Great Learning Opportunities to Discover

from Minnesota Extension Service University of Minnesota

Children only spend about 10% of their time in school, yet, they can spend 100% of their time learning. The world is full of opportunities that reinforce and expand what your child discovered in school. The trick is capitalizing on them. For example:

• Ask questions.
• Point out stories of interest in the newspaper.
• Encourage your child to write notes, help you with grocery lists, do math around the house, read labels, and find the best word to use.
• Discuss a television program you're watching.
• Have everyone read the same book and discuss it.
• Watch the news together.
• Have your child help you fix a household problem.
• Discuss the meaning of new words and concepts.

Apply homework lessons at home. For example, if your child is studying maps, make a map of your neighborhood. Sometimes this involves an outing. For example:

• Take your child to the library.
• Visit a local museum, zoo or wildlife refuge. Afterward, ask your kids to design a museum of their own.
• Walk in your neighborhood. Talk about your favorite buildings.
• At a restaurant, have your child help you figure the tip.
• Go bowling. Have your child keep score.

What you do is sometimes less important than how you do it. For example, watching a sitcom together could be as educational as visiting a museum. Have fun, talk about what you've done, share opinions.

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