As a parent, one of the most important responsibilities you have is to teach your children. Even if you intend for them to go into traditional formal education rather than be home educated, you still have to have an active role in their education. One way you can do this is by teaching them how to have fun while they learn.
Children learn best while they’re having fun, and young children learn through play all the time. You should be playing with and teaching your children from very early on, as they will pick up an amazing amount of knowledge. Here are a few ways to do so.
Reading Stories
One of the important things your child will need to learn before they’re at school age is how to read. Some children, much like adults, are more interested in reading than others. But the skill is still a necessary one.
Unfortunately, reading isn’t something they automatically learn. You have to teach your child how to read and, ideally, write. Again, make this a treat rather than a chore. Storytime is a great way to bond with your child and to help them learn these skills.
Start by reading to your child from a young age. Encourage them to follow along and try to get them to read along with you. Some books are especially good for this as they feature fun, easy-to-pronounce words.
Helping With Homework
As your child does get older, they will likely have school and homework to do. The fact is that very few children are going to find this fun, and there’s only so much you can do to help them. However, you can reward your children for doing their homework and help them along where appropriate.
There is a difference between helping your child with their homework and doing it for them. Homework and studying in general, are important skills for your child to learn, and even if you decide to go the home-ed route, it’s still good to provide some extra-curricular work.
Help your child come up with a schedule that works and work through their homework with them. Think of treats for when your child does succeed, and try to have their back.
Playing Games
Everyone is capable of learning through play, and different games can help children and adults learn in different ways. You can play games with your children from toddlerhood onwards and try to encourage them to try different things.
Some puzzle games, like balloon popping, are great ways to teach your child how to solve problems and work through different scenarios. You also have games that teach children how to work with other people or even against them.
The most important thing is that your kids find these games fun. The more fun they have, the more they will want to play, and the easier it will be for them to learn different skills and build their likes and dislikes.
