Studying vs. Practicing Studying vs. Practicing Competency tests like those found in today's schools force students to cram, to study. Natural learning does not involve studying. It involves practice, but that is a performance concept. No child studies until he is forced to either by a parent, or by the fear of doing badly on an exam. Practicing, on the other hand, is a natural concept.
Animals practice their skills while growing up.
Children practice all the time prior to school. However, children only practice naturally what interests them. Children naturally practice sports because they are interested in improving their performance for next time. Performance tests are real tests, one that natural learners work towards if the task itself interests them.