How to make homeschooling fun must be one of the top questions I’m asked. I can’t even describe the pure beauty of those moments when learning just happens in the midst of family fun or when my children’s play inspires them to make, and explore, and find out. But it is when you know that it’s all going to work out OK and you are doing a great job at this homeschooling thing.
There are so many reasons to incorporate fun, informal learning activities into your homeschool. It can serve to:
- break up the monotony of the everyday schedule,
- spark interest in subjects outside the normal course of study,
- help reluctant learners find joy in learning and build confidence,
- add some educational value to sick days, holiday breaks, or just those days when you’re asking, “Can this count as school?”, and
- provide some direction or inspiration during the deschooling process or if you’re unschooling.
So without further ado, here are a few (or actually 101) of our absolute favorite reasons to make homeschooling fun.
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Find more homeschooling resources here.
Reasons to Read Fun Books
1. Because taking turns reading to each other builds reading confidence in little bites.
2. Because reading a book about another homeschooling family makes it all seem “normal”.
3. Because making math a medieval reading adventure technically covers three subjects at once!
4. Because I guarantee just having this book in your home will inspire a ton of independent learning.
5. Because maps are eye candy for little geography lovers.
6. Because there really is no such thing as useless knowledge.
7. Because poetry inspires!
8. Because fun can be yummy too!
9. Because books can inspire family adventures.
10. Because books can bring out their creative geniuses.
11. Because sometimes getting them laughing is the best way to get them reading.
12. Because bedtime is the perfect time for a little bit of using your brain.
13. Because kids and adults love awesome facts.
14. Because my kids grab this book, on their own, and dig into history all. the. time.
15. Because children will actually read the dictionary if given one on their level.
16. Because kids need to know you can make great things from mistakes.
Reasons for Fun Science and Nature Activities
17. Because my daughter has an engineer’s blood in her veins.
Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 32 Piece Set
18. Because you never know when an opportunity for a nature study will creep across your patio.
Nature Bound Bug Catcher with Habitat Bucket and 7 Piece Nature Exploration Set
19. Because the erupting volcano demonstration never gets old.
20. Because our future technology geniuses start somewhere.
Learning Resources Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set, 83 Pieces
21. Because little ones love to look at little things . . .
Learning Resources Magnifier & Tweezers
22. . . . and because bigger kids love to look at little things too.
23. Because they’re gonna need something cool to look at with their magnifying glasses.
Fossil Collection Sorting Activity Kit with over 100 Pcs (more than 20 different fossil varieties!)
24. Because if they’re going to pick up every “special” rock they see they may as well know something about it.
Scientific Explorer All About Rocks Kit
25. Because, while we’re on the subject of rocks, does it get more FUN than being told to break things!?
Fun Express Break Your Own Geodes – 12 Pieces
26. Because the notion that physics is only for high school and college is bunk.
Thames & Kosmos Physics Workshop
27. Because SPACE. Need I say more?
28. Because nothing sparks wonder and amazement like the final frontier.
Ata-Boy Magnetic Solar System Play-n-Learn Board
Reasons to Make Math Fun
29. Because tessellation is cool!
Learning Resources Wooden Pattern Blocks, Set of 250
30. Because a healthy obsession with planners starts early. 😉
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Magnetic Calendar With 134 Magnets
31. Because you NEED to know when it’s snack time!
32. Because the possibilities are endless.
Learning Resources Mathlink Cubes, Set of 100 Cubes
33. Because who wouldn’t love a tub of money!
Educational Insights Play Money Deluxe
34. Because I wish I could have learned multiplication from a board game.
Logic Roots Pet Me Multiplication and Division Game
35. Because learning to recognize numbers by dots is an invaluable skill.
36. Because kids love ’em and they are really are great for teaching so many math concepts.
37. Because sometimes you need to take learning on the go.
38. Because creating a home environment that is rich in learning opportunities will pay huge dividends.
39. Because sometimes you run out of ideas for things to do with all those amazing math manipulatives.
Hands-on Math: Learning Addition and Subtraction through Manipulative Activities
40. Because it never hurts to show kids how math applies to real life.
Reasons for Fun History and Geography Resources
41. Because Ancient Egypt is fascinating!
42. Because who doesn’t love to play archaeologist?
Thames and Kosmos Classic Science Archaeology: Pyramid
43. Because cutting and pasting and creating make learning personalized.
Egyptian Activity Book (Creative Fun Series)
44. Because knowing where provides so much context for the whos and whats and whens.
Oregon Scientific Smart Globe Discovery Educational World Geography Kids – Learning Toy
45. Because the feudal system is waaaay easier to explain when you add dragons . . . or maybe just more fun.
Melissa & Doug Medieval Castle 3-D Puzzle and Play Set – Dragon and Knights (100 pcs)
46. Because what do tiny castles need? Why tiny siege engines of course!
Leonardo da Vinci Catapult Kit
47. Because architecture is better hands-on.
Taksa Toys Greek Facade Blocks
48. Because model painting can be more than just horses or cars.
Art In History EDU005 Hands-On History Greek Drinking Vessel
49. Because this activity guide really helps bring SOTW Vol 1 to life!
Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome (Hands-On History)
50. Because you might need a good excuse for one more roadschooling trip.
Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Travel License Plate Game – Wooden U.S. Map Game Board
51. Because, let’s face it, EVERY mom of young kids is thinking the same thing . . . “I just don’t have enough stuff taking up space on my floor!”
52. Because history can be beautiful.
Reasons to Cultivate Fun with Art & Creativity
53. Because I could come up with 101 reasons alone to give children an appreciation for great art.
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters
54. Because “non-toxic” and “storage case” are words I love to hear!
55. Because spirographs are just as cool as when we were kids.
56. Because occasionally it’s worth a little more investment for a more “grown-up-like” product.
57. Because drawing is a great skill for anyone to cultivate.
58. Because you never know if you’re raising the next great inventor.
59. Because everyone needs a little silly inspiration sometimes.
60. Because what kid doesn’t love saying, “I made that!”?
61. Because mom loves anything that has it’s own storage container.
62. Because how cute are little animal footprint stamps!! Hello, make your own nature journals!
63. Because, with little ones, you may as well get these on auto delivery.
64. Because, if you do nothing else with art, teach them how to mix colors.
Color Wheel Childrens Colorsaurus
65. Because this is an absolute staple item in our home for boredom-busting. (And I let them mix the colors)
Reasons to Build Life Skills the Fun Way
66. Because sewing by hand is still an important skill to have.
67. Because learning to count money and make change makes for a money-savvy kiddo.
68. Because unleashing their inner chef doesn’t need to be risky business.
Tovla Kids 3-Piece Nylon Kitchen Knife Set: Children’s Cooking Knives
69. Because the right tools can turn ideas into realities.
My First Tool Set by DIYjr – Real Tool Set for Kids Steel Forged Tools for Children
70. Because your little emergency-room-doctor-in-training will love it.
The Kids’ Guide to First Aid: All About Bruises, Burns, Stings, Sprains & Other Ouches
71. Because this is just a necessity in any home, but done in a kid-friendly way.
72. Because I cannot wait for my girls to master baking on their own. I will let them all.the.time.
73. Because gardening can be not only a practical life skill but a lovely, life-long hobby.
74. Because growing your own vegetables can make them so much more fun to eat.
75. Because teaching how gardening and cooking go together creates food-responsible, healthy-minded children.
Grow 5 Herbs From Organic Seeds with Nature’s Blossom’s Herb Garden Starter Kit
76. Because it’s more fun to get involved with cleaning with real tools (not toys). *Also great for women with child-sized hands like me.*
77. Because being responsible for their own schedule helps kids own their responsibilities.
Reasons to Play Fun Learning Games
78. Because I would have never known my children had such deep thoughts.
Apples to Apples Junior – The Game of Crazy Combinations! – Styles May Vary
79. Because every parent needs the dose of humility of having their child beat them in a thinking game.
SET: The Family Game of Visual Perception
80. Because additional and subtraction don’t have to just be learned on flash cards.
81. Because BINGO is great no matter how you play it.
GeoBingo World – Educational Geography Board Game
82. Because logic and critical thinking are so important.
Cathedral Wood Strategy Tabletop Board Game Classic
83. Because geography is more fun when you’re “mad-dashing”.
84. Because learning to manage money can be fun.
85. Because even young children can appreciate great art.
86. Because TREASURE HUNT! Seriously, my mom used to make clues and maps by hand for my birthday parties. And now you can just buy this!
87. Because everyone loves a good mystery.
88. Because I’m kinda obsessed with fun ways to teach multiplication right now.
89. Because catching cat criminals builds strong brains.
Reasons to Make Learning Fun for Little Ones
Read more about how to choose effective phonics toys.
90. Because – secretly – I want to play with this stuff all the time too!
Kinetic Sand – Sandcastle Set (Colors Vary)
91. Because they will build this garden again, and again . . . and again.
Green Toys Build-a-Bouquet Floral Arrangement Playset
92. Because it’s never too early to lay a foundation for reading.
93. Because sometimes low-tech is simply the best.
Wooden Educational Counting Toys – Math Abacus Number Learning and Counting Stacker Stacking Game
94. Because you have to know how many Legos equals one Oreo.
95. Because who doesn’t adore this caterpillar?
Let’s Feed The Very Hungry Caterpillar Game
96. Because when you see a great toy with lower-case letters, snag it!
97. Because it’s hours of self-entertainment.
Melissa & Doug Basic Skills Board
98. Because bean bags are so versatile. And ones with different shapes and colors? More so!
Educational Insights Shapes Beanbags
99. Because, for some reason, toddlers love eggs so darn much.
Color Matching Egg Set – Toddler Toys – Educational Color & Number Recognition Skills Learning Toy
100. Because, again, THIS caterpillar! And also fine motor skills.
The World of Eric Carle(TM) The Very Hungry Caterpillar(TM) Lacing Cards
101. Because movement and music can turn anything into fun.
LOOIKOOS Natural Wooden Music Set for Toddlers
Whew! That was a lot of reasons.
So what have I missed? Let me know how you make homeschooling fun! I am always looking for new ideas for my own kids and to share with others.
