Trying to ensure your child’s educational needs are met but still finding the time to spend quality time together can be a handful. That said, sharing time with your young student isn’t just good for building bonds; it can also be a lot of fun, helping you both learn new things. Here are nine fresh ideas to aid you in making the most of your time together.
Engage in a Reading Marathon
Pick a series that you both like and have reading sessions – together or separately – so that you can discuss the chapters afterward. This way, not only does your child become a better reader, but the two of you can also use it as an opportunity to have deeper conversations with each other and share perspectives.
Explore Educational Sites
Take a trip to a museum or historical site, or even visit a science center: whatever you do, make it a regular part of your schedule. You can also check various online learning sites together to find helpful educational resources to help your child learn. The internet is full of student databases, writing tools, and dissertation writers for hire, so a young student may find it hard to locate good resources. That’s where you can come in. clutch. With your assistance, your child can experience learning in a way that goes beyond the classroom.
Cook Together
Pick an easy recipe, get the ingredients, and cook a meal together. Cooking is a great opportunity to teach children about measuring, timing, and following instructions. And it’s a lot of fun, too!
Crafting Projects
Tackle a DIY project that correlates with a child’s interests or school curriculum (e.g., a birdhouse, scrapbook, or model kit). This way, kids can get their hands dirty while also indulging in some creative thinking. If your student is not into working with their hands, try intellectual activities like coursework writing, science projects, etc. Any such activity you do together will bring you closer.
Play Educational Games
Board games, card games, or educational video games can be fun and educational. Play a game with your child and sharpen their skills while you bond over a shared experience. These are some games you should look into:
Board Games
- Scrabble. Enhances vocabulary and spelling skills.
- Ticket to Ride. Learn strategy and geography as you build train routes across countries.
- Catan. Requires resource management and economic planning to create settlements by trading commodities.
- Pandemic. A cooperative board game in which players must work together to stop outbreaks of diseases around the world.
- Timeline. This game asks players to put historical events or inventions in the right order in time.
- Codenames. Improves language and teamwork skills as players try to guess which words their teammate is trying to describe with hints.
- Risk. A classic game of strategy and conquest that teaches about historical warfare and strategic planning.
Computer Games
- Civilization VI. A turn-based strategy video game. The game teaches history, politics, and economics as you create and expand your civilization through the ages.
- Kerbal Space Program. Improves physics and aerospace engineering knowledge by having players design and operate space missions.
- Portal 2. This puzzle-platform game is great for teaching logic, physics, and problem-solving skills.
- Big Brain Academy. Brain vs Brain – Has a range of mini-games, testing memory, analysis, identification skills, and more.
- Minecraft: Education Edition. A flexible platform for teens to learn coding, environmental science, and mathematics in a creative and playful environment.
Attend Workshops or Classes
Seek out local workshops or classes that might appeal to an interest your child has, whether it’s pottery, painting, coding, or creative writing. A benefit of this approach is that you can outsource the actual teaching aspect to a skilled professional and participate in the activity as a fellow student, thus making it easier for you and strengthening your bond with your kid.
Plan a Nature Walk
Carve out some time to walk in a local park or nature reserve and teach your student the names of the plants, animals, and ecosystems around you. This helps biodiversity education and helps your child stay in touch with the world around them.
Home Science Experiments
Simple science experiments, which you can do at home without much equipment (like making a volcano, slime, or playing with the properties of water), can make science more engaging and hands-on.
Movie Night with a Twist
Watch an educational documentary or a film about a historical event or scientific discovery. Afterward, discuss the facts and themes of the movie to reinforce learning.
Making Every Moment Count
When life around you is busy, and all you can do is hold on and try to be there for your student child, you can persist in what you do have because every moment is an attempt to build a relationship, create a passion for learning, and share a memorable experience with your child. Remember, it’s not about filling time; it’s about adding to your child’s life and education. Use our ideas to engage in fun educational activities. Connect, learn, and grow together!