Gameschooling

My memories of growing up in public school are dominated by worksheets and lectures, with some projects, pop quizzes, and videos mixed in (thought I’ll never forget The Magic School Bus, Bill NYE, or Eyewitness on VHS)! What about fun and games? Why were those usually left for the substitute teachers and not incorporated into our daily routine? You may think that your homeschool schedule is already full, and the idea of adding daily games seems “extra” or “unnecessary”, but it might be easier than you think!

As a child, what sort of emotions did you feel when presented with a workbook versus a game? Playing educational games provide a multi-sensory experience while developing skills such as:•Following directions•Good sportsmanship •Critical thinking•Hand-eye coordination•Fine motor skills•Attention and focus•Cooperation and flexibility We play games on a daily basis, while trying to rotate different types of games so Eisley doesn’t get burnt out. Follow your child’s lead. They may want to play ‘Letter Sound Bingo’ three days in a row, so roll with it! If a game is viewed as becoming a chore or something dreaded, give it a break and play something new. 

A Camping Nature scavenger hunt we created and printed for our camping trip

Now it’s time to start building your game collection! There are tons of resources online where you can download and print games for instant use! You can filter your searches in relation to holidays, seasons, subjects, or units you are studying. We also enjoy creating our own games such as this DIY cardboard tic-tac-toe game which can easily be brought to the park or on a long drive. One of our recent favorites is the 'Galaxy Game' we all created together with fun actions such as, "Solar flare, BACK 3 spaces" or "Space Walk, MOVE 2 spaces". Not only did we learn about our solar system and life on the International Space Station while making the game, we also emphasized things that may be positive or negative to happen while you are in space. FUN! 

Another fun way to find games is to visit your local thrift stores. Used games are more environmentally friendly since they’re being re-used, and they cost a fraction of brand new games! The only thing to confirm before purchasing is that all of the pieces/cards are still inside. There’s nothing more disappointing than getting excited to play a game, only to realize that some required pieces are missing! The last and obviously way to grow your game collection is to purchase them new! We enjoy finding ones on Amazon which has more variety and we don’t have to drive all over town. 

DIY Sight Word Memory game

What are some of your favorite games to play with your child?

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