Why Games Are An Essential Part Of Interest-Led Learning
The interest-led learning approach is a fantastic way to keep your children curious and engaged in the lessons you teach. Plus, they’ll be more likely to retain all the things they learn if they’re passionate about the subject.
Because children learn best through play and hands-on activities, games are really essential when you practice interest-led learning. You can teach all kinds of important concepts and bring your lessons to life with game play.
There are games out there for just about every topic under the sun, so you’re sure to find one that lines up with your child’s interest. Not into board games? There are card games, one player games, and even video games you can use to teach important concepts and skills to your homeschooler.
Keep reading to learn more about how games can be used to support interest-led learning in your homeschool. Plus, check out our favorite interest-led games to play here at the Waldock Way.
The Value Of Interest-Led Learning In Your Homeschool
It’s a fact that we learn best when we’re interested. In our homeschool, we practice interest-led learning. Following this path has led us on so many unexpected and amazing journeys.
We follow our daughter’s interests as we plan what to study, what field trips to take, and which resources to purchase. Does that mean we only study the things she’s interested in? No, we still learn important math concepts and grammar skills.
Following an interest-led learning approach means we get to develop a strong bond with our daughter while helping her to develop a thirst for knowledge. It’s how we are ensuring Emily will be a lifelong learner.
Pursuing your child’s interests in your homeschool is totally worth it. When your child is more engaged with the lesson and topics, they’ll be curious, ready to explore, and more likely to retain what they learn.
Why Games Support Interest-Led Learning
Fun and games help children thrive. Play is powerful! As homeschoolers, we have the opportunity to incorporate fun and games into everything we do.
I want to encourage you to utilize this opportunity to add games into your lessons. Games can be a fantastic way to support interest-led learning. You can reap all the benefits of following your child’s lead and have a ton of fun together making memories through game play.
We often use techniques like morning baskets and strewing to play more games while learning in our homeschool. I theme morning baskets to match up with Emily’s interests and fill them with books, resources, and games all about the topic she’s interested in at the moment. These interest-led morning baskets are inviting, which leads to many learning opportunities.
Another technique we use is strewing. Strewing focuses on carefully placed items that invite your child to be curious and learn by exploring them independently. Strewing games that match up with your child’s interests is an awesome way to set the tone for your homeschool day.
Games Based On Your Child’s Interests
There are games out there to cover every topic you can imagine! No matter what your child’s interests, I’m certain you can find games that match up. Check out some of Emily’s favorite interest-led games:
Astronomy
Emily loves all things space! She’s fascinated by planets, astronauts, and constellations. When I can find games that line up with her interest in outer space and teach important concepts, it’s a big win. Check out some of our favorites:
Art
Art has an important place in our home too. My husband Kevin is an artist and my daughter shares his passion. We often incorporate art into our lessons and Emily loves learning about different art techniques and famous artists. Check out some of our favorite art games:
Dinosaurs
If your homeschoolers love dinosaurs as much as Emily, you won’t want to miss these exciting prehistoric games that cover all kinds of great subjects and learning skills:
Sharks
Since Shark Week happens right around Emily’s birthday every year, sharks have become one of her many passions. We enjoy learning about them and watching Shark Week episodes together every year. Check out our favorite shark themed games:
What are your homeschoolers passionate about? Do you incorporate games into your homeschool lessons on a regular basis? Share your favorite games to play together in the comment section so we can try them too.
