Classrooms aren't the only place to learn by L. Pearson

The secret to staying young is to stay curious. And there are so many ways to keep that fire alive in your kids. Here is an article by Laura Pearson about finding new pathways to educating kids in the world. Laura Pearson is passionate about teaching the younger generation. Edutude was built to share resources on how to keep children engaged and in love with learning. 

The pandemic revealed the importance of being able to master learning remotely. With that in mind, the following ideas can excite, engage, and instill a love of learning in children of all ages. 

 In the Backyard The best classroom in the world doesn’t have a single wall, and you have access to it right now. Plan to allow your children to spend some time learning under the sun. This might include anything from growing your own garden to collecting rocks and minerals that are unique to your area. From your own backyard, your children will also be able to bear witness to wildlife -- just be sure they know how to do so safely. Backyard birdwatching, an activity condoned by the Audubon Society, is one fun way to do this. A pair of binoculars, a camera, and a notebook are all the kids need to get started with backyard birding. Another example of outdoor activity that doubles as an educational opportunity is gardening. Gardening offers a unique opportunity to witness plant life grow from seedling to sustainable food source or habitat for your local bee population. Additionally, gardening teaches life skills such as responsibility, creativity, and self-confidence.

Hands-on Activities Even the youngest member of your family can get in on the learning, and educational toys that teach problem-solving, communication, and executive functioning skills are an excellent way to educate babies and toddlers. Educational toys do not have to be expensive, and even something as simple as blocks or a toy phone can enhance your children’s ability to learn without having to sit at a desk to do so. Teens can also learn fundamental skills without a textbook. Science can be taught in the kitchen, and social responsibility is something that older kids can easily learn by getting out of the house and volunteering. You can also teach budgeting, and many banks offer special accounts just for pre-driving-aged students. These and other activities geared toward early teenagers may even help them take their mind off of the turmoil that is middle school.

Educational Excursions If you’re not particularly creative, it may be a bit more difficult for you to think of educational activities for the kids. Fortunately, you do not have to, and there are plenty of places that cater to inquiring minds, all you have to do is get them there. Children’s museums that make a great day or overnight excursion, depending on where you live, include: ● Children’s Museum, Indianapolis ● Boston Children’s Museum, Boston ● The Strong, Rochester ● Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore A few excellent zoos that can also elevate your educational endeavors include: ● San Diego Zoo, San Diego ● Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, Ohio ● Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington ● Bronx Zoo, New York What we all want for our children is for them to be excited about learning. This may or may not happen in the classroom, but you can bet that it will happen when they are engaged outside of it. From gardening to taking a museum tour, there are many ways to educate your children, and there’s no reason not to explore them all.