Precious Pointer #14 - Make learning fun

The most well rounded children and adults I know are people who have found the key to make learning fun.  Learning is necessary for every area of our lives.  In order to be the best we can be...we must learn our crafts and areas of talent as well as all types of circulating information. 

Children have a hard time understanding that learning the basics will help them in their adult lives.  Learning things like all the presidents names or countries of the world - can feel unnecessary and boring to a 12 year old.  Yet, an adult listening to the news about Germany will feel different if he actually knows where Germany is located in relation to his own world.  An adult who knows the different presidents will feel comfortable discussing politics at a crowded social function.

I've found a wonderful on line tool that you can use to help your child remember boring facts.  Sporcle.com is a website full of timed games that will help your child memorize boring facts.  For example, under the history tab is a game for U.S. Presidents.  The game presents a blank list to fill in with presidents names.  You can go as far as you can and then click -"give up".  The rest of the names will be displayed giving you a chance to look them over.  Since I had long forgotten the presidents, I've been playing this game.  My first goal was to simply fill in the blanks before the time ended.  Then my goal was to do it in shorter and shorter time.  Finally, I tried to do it in order and in the shortest time possible. 

I'm a big fan of flash cards and used them often to help my children learn facts for a test.  We would play games and flip them in a wide array of possibilities.  Sporcle gives you faster more exciting games and will keep your child entertained while he is learning.

I can hear all you moms sighing.  "More video games - ugh!"  The plus to this game is that you can use it as a preliminary to homework.  Allow three tries an only three tries every night before homework time.  A quick use of these games can jump start your child's thinking process and concentration.  And...over time your child will learn valuable facts about presidents or whatever you choose. 

I suggest that you run a contest with everyone in the family - mom and Dad included - to see who learns one of the games first. 

Be sure to add plenty of giggles and laughing along the way :) 

Seeking His Wisdom,

Debbie