Terri Ramsey Beavers Now that the start of term is just around the corner, you must help your child prepare for the new school year. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by helping them develop a genuine excitement around learning. This way, they’ll view heading to school as a fun activity rather than something they have to do! In short, it can be a great way to motivate your children to do better in school.
Of course, this can seem easier said than done, especially if they’ve just had a fantastic school-free summer vacation.
With that in mind, here are some ways in which you can help your child find joy in learning!
Pay attention to their special interests.
If your child has a favorite topic, find ways to explore this together outside of the classroom. For example, if they’ve demonstrated a keen interest in history, then you could:
- Visit famous historical sites or museums together as a family.
- Read this Learn Bright article on interesting historical events (and discuss them afterward)
- Watch films or documentaries based on famous historical events.
If they’re talking at length about something they’ve learned, listen closely and be sure to ask plenty of questions. This will encourage them to maintain that level of enthusiasm moving forward!
Start a family reading group.
Developing a love of reading can bring forth a lot of benefits for your child, both inside and outside of the classroom. Firstly, it helps them to develop their reading comprehension and literacy skills, meaning they’ll begin to perform better in class. However, it also encourages them to use their imagination and can provide them with a welcome distraction from everyday stress and worries.
One way in which you could encourage your children to pick up a book (and limit screen time) while doing so is by starting a family reading club! For example, you could choose one new book to read together each month. Once you’ve each read the book, take time to really discuss it. Ask each other questions about the plot, characters, and more!
You should take it in turns to choose an age-appropriate book each week, as this can help your child discover which kind of books they like – action, adventure, or even non-fiction! Remember, you can keep costs down by visiting your local library to pick up books instead of the bookstore!
Find ways to make complicated topics fun!
Everyone has a favorite subject in school – but that also means that they have a least favorite topic, too. Typically, this is the subject that they tend to struggle with the most, as it’s hard to feel motivated in these classes. However, you can remedy this by finding a way to make difficult topics more fun!
For example, online math games can help your children learn basic mathematical skills in a way that is both fun and accessible. Furthermore, as they’re “playing”, they’re unlikely to realize that they’re actually learning too, but they’ll develop the necessary skills either way.