There are learning experiences all around us. As homeschool parents, we have the unique opportunity to integrate our every day tasks right into school . . . even if it`s not formally a part of the educational process.
Kids tend to learn a lot better if they realize that there is actually a good reason to learn something. An example: I did very poorly in my last few years of math. I didn`t understand the need to learn things like geometry and algebra and since it didn`t come easily, I really didn`t make much of an effort. Fast forward a few years and I had a job at a construction site where suddenly all those abstract concepts became concrete! Suddenly, I DID need to know how to calculate an angle . . . it was necessary to figure out the beam positioning for a roof. In a couple of months, I learned everything that I had neglected to study properly for the past three or four years! Showing your kids how their learning fits into every day life is a great motivator.
So, how can you turn every day tasks into learning experiences? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Banking: Have your children open their own bank accounts, calculate interest on deposits, etc. Let older kids help you with balancing the checkbook and working out the family budget. They`ll gain a healthy respect for money and it`s a great way to reinforce math skills.
Cooking: Your kids can help you with everything from selecting the food in the supermarket (price comparison, reading ingredients, choosing quality over price, etc.) to cleaning, preparing and cooking the food. You can “teach” things like fractions, multiplication (measuring ingredients, doubling recipes, etc.) and nutrition to your children as you do this.
Mail: Whether posting or picking up the mail, this could be the perfect time to talk to your kids about how the postal system works, where the mail is coming from and maybe even bring up the history of mail . . . most kids find the idea of the Pony Express to be quite fascinating. It may even spark some research by curious young ones.
What other tasks do you do around the house or while running errands? What can your children learn from this?
Tags: education, homeschool, kids, learning