Today, I’d like to chat about delight driven learning through games and gameschooling.
While many people set out to homeschool from the very beginning, I did not. As a school psychologist and product of public schools, I always assumed that my children would attend public school.
But then I was blessed with an asynchronous, twice-exceptional child and public school did not work. We found ourselves suddenly, unexpectedly homeschooling in May of 2014 and we’ve never looked back.
There are so many things that I love about homeschooling, and time spent connecting with my children is right at the top of that list.
The public school bus stop is in front of our house. The bus for the elementary school leaves at 7:55 each morning and returns home at 4:00.
This time of year, darkness has fallen by the time the kids reach their front door.
My children will often notice the bus and ask, sadly, “But mom, when do they play?”
It’s a valid question, you guys. Gameschooling is a definite homeschool perk. I am so thankful that we have plenty of time to play each day.
Delight Driven Learning: Using Games in Your Homeschool
Delight-Driven Learning and The Importance of Play
Play is the science of childhood. Children learn how to navigate their world through play and I am so thankful that homeschooling allows my children plenty of time for play.
My children are currently 8, 6, and 5-years-old. We enjoy a variety of homeschool curricula, but our homeschool routine includes carefully-selected, high-quality books and games. Yes, board games! Why, you wonder?
- Board games are fun.
- Games are educational.
- They build relationships.
- Games make memories.
- Board games provide hours of entertainment!
Board Games as Educational Tools
Children are doing so much more than simply having fun when they are engaged in play. Playing games works on a host of skills, including:
- Social skills
- Verbal communication
- Self-regulation
- Turn-taking
- Sharing
- Listening
- Cooperation
- Focus and attention
- Following directions
- Creativity
- Learning to handle wins and losses
- Cognitive skills such as counting, color/shape/pattern recognition, math skills, strategy, problem-solving, early literacy, etc.
Playing a game presents countless opportunities for teachable moments and skill development. There is something to be said for the hands-on, experiential learning that games provide.
How to Pick the Perfect Family Game
Board games are wonderful for families. A game costs less than the cost of taking your family to the movies and yet it provides you with countless opportunities for entertainment and memories! In order to pick the right game you must think of the following:
- Recommended number of players – You do not want to purchase a two-player game for a family of five.
- Age recommendations – When selecting a game, be cognizant of the ages of the children and the recommendations made by the game manufacturers.
- Time to play – Families these days are busy, and some families are busier than others. Most games now have an average game length on the side of the box to help with your selection.
- Ease of use – Is this a game that the family can play right out of the box? Will it be easy for all members of the family to understand?
- Fun factor – You want the game to be fun for all ages!
- Challenge – If the game is too easy, the family won’t play it often. The same goes for super-complicated games.
- Longevity – You don’t want to pick a game that the family will outgrow quickly.
Using Games in Your Homeschool
Among the biggest of homeschooling perks in my world is the fact that our family is able to play games frequently. We don’t have to try to squeeze in a family game night on an already jam-packed weekend, but rather we can play daily and sometimes multiple times daily if we desire.
I use games for many reasons:
- Fun
- Skill practice
- Introduction to a topic (for example, I introduced the concept of coding with games like this one.)
- As a way to wrap up a unit study
- As a way to keep learning a given subject when a child is struggling. For example, my 7-year-old will periodically become extremely frustrated with math. We have a bunch of math games that I pull out to use during that time until he’s ready for more formal math instruction.
- Survival!! We had a doozy of a winter last year in NH and we used board games as a survival strategy!
Board games are an integral part of our homeschool routine. Here are just a few of our family’s favorite games, by subject:
- Math games
- Logic and reasoning games
- Geography
- One-player games
- Cooperative games
- Imaginative games that inspire creativity
- Games to keep kids moving
- Classic games that will transport you back in time!
And here are some of our favorite games, by name. I’ve also listed “sister” games for each within each post, so if you like one mentioned, be sure to check out the recommendations within the post:
- Quoridor: Easy to learn, challenging to play
- Apples to Apples: Laughter Guaranteed
- Blokus: A Minute to Learn, A Lifetime to Master
- Labyrinth: Fun for the Entire Family
- Our favorite game company: ThinkFun!
Do you want to see our homeschool in action?
Be sure to follow My Little Poppies because we share snapshots of our homeschool day… and all of our favorite resources!
Do you love to homeschool with books?
You are invited to join the {Virtual} Family Book Club at My Little Poppies, a private Facebook Group for parents who love to read fantastic books to their children… and chat about them!
Do you love to homeschool with games?
You are also invited to join the My Little Poppies Gameschool Community, a private Facebook Group for parents who wish to add more play to their family and/or homeschool routine.
Now that I’ve shared our favorites, I’d love to hear from you! How do you include delight-driven learning in your homeschool? Leave your answers in the comments!
- How do you use games in your homeschool?
- Do you see the educational value of play?
- What was your favorite board game as a child?
- What is your family’s favorite game right now?
