Educational activities kids can do at home
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the traditional school year to a close, and parents were forced into the role of home educator. Even after the school year ended, you can help your child learn with simple activities that tie in to common school subjects:
• Art: Learning doesn’t always mean hitting the books. Nurturing one’s creativity is important to childhood development. Have kids illustrate scenes from a story they’re reading or explain a science experiment using a diagram. Drawing, painting and coloring are applicable for multiple subjects.
• Gym: It’s important to make time for exercise. Kids should be active for at least 60 minutes every day. Whether it’s through fitness videos, apps or even a dance party, find a way to break a sweat.
• Language Arts: Have children write letters to family or friends to encourage self-expression and practice handwriting. Read over them together and take notes on structure, spelling and grammar. There’s also journal writing, which is another form of creative and emotional expression.
• Life Skills: Use this as an opportunity to teach children the benefit of cooking for themselves or washing their own clothes. Sorting laundry can also help little ones learn colors and practice organization.
• Math: Make a batch of cookies and have children figure out the fractions in the recipe. Parents can also teach basic addition and subtraction by using spare change and dollar bills as a visual.
• Reading: Daily reading is great for the imagination. Books can transport kids to
a different time or place and provide a good distraction from the current reality. Research age appropriate titles that can be challenging, educational and entertaining.
• Science: The kitchen can be used to explore science concepts. When cooking, discuss the different stages of matter and the types of chemical reactions that occur. Go on nature walks to identify specific birds, trees and plants. Practice earth science by having kids help in the garden.
• Social Studies: Learn about different cultures by making them immersive. Find kid-friendly movies set in various locations and discuss different countries and cultures. Try pronouncing words in their official language or recreating a native recipe.
Educational apps and online programs
Parents should start with the resources provided by their child’s school or teacher. They can then utilize online educational programs to complement those lessons. For core subjects and physical activities try:
• ABC Mouse abcmouse. com/abt/homepage
• BrainPOP brainpop. com
• Carmen Sandiego carmensandiego.com/resources
• Freckle freckle.com
• Go Noodle gonoodle. com
• IXL ixl.com
• Khan Academy khanacademy.org
• TRAILS trailstowellness.org/materials/resources/covid-19-resources
Parents can find a compiled list of teacher-approved online resources at AHealthierMichigan.org.
Home learning reminders
It’s not necessary for parents to replicate a school day. Aim for two to three hours of educational activities. On average, elementary-age children can focus 20 to 30 minutes per subject. Older students can concentrate for 30 to 45 minutes. The goal is to create a solid schedule and curriculum. But providing love and consistency should be the main priority.