Let’s talk about Why hands-on teaching is worth your effort. When I was growing up, my mom served us a wide variety of good-for-you foods. They were well prepared, but being a kid, I didn’t always like them as much as she might have hoped. Still, “three big bites” was the policy at our house. When liver or spinach were on the menu, it helped a lot to know that dessert was coming. Dessert made it worthwhile to do what had to be done.
Most homeschool parents spend a lot of time and money planning lessons that are good for their children, but…well…kids are kids. They may still groan as if they’re being force-fed that math lesson. The promise of a fun surprise can make the hard parts of their school day seem worth their effort, which is why hands-on teaching is definitely worth your effort.
With just a little more time and not much additional expense, any parent can plan occasional hands-on learning adventures that are like an educational “dessert.”
Here are 3 benefits to inspire you:
1. A Little Bit Goes a Long Way
We’re not talking “vacation to Disney World.” Something as simple as making pizza from scratch (while talking about the food pyramid) or staying up extra late for a bit of stargazing can qualify as a fun treat. Let school topics inspire ideas that extend the skills they’re studying into practice in real life.
You also don’t have to structure your entire curriculum around fun-filled activities. Some families may, but most would probably find that overwhelming. Start small. Just as some families save dessert for a once-a-week treat, it may work best for you to plan hands-on adventures as an end-of-week reward—something to look forward to.
2. One Experience Fits All
Whether your children are five or fifteen, whether they’re visual, auditory, or tactile learners, one hands-on activity contains elements that will appeal to everyone. Like a song with voice parts, everyone tends to find the notes that suit them. The end result of doing life together is richer than the sum of individual perspectives.
3. Your Kids Give You Bonus Points for Being “the Cool Mom”
Every adventure you create is an opportunity to build memories. Can you remember a single textbook or workbook lesson? I know I can’t, but I have fond memories of any number of field trips and hands-on activities. Those were the lessons that stuck with me because they were personal.
By creating memories, a homeschool mom has the opportunity to truly be a “home maker”—making home…and school…a fun place to be.
Every effort returns double your investment. Not only will your children learn to love learning, but when they are grown you will have a treasure chest of good memories to cherish as well.
For ideas and more, check out my book How to Make Learning Meaningful, Memorable, and Fun!
ORGet the whole Homeschool Parents’ How-To Handbook (all 4 books in the How-To series) when you join our CoffeeBreak Community.
