How Can I Make Learning Fun At Home for My Child?

by Julie Diamond, OCT

Ever wished learning could be as exciting as playing your favourite game? If your child is a reluctant learner, then gamification will get them excited about the subject and deepen their understanding. When kids have fun learning, our online tutors notice they understand better and want to keep going.

In this blog, let's delve into what gamification means, explore its benefits, and discover practical ways parents can bring this playful approach to learning right into your home.

What is Gamification of Learning?

Gamification of learning is like turning studying into a game. It involves using enjoyable elements such as challenges, rewards, and competitions to make learning more engaging and interesting.

Benefits of Gamification in Learning:

1. More Fun Learning:

Learning turns into an enjoyable game, making it more fun and keeping your child interested.

Practical Tip: Create learning games around your child's favourite subjects. For example, our online teachers use Prodigy, Dreambox or Khan Academy Kids to help tutor elementary students in math.

To help your child with test prep, use Kahoot or Quizlet to turn studying into a fun game. You can opt to enter the questions and add the multiple choice questions or, as a challenge, get them to create questions with the material and see how they do.

2. Doing Better with Rewards:

Imagine your child receiving little rewards for doing well in their studies—stickers, points, or even a small treat. These rewards boost their motivation and make online learning more enjoyable.

3. Learning at Your Child's Speed:

With gamification, your child can learn at their own pace. It's like choosing the level of a game that feels right for them.

Practical Tip: Use online educational apps that adapt to your child's skill level, allowing them to progress comfortably. One great website to support your child with their reading skills is a program called Lexia. It adapts to your child’s learning levels in all 5 strands of literacy and rewards them for completing levels.

Student is playing a numbers game to practice their financial literacy.

4. Getting Smarter:

Games make your child's brain work hard, helping them think and solve problems. These skills are valuable not only in school but also in real life.

Practical Tip: Integrate educational games focusing on problem-solving and critical thinking into your child's routine. Introduce your child to coding with websites llike Scratch or CodeCombat. Coding is great for practicing problem-solving and is an incredibly valuable skill in real life as well.

5. Knowing How Your Child is Doing:

Games provide instant feedback, letting your child know if they're doing well or need to try again. This quick feedback loop enhances their understanding of different concepts.

Practical Tip: Use interactive online platforms that offer immediate feedback on your child's progress in specific subjects.

Using Gamification at Home:

Now, let's explore practical ways online tutors and teachers gamify learning that parents can also use at home.

1. Cool Apps and Websites:

Explore educational apps like "ABCmouse" for reading and "DragonBox Numbers" for online math or any of the other apps or websites I’ve listed above.

Elementary student using educational apps to extend their online learning at home.

2. Family Game Night:

Transform classic board games into learning adventures. Play Scrabble for spelling, Uno for numbers, or trivia games for general knowledge during family game nights.

3. Rewards for a Job Well Done:

Implement a simple reward system at home. Stickers for completed tasks can lead to small treats or extra playtime when a certain number is collected.

4. Make Everyday Things a Game:

Turn everyday tasks into fun challenges. Counting items at the grocery store or solving math problems while setting the table can make learning a part of daily life.

In conclusion, gamification of learning adds a dash of enjoyment to education. It makes learning interesting and helps your child find joy in the journey of discovery.

Parents can actively participate by incorporating educational apps, playing learning games, and turning daily tasks into exciting challenges. Online learning is an adventure, and with gamification, it becomes a journey filled with fun!