Teach with games

Because learning should be fun, remember to include learning games from time to time. Everybody needs a break from the grind of textbooks and routine so don’t be afraid to lighten up once in awhile.

Bring out the Scrabble game, the Monopoly, or the Checkers. There’s a reason those games are classics.  

Scrabble is a wonderful way to teach spelling and no two games are ever alike. Monopoly teaches some fundamentals about how to spend money wisely, and whoever is the ‘banker’ learns even more about adding and subtracting. If you want your kids to learn the basics about strategy, use the Checker game.

Not only will they have a lot of fun, they’ll practice sportsmanship, how to keep trying, and how to help each other; and it’s one more way to enjoy each other’s company.

Make Learning Fun

School is a serious thing … most of the time. Something you need to remember is that as your children’s teacher, it’s up to you to make learning fun. Of course, not every topic is something your child may be interested in, so approach it from a new direction.

More than anyone else, you know your children’s strengths and weaknesses; his likes and dislikes. Each child is different so each will learn a little differently than the other. Remember that discovery is the most exciting aspect of learning anything.  

Once your child experiences the joy of discovering something new, either within a subject he’s already interested in, or a new topic altogether, you’ll find yourself thrilled watching him grow. There’s nothing more exhilarating to a homeschooling parent than to see the excitement on their child’s face and the bright eyes of discovery as they learn something brand new.

Don’t Omit Art

Certainly when homeschooling, you want to be sure that your children get as much information and learn as much as possible in all the academic areas. However, don’t forget to include the more specialized fields such as Art, too.

Neither you, nor your children need to be good at drawing anything. It is important though that you give them the opportunity to be creative. So whether you let them draw freehand, give them modeling clay, string beads, finger paint, or find other ways to artfully let your children create, do present options for them.

They might not even like Art as they understand it, but there are other ways to approach the topic. Learn about a particular painter or sculptor, his history and background, and what makes his artwork distinct. Visit your library to find a book with pictures of the artist’s work and have your older child write a report about what he’s learned. You’ll be amazed at the results!

Chalk Boards and Marker Boards

Requiring the children to use chalk boards and marker boards periodically is good for a number of reasons. For younger children it helps them to use larger muscle groups, especially for very young children who haven’t yet mastered the small muscles in their fingers and hands.

It’s also great for allowing eye and hand coordination which develops their brains. It helps teach their body to transmit to the brain what their eyes are seeing, and then teaches their hands to do what their brain is telling them to do.

For any age children, it’s a way to relax from the pencil and paper routine and gives their eyes a break from the fine print they spend most of their time looking at. So, help them out by letting them learn in a number of different ways

Have a Fun Meal

From time to time, I’d like to spark up meal time with something unexpected. One night I went shopping for supper as I always did, but when I came home with some most unlikely ingredients, the kids’ faces lit up. I announced that we were having banana splits for supper.  

The only ‘catch’ was that I would make them up and no one had any choices as to what they would have on their own banana split. So, I started with an entire banana for each and three scoops of different flavors of ice cream: vanilla, strawberry, and orange. Then I topped each with pineapple, a maraschino cherry, a little whipped cream, and nuts.

Of course, everyone had their favorite ice cream and toppings but because everyone had the same, each received something they liked and something they didn’t. Then while eating, we discussed the different food groups and where and how everything they were eating fit into them. It was a fun way to get everyone to eat what they didn’t like as well as enjoy what they did.

Experience New Things

I don’t think I’ve ever met a child that didn’t like to eat. Some are certainly more finicky than others. However, more than often not that comes because parents allow their children to eat what and when they want to instead of what and when they should.

As homeschooling parents, we’re constantly teaching our children all sorts of things. So why not teach them to experience the taste of healthy things they’ve not yet eaten?

I would have what I called an international night once a month. I’d prepare by using the day to teach our children about a particular country; its customs, topography, architecture, etc. Then, for the evening meal, I’d make something that would be part of a usual diet from that country.

For instance, we studied Germany and ate Spaetzel, German Potato Salad, and Bratwurst. For Switzerland we tried a dozen different types of cheeses. It was a terrific way to learn and it introduced the children to many kinds of foods they otherwise might never have appreciated.

Should You Give an Allowance?

Many children expect an allowance for things they do around the house. I, on the other hand, disagree. When children are part of a family, they gain responsibilities for the mere reason they are a family member. Therefore, anything they can do for the betterment of the entire family is a requirement.

Concerning homeschool, they are required to do their best just as their parents are required to do theirs. If they get an “A” in the process, that’s excellent. Should they get a “C” but they’ve honestly done their best, that’s just as admirable.

Getting paid for what is a responsibility that should be expected within a family should be rewarded, but it should be rewarded with hugs, “I love you”, and special privileges or opportunities to be experienced within the family. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy everyone’s company and stay closely knit.

Use a Chore Chart

As your children grow in homeschool, organizing and keeping the rest of the home orderly is extremely important. Because each of the family members is a part of an entire family, there are certain responsibilities that go along with that position. Therefore, everyone should have ways that they physically contribute to the cohesiveness of the whole family.

Make a perpetual calendar. That way it won’t matter what day of the week the 16th or 27th fall on and display the chart where it can’t be missed by anyone. Older children should get the most difficult chores to do while the younger should have the easiest. Still, each should have particular chores to do each day.

Dishes always need to be washed and dried, laundry always needs to be folded, vacuuming, dusting, making beds, and bathroom cleaning need to be done constantly so include your children in the chores. It will teach them responsibility and show them how valued they are.