We can all agree that school education is so important for our kids, but that doesn’t mean that everything they can (or should) learn is done in a classroom.
There are tons of fun and interactive ways they can learn in other ways, and many of these are things you can do as a family and have quality time together too. Here are some ideas.
Visit Museums and Galleries
Museums and galleries are some of the best ways for children to learn about things like history and art, as well as science and religion, and even culture. Being able to see artefacts with their own eyes and explore things for themselves can be way more fun than just looking in books, and there are often interactive exhibits, including things like interactive historical holograms designed especially for kids.
You could visit a space museum, a natural history museum, or a local museum that tells the story of where you live. You could visit art galleries as a way to appreciate and understand different art forms or learn about specific artists that you’re studying. Best of all, museums and galleries are often free to get into, which makes them a really budget-friendly family activity.
Play Learning Games
As far as kids are concerned, games are just fun, which makes games so easy to use as an educational tool as they’re then learning enjoyably. There are so many that you can play online or apps that you can download to a tablet. They work on things like memory, problem-solving, and can even help with hand-eye coordination.
They can help with maths and spelling, they can teach them new words and concepts, and so much more besides. There’s plenty that you can learn from even traditional board games, like what the rules are and how to play by them, as well as patience and taking turns, and also how to lose well (which is such an overlooked skill to have).
Try Hands-On Workshops and Classes
Loads of places run workshops aimed at children, things like pottery and painting, to cooking and simple science sessions. These give kids a chance to try things they wouldn’t usually do at home and learn by actually getting stuck in. This is a really great way for them to build up more confidence and pick up new skills, and as a bonus, it feels more like a fun activity than a lesson.
Check out places like community centres and libraries, as these have sessions that are low-cost or even free. Look at the events page on Facebook and filter your local area and see what’s being held, you might be surprised just how many of these sorts of things are right on your doorstep.
Go On Cultural Family Trips
A holiday is a fantastic way for the family to take some time out and bond, but it’s also a way that children can learn outside of the classroom. You could take them to religious buildings, showing them about the religion and what people believe and worship.
You could take them to city ruins and teach them about the history of a place, and even the mythology surrounding it. Even outdoor holidays can teach kids life skills outside of the classroom, from reading a map and orienteering to putting up a tent, learning to fish, building a campfire, and lots more.
Photo by Riccardo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/exhibit-painting-display-69903/