Exploring Fun and Educational Games for Your Child This Spring Break
by Julie Diamond, OCT
*** This blog will take about 3 minutes to read**
With Spring Break in full force, parents often find themselves contemplating how to keep their children engaged and entertained during the hiatus from school. Instead of relying solely on screen time or traditional activities, why not combine fun and learning with educational games? In this blog post, our online teachers have provided some exciting educational games that not only entertain but also foster your child's cognitive and creative development.
Board Games for Brainpower
Board games are timeless classics that encourage strategic thinking, problem-solving, and social interaction. Games like "Ticket to Ride" help enhance geography and critical thinking skills, while "Chess" stimulates logical reasoning and concentration and “Dominoes” practices numeracy skills for all ages.
How Do You Play with Dominoes?
Dominoes is a classic game of strategy and skill involving matching numbered tiles. My family and I learned a lot of fun ways to play the game together during the pandemic together.
To play, each player takes turns placing a tile on the table, matching the numbers on adjacent sides. The goal is to run out of tiles or block your opponent. This game not only sharpens logical thinking but also entertainingly reinforces numeracy skills. For other ways to use dominoes to practice math skills, check out this blog post by teacher Jillian Starr here.
Puzzlemania
Puzzles come in various forms, from jigsaw puzzles to logic puzzles, providing an array of options to suit your child's interests and age group. Jigsaw puzzles are excellent for improving spatial awareness and fine motor skills, while logic puzzles, such as Sudoku or crosswords, boost critical thinking and pattern recognition. Puzzles not only entertain but also instill patience and perseverance in children (and us adults, too).
How Do You Play with Legos Using Math?
Lego bricks are not just for building; they can also be a powerful tool for learning math concepts. Create challenges like building structures with specific dimensions or counting the number of bricks used in a design. This hands-on approach to math turns playtime into a fun and educational experience.
Educational Apps with a Twist
There are numerous educational apps offer a unique blend of entertainment and learning.
Apps like "Scratch" teach your child to use problem-solving and their self-expression to create their own animations and games. It’s also FREE!
Science Tutoring at Home
Spring Break is an excellent time to bring out the inner scientist in your child. Engage them in simple, age-appropriate science experiments that can be conducted at home. Check out Science teacher, Nancy Bullard here on Instagram, for super engaging and easy science experiments at home.
Interactive History and Geography
Transform history and geography lessons into engaging activities. Use interactive maps or globes to explore different countries and their cultures. Create a time-traveling adventure by crafting a historical scavenger hunt that takes your child on a journey through the ages. Incorporating elements of play into subjects like history and geography makes learning enjoyable and helps children retain information more effectively.
For kids ages 7-10, check out our friends at World in a Box for hands-on activities, games, and crafts to learn more about the world.
Math Games for Fun Learning
Turning math into a game makes it less intimidating and more enjoyable for children. Check out my recent article on Today’s Parent [here] for fun ways to make math fun as a family.
Language Arts Adventures
Foster a love for language through creative and engaging activities. Create a storybook together, where your child can write and illustrate their tale. Use storytelling games like "Once Upon a Time" to enhance communication and language skills. Scrabble and Bananagrams are excellent word games at our house that not only expand vocabulary but also promote strategic thinking and planning.
Outdoor Learning Games
Take advantage of the weather by incorporating outdoor learning games. Scavenger hunts, nature walks, and bird-watching activities not only promote physical activity but also provide opportunities for learning about the environment.
Examples of Outdoor Educational Games:
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items for your child to find in nature, promoting observation and exploration.
Bird-Watching Bingo: Turn bird-watching into a game by creating bingo cards with different bird species to spot.
Outdoor Alphabet Hunt: Challenge your child to find objects in nature that correspond to each letter of the alphabet.
This March Break, seize the opportunity to blend entertainment with education through a variety of engaging games. Whether indoors or outdoors, these activities cater to different learning styles and interests, ensuring that your child not only has a fun-filled week but also gains valuable knowledge and skills. By making learning an enjoyable and interactive experience, you set the stage for a lifelong love of discovery and education in your child.