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The Educational Value of Using Games in the Homeschool
© Beverley Paine
"What we really want to do is what we are really
meant to do.
When we do what we are really
meant to do, money comes to us,
doors open for us,
we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play
to us."
Julia Cameron
Children learn better when they use their whole bodies
and all of their senses. Learning from books can be
tedious for many students and can easily become a daily
chore that is met with reluctance.
I consider that my school based education was enhanced
by the countless hours my parents played board and card
games with me and my siblings. The television was turned
off usually at least once a week and we spent the evening
together, playing games.
Card games, chess, board and dice games taught me
problem solving skills, how to think logically to create
and apply different strategies, how to play cooperatively,
how to play competitively without becoming a sore loser
or a gloating winner, how to calculate, hone my mental
arithmetic skills, and the function and necessity of rules.
Playing games with my parents also gave me the
the benefit of additional conversation. While we played we
talked, often about different subjects that interested each
of us. As a result my vocabulary improved and I learned
valuable social skills.
Other games played a very important role in my
education. Physical games provided the opportunity to
develop confidence in my body, so essential to feeling
okay about oneself. Games that involved moving helped
to keep me fit and agile - fitness lessons without the
tedium! These games usually involved singing or chanting
rhymes - extending my language and music skills, all
without realising I was learning! Playing with a group of
friends never went without some kind of conflict: sorting
out personal conflicts when playing games is a major
part of the socialisation process. Learning how to get
along with others begins with playing games together.
Through playing solitaire games I learned the value of
perserverence and persistence. Plus I learned to enjoy
and appreciate my own company. When playing alone
there is no pressure to perform to please or satisfy
others and I could keep playing until I had mastered a
skill or a task to my own satisfaction.
Through Brownies and Girl Guides I learned that almost
any activity can be presented as a game. As home
educating students my children enjoyed being part of a
homeschooling group that met regularly, often spending
all day engrossed in playing games. The children tutored
each other, sorted out disputes over 'cheating', invented
new rules, worked out different game strategies, played
competitively and cooperatively, but most of, had a great
deal of fun!
Whenever my children seemed lack-lustre about learning
I would pull out a game or two to play, or remember
one from my own childhood. We'd play together, because
I remember the fun I had when playing with my parents.
It was a time of closeness, when we really got to know
each other, of happy times.
Bring back the challenge and excitement to learning
by supplementing study periods in each subject area
with one of the seven new Practical Homeschooling
Booklets published by Always Learning Books.
Written by home educator and mother, Kathi Wyldeck,
these educational and life skill games will provide a
natural and enjoyable way for your children to learn
while doing what children do best - play!
Each booklet offers easy to play games that are active
and fun, and are designed to consolidate academic
learning across all curriculum subjects. Although aimed at primary to junior secondary level,
most games can be played at levels suitable for
the individual player's age group and ability.
Parents can easily modify the activities to incorporate
additional learning to suit each child. Use the games to launch unit studies or spark interest
in particular topics, or to reinforce interest, increase
knowledge or consolidate previous learning.
Subjects covered in the booklets include:
- Mathematics, Estimation
- English
- Music
- History
- Geography, Tracking, Navigation
- German, French and Latin
- Citizenship
- Handcraft, Knotting
- Cooking
- First Aid
- Art
- Themed Games
- Camping
- Science and Environment
They are available for $3.25 each from Always Learning Books
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Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.
Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.
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with increased confidence in my ability to provide and
share a wonderful learning journey with my family!" Davina
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wisdom changed our lives. We now offer support and
organise many homeschooling events for others." Lesley
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I am convinced that your books are going to add
quality and peace of mind to my journey of teaching my kids
at home! Just from studying your website, until almost
2am
in the morning, I 've been encouraged!" Louisa
"Thank you for all your many,many reassuring words
over many, many years. You probably don't know exactly how
valuable you are to the Australian Home Education community.
I've been reading your stuff for maybe 8 years or more now.
And I'm very grateful." Gythaa
Want to learn how to write your own education plans
to suit your unique children's individual learning needs?
Or you are looking for quality curriculum and teaching tips...
Comprehensive 3 workbook 'how to home ed' course
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Welcome to the World of Home Education
and Learning without School!
We began educating our children in 1985, when our eldest was five. In truth, we had helped them learn what they need to learn since they were born. I am a passionate advocate of allowing children to learn unhindered by unnecessary stress and competition, meeting developmental needs in ways that suit their individual learning styles and preferences. Ours was a homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning family! There are hundreds of articles on this site to help you build confidence as a home educating family. We hope that your home educating adventure is as satisfying as ours was! Beverley Paine
3 ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES
Let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration!
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Tap into Beverley's
experience
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"Your books, your blogs helped me beyond words... they helped me to find comfort in knowing it is ok to choose exactly what is best for my family." Nisha
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"Your guidance, understanding, support & words of wisdom changed our lives." Leslie
"I feel specially inspired by Beverley's words and, the more I read her comments, the more inspired I feel, since my need for support, respect for different parenting styles, and information are fully met." Marijo
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The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice. This site merges and incorporates 'Homeschool Australia' and 'Unschool Australia'.
The Educating Parent acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners, the Custodians of Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this website.
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