You probably have heard the saying, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Well, Jack will also be a dull man if he has no time to play.

Playing is not necessarily doing a specific activity. It can be a state of mind. This calls for having a playful nature – being good-natured or having a sense of humor. That is, do not be overly serious when working or learning something.

Being playful makes things fun and puts you in a relaxed mood, helping you learn faster and better. 

Final thoughts

Children learn faster than adults. Scientists attribute this to a still-developing prefrontal cortex that is more flexible for learning, a more plastic brain capable of making more rapid neural connections for learning, and a young brain free of age-related degenerative brain changes that affect cognition.

However, though children’s brains are better equipped for learning faster, you as an adult can learn their tricks to help you become a faster learner.

Their tricks include:

• devoting a lot of time to learning
• not being afraid to look foolish
• focusing all energy on learning small pieces
• not overthinking things
• being playful.

If you have a goal to learn how to play the guitar by the end of the year, you may want to take a tip from your children. You should bear in mind that there are some skills that you can learn easier than other adults. A colleague at work may be a rock star at the guitar. Meanwhile, you have a hard time reading music and playing an instrument simultaneously. 

Scientists are finding that as a person ages, their brain becomes inflamed, damaging the neurons in the brain that help with memory. You can protect your brain by learning new things and acting like a kid again! Get plenty of sleep, learn how to handle stress correctly, interact with friends, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. These factors play a role in reducing brain inflammation, making it easier to continue educating yourself and retaining that information.  

Over the years, Iris Reading has seen our fair share of students and professionals excited at how they can strengthen their memory. Our online course on how to maximize memory explains how you can be a more productive adult in all aspects of life by learning to use your brain’s full capacity. Copy these examples of how a child learns, and you can pick up any new skill in no time.