Teachers often say that there is nothing better than when a child has that lightbulb moment. A foreign concept suddenly clicks in their brain. That moment could then continue into an interest in the subject with the right lessons. However, children learn in different ways. There are many approaches to make learning fun for kids.
Try out the following with your kids and see what works best. It's also worth checking out teacher resources for ideas for activity lessons that children enjoy.
If your child is a bookworm and loves the written word, indulge them. Create a kid-friendly reference library at home. There are some brilliant series of books aimed directly at children in all kinds of disciplines. These age-appropriate books can simplify the subject while still piquing their interest. Some will also have fun quizzes and games to make learning fun for the family.
Some kids don’t learn very well from books alone. The information may be of interest but nothing is engaging in the written word. Perhaps they’d much rather be coloring in or painting pictures. If so, why not incorporate that love of art into their lesson. Say your child has a project about the planets. Why not create a big wall chart with them. They can learn about distances, sizes, colors and features of the planets while painting them.
Other kids learn best in a more tactile manner. They like to feel things and physically see how they work. A step-by-step guide in a book might not give them enough to work with. Hands-on approaches, educational toys and 3D models could be the answer. Paper mache is a wonderful material that kids can turn into mountains, animals, dinosaurs and so much more. Add some vinegar and baking soda to that mountain and you’ve got a working volcano. The structure and the mechanics in action may be the spark they need.
This is a group often overlooked. These kids favor sounds and music when exploring new topics. They can retain the information more easily than by reading. This is why you might want to consider kid-friendly audio books or podcasts for them to listen to. If they have a talent for music then why not write songs about subjects. The rhythm of the lyrics can act as a mnemonic device and stick so they retain the information with ease.
There is no reason why parents need to feel left out here as you make lessons fun. Children can become more engaged with an activity if they feel someone else shares their interest. You can stay on hand to guide them with their work and ask them questions about what they are doing. This tactic is also a great way for kids to show applied learning. If they can explain the concept to you, they are doing something right.
Finally, whatever the subject or learning style, your child should be in control of the lesson. If a broad lesson takes a narrow turn into something of specific interest, run with that. If they are fascinated by one species in their animal studies then focus on it for a while. Let them call the shots wherever it is reasonable and facilitate their needs. Also, remember that when the fun is over, it is time to call it a day.
Clare McLeod is a research psychologist. She has a Master of Professional Psychology degree from Monash University.