Kids learning games
Labels: Learning Tools and Activities
Ten easy, educational kids learning games for parents to promote their children's love of learning. Turn household chores into math lessons! Ten fun tips from a Teacher!
Learning should be a lifelong process, that we as parents model to our children. If we take the time to show our children that learning can be fun and practically applied to everyday life, then our children will grow to love learning. Here are ten strategies that I used with my own son, who is now in the top ten percentile of his classmates.
Math is a subject that needs to be rooted in everyday experiences, so that children can understand its practical applications. Here are two easy ways that you can show your child, or children that math is fun and does figure into our everyday lives!
1. Have your children sort the laundry into sets. These sets may be a simple as whites and darks, or as varied as sets of patterned clothing, unpatterned clothing, towels and washcloths, adult clothing, children's clothing, etc. At the very least, each family member should be able to identify their own set of clothing, and fold it!
2. Have a contest to see who can build the steardiest, tallest lego or lincoln log building. Measure the buildings. Discuss what did and didn't work. Explain the measuring tape to your children.
Language development is important throughout your child's life. Encourage reading and writing with these two easy activities.
1. Cook meals together, using written recipes. Have your child read as much as possible of the recipe. Write a family cookbook together. Have each family member write at least one favorite recipe. Small children can draw their recipes. This not only encourages reading and writing, but creates a treasured keepsake.
2.Set aside family reading and writing time each week. Read together, or individually. Share your writing. Make it an affair! Have juice, cookies, and other treats. Provide a special chair for the family author to sit in while they read aloud their masterpiece! Discuss each other's writing. Discuss books you read together.
The arts are an important area that are often neglected in our schools due to funding problems. You can promote art awareness at home and increase your child's knowledge base, while having fun creating wonderful art works and memories.
1. Look at real works of art by master artists. Many magazines are available on art. Encyclopedias feature great works of art. The internet is a great source, too. Discuss these with your children. How were they made? What colors were used? What shapes can be found? Is it valuable? Is it old? Could we make something similar? Who is the artist? When did the artist live? What makes this a masterpiece? Then, turn your family loose with watercolors, crayons, etc.
2. Listen to classical music while you are creating your artworks. Discuss it. What do you like? What don't you like? Dance to it. March to it. Clean your house to Beethoven's fifth! Try to point out classical music that is used in cartoons, movies, and commercials on t.v.
Science can be as simple as a walk on the beach, or a picnic in the forest! When you cook, you can discuss chemical reactions. When you clean, you can explain the mechanics of a vacuum. Here are two other simple ways to make science fun.
1. Find out what makes your hometown geologically significant. Is it a desert? Is it near a mountain range? Is it near a fault line? Is it coastal, plains, or tundra? Compare the geology of your home to that of others. What kind of rocks are common in your area? Start a rock collection.
2. Nominate a weekly weatherperson for your family. Post weather forecasts on the refrigerator. Check out thermometers and barometers. Study clouds. What kind of clouds do you like? Why? Which mean good weather? Which mean rain?
Social Studies activities are fun and easy, as well. Here are two of my favorites, that work for children of all ages.
1. Have everyone in your family create a map that shows how to get to their favorite place in your town. See if you can find these places, using the maps. What worked and what didn't? Look at real maps to understand map symbols and directions. If, you reach the child's favorite spot by using the map, enjoy spending some time there!
2. Find the oldest building in your town. Take a trip there. Discover its history. What was its original use?
All of these ideas are fun, inexpensive and promote family learning, as well as togetherness. Try them out, your child will thank you!
Learning should be a lifelong process, that we as parents model to our children. If we take the time to show our children that learning can be fun and practically applied to everyday life, then our children will grow to love learning. Here are ten strategies that I used with my own son, who is now in the top ten percentile of his classmates.
Math is a subject that needs to be rooted in everyday experiences, so that children can understand its practical applications. Here are two easy ways that you can show your child, or children that math is fun and does figure into our everyday lives!
1. Have your children sort the laundry into sets. These sets may be a simple as whites and darks, or as varied as sets of patterned clothing, unpatterned clothing, towels and washcloths, adult clothing, children's clothing, etc. At the very least, each family member should be able to identify their own set of clothing, and fold it!
2. Have a contest to see who can build the steardiest, tallest lego or lincoln log building. Measure the buildings. Discuss what did and didn't work. Explain the measuring tape to your children.
Language development is important throughout your child's life. Encourage reading and writing with these two easy activities.
1. Cook meals together, using written recipes. Have your child read as much as possible of the recipe. Write a family cookbook together. Have each family member write at least one favorite recipe. Small children can draw their recipes. This not only encourages reading and writing, but creates a treasured keepsake.
2.Set aside family reading and writing time each week. Read together, or individually. Share your writing. Make it an affair! Have juice, cookies, and other treats. Provide a special chair for the family author to sit in while they read aloud their masterpiece! Discuss each other's writing. Discuss books you read together.
The arts are an important area that are often neglected in our schools due to funding problems. You can promote art awareness at home and increase your child's knowledge base, while having fun creating wonderful art works and memories.
1. Look at real works of art by master artists. Many magazines are available on art. Encyclopedias feature great works of art. The internet is a great source, too. Discuss these with your children. How were they made? What colors were used? What shapes can be found? Is it valuable? Is it old? Could we make something similar? Who is the artist? When did the artist live? What makes this a masterpiece? Then, turn your family loose with watercolors, crayons, etc.
2. Listen to classical music while you are creating your artworks. Discuss it. What do you like? What don't you like? Dance to it. March to it. Clean your house to Beethoven's fifth! Try to point out classical music that is used in cartoons, movies, and commercials on t.v.
Science can be as simple as a walk on the beach, or a picnic in the forest! When you cook, you can discuss chemical reactions. When you clean, you can explain the mechanics of a vacuum. Here are two other simple ways to make science fun.
1. Find out what makes your hometown geologically significant. Is it a desert? Is it near a mountain range? Is it near a fault line? Is it coastal, plains, or tundra? Compare the geology of your home to that of others. What kind of rocks are common in your area? Start a rock collection.
2. Nominate a weekly weatherperson for your family. Post weather forecasts on the refrigerator. Check out thermometers and barometers. Study clouds. What kind of clouds do you like? Why? Which mean good weather? Which mean rain?
Social Studies activities are fun and easy, as well. Here are two of my favorites, that work for children of all ages.
1. Have everyone in your family create a map that shows how to get to their favorite place in your town. See if you can find these places, using the maps. What worked and what didn't? Look at real maps to understand map symbols and directions. If, you reach the child's favorite spot by using the map, enjoy spending some time there!
2. Find the oldest building in your town. Take a trip there. Discover its history. What was its original use?
All of these ideas are fun, inexpensive and promote family learning, as well as togetherness. Try them out, your child will thank you!