Learning Opportunities at Home

Children and adults alike can learn something new everyday, and that learning doesn’t always need to happen in a classroom. Some most memorable lessons can be taught through loved experience and everyday activities. Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive. In this blog we will explore the different ways in which you can help your child learn at home.

Cook Together to Learn

Some children learn best when they can see how the skills they are practicing apply to the real world, and often if they need to do “work” for the sake of having something in their exercise book, they may be discouraged. Therefore, cooking and baking together is a great way to practice some key maths skills, literacy, science and life skills. Following a recipe encourages children to listen carefully, read instructions and measure ingredients. They can learn about weights, quantities and time while developing fine motor skills through mixing, pouring and stirring.

Cooking together also promotes independence and confidence. Whether baking a simple cake or preparing a simple meal, children feel proud of their achievements and are often more willing to try new foods when they have helped prepare them, and they can feel satisfaction from having made something themselves. They may not even realise that they had to do some literacy to read the recipe!

Talk Together at Mealtimes

While some families may struggle to eat together due to busy schedules, family mealtimes can provide valuable opportunities for conversation. Taking time to talk about the day helps children develop their vocabulary, listening skills, and confidence in expressing their thoughts and feelings.

Try asking open-ended questions such as “What was the best part of your day?” or “What would you change about your day?”.  These questions can encourage children to think more deeply and share their experiences. Regular conversations help strengthen communication skills and build strong family connections.

Working together after the meal to clean up by dividing the necessary jobs, for example, who sets the table and who later dries the dishes, can also help with organisational skills and teamwork.

Spending Time in Nature 

Allowing children to spend time in nature and get muddy from time to time is great. It can allow children to switch off from our increasingly digital world, and allow them to experience boredom. This may seem counterintuitive to learning, however, taking a stroll through a field and just observing the natural world will create an opportunity for your child to think their own, independent thoughts. It provides time to process information that they have received throughout the day. 

If you are able, and willing to be even more adventurous, a family camping trip provides excellent opportunities for learning. Activities such as pitching your tent, cooking outdoors and managing challenges that arise with camping (for example, waking up to a puddle of rainwater in your tent!) can be extremely formative. They can allow children to experience a safe and manageable level of discomfort, while giving them a sense of adventure which can increase resilience in other aspects of life. 

Overall, not all learning needs to happen with lots of writing or reading; some can be through varied experiences and time spent together. If there are any specific adventures or activities you’ve done with your children, why don’t you let us know? We’d love to hear from you!