Play with Purpose: How to Make Playtime Educational and Fun

We understand as parents that playing is very important for our kids’ growth. Kids have fun, meet new people and discover exciting things at activities. It helps if educational games are included in playtime. 

Having a fun game with your children gives parents an opportunity to teach without stressing about their learning. 

Incorporate Games

Playing games helps your children stay interested in what they are learning. They help your kids enjoy learning more, so they are motivated to participate and have a good time. What makes them special is… Much of these activities are simple to set up; all you need might be a paper hat, some flashcards or even toys such as a baby or lego.

Being efficient at counting can be helped with the “What’s Missing?” game. Let your kids see a set of cards each containing numbers as their symbols. Shuffle the group and secretly take away one number. They will have to guess what is missing from the sequence and only those who are correct get to keep the money.

Give Your Kids Choices

Kids usually are told what to do in both their homes and schools. They might begin to feel ignored which causes them not to care about activities that you hope they join in. Often, they want to give their thoughts and it’s important to listen. If kids feel like they are making the decision, they are likely to be more involved and you can use this to add some learning to their playtime.

Still, see if they want to do something and try to link your lesson with what they are doing. So, they will be more focused on the activity and their learning while also practicing how to make decisions.

Incorporate Hands-On Learning

Teachers involve their young students in many hands-on activities so they stay more interested and are more involved. Parents can practice this with their children as well at home. Parents find hands-on learning is accessible and their children have fun while learning this way. How does this procedure really happen?

Hands-on learning connects students with hands-on activities where they are put in charge of their learning. Learning by doing is distinct from lectures in that students have to stand and use their physical skills to learn. 

In these activities, students can understand new perspectives using their own experience which encourages self-learning. An example of a hands-on experience is doing arts and crafts. Using arts and crafts is great for helping kids learn colours and make things.

Create Group Time

Playing together with others can improve a child’s ability to keep and use what they learn in that activity. Cooperation builds your critical thinking and communication skills. When students work in groups, they enjoy different experiences which helps the activity stand out for them.

An excellent group activity for kids is called Common Denominator or Thread. It’s a fun way for 5-10 children to play together and cooperate. Players start by having five minutes and then they try to determine what is common among all in the group.

An example could be a beloved dish or a favourite pet. As soon as both players find a common answer within 5 minutes, the game is won. Only if all the groups are now the same size can we write a common denominator, so keep changing how the groups are arranged. Regularly engaging in this activity helps kids be more honest, make friends and connect with other kids.

Schedule Field Trips

Field trips are something most people look back on fondly. Spending time doing outdoor activities is always enjoyed by your kids and will stick in their mind for years to come. Probably the greatest benefit is that field trips give children a chance to learn while they have fun. Take your children to educational places such as theaters or museums.

If money is a concern, have a group virtual field trip online. Sometimes, an interesting field trip is just close by. The more there is to discover on the trip, the more interested they will be and the easier it will be for them to remember what they’ve learned.

Final Words

Playing with your child helps them grow physically, mentally and socially. Still, not every moment in learning has to be pleasant. You could adjust it to be educational for students. With the ideas we mentioned, even just playing around can be a great opportunity to learn. Good luck!