In the past, learning took place in a classroom with a teacher standing at the front imparting information that students were expected to write down and then learn in their free time. But the world has changed a lot since then, digital technology has arrived, and homeschooling has become more popular.
In addition, we have learned more about how children (and people) actually learn things; the best quality learning happens when we are in a state of relaxed alertness; that is why edutainment such as computer games and crossword puzzles are effective forms of schooling.
Computer games for learning
I know. We hear it all the time. Limit screen time. But I’ve found it can be added into our homeschool as a benefit. One of the best forms of edutainment nowadays is computer games. Computer games are a natural refuge for children and teenagers who are also at an important stage of personal development, so it makes sense to combine these two forces.
An example of an edutainment computer game is Animal Jam which was developed in collaboration with National Geographic. The game teaches kids ecology and zoology, with the added advantage of online social interaction.
Television for Teaching
We use National Geographic and Disney Plus in our homeschool each week. Disney Plus has a wealth of education programming along with teacher packets that can spark your kiddo’s joy of learning in many ways!
Crossword puzzles for fun
Crossword puzzles are nothing new, but there’s a reason they have stood the test on time and remained a favorite educational tool for parents and teachers. Crosswords are excellent for developing cognitive skills and teaching language.
The good news is that children are just as responsive to crosswords as adults, in some cases more so, as the young mind loves a puzzle to grapple with. Making up your own crosswords using jumble is an excellent way to integrate new words into lessons.
Movies and TV shows
Everybody loves movies, and TV shows no matter what age you are, that’s why they make excellent mediums to educate as well as entertain. Through movies, children can learn about social issues, historical events, and environmental issues.
The best way to use movies and TV shows to educate is to integrate them into a series of lessons dealing with particular issues. That way, the movie can be watched in context, and the students can learn about the subject in a more focused way.
E-learning platforms
Children today are digital natives, which means they have grown up using digital technology and have never experienced the world without it. Children are fluent with digital devices and the processes of navigating and learning from digital platforms.
Therefore, it’s natural that more e-learning platforms have emerged over the years to channel education to children through a medium they are familiar with. Kids can learn a full range of subjects, including traditional ones and contemporary ones such as coding.
Fiction books and General reading
Nothing like getting lost in another world via the written word. Fiction books have been around for centuries and teach children and adults about the world and language through stories and entertainment. You can even weave in a bit of Shakespeare quite easily and find how his original plots are seen in popular fiction books and chapter books today.
No matter what age you are, a fiction book can help you learn more about yourself or the world. For young children, there are pop up books, picture books and board books, while older children can enjoy more traditional formats. Supplement reading with questions.
