As most parents in 2020 know, homeschooling can be a challenge, especially if your children are younger and are yet to learn the discipline for school. There is only so much a toddler or early elementary child can take of colouring, letters and writing, basic numbers and math, science, and a second language class. Sometimes both you and your child will need a break from academics and go back to being just parent-and-child instead of parent-also-teacher-and-child, and one great way to do that without losing out on the academics is to play board games!
Jenga
Great for kids of all ages if and when they need to practice being careful, stacking, and understanding balance. Plus, who doesn’t love Jenga when the tower finally comes crashing down?!
Dominoes
One way to make math fun is by playing dominoes! All kids can count the dents on the dominoes and add them up or subtract them to practice their math. For toddlers, if they become frustrated with the math part, they can practice stacking up the dominoes or creating a chain reaction for the dominoes to fall down, which still teaches them cause and effect!
Pictionary
Great for kids (and adults) of all ages, but extra great for toddlers who need to practice holding their pencils and drawing and identifying objects. You can tailor the game to have your child draw the items included in their class, such as basic shapes, objects in nature, numbers, and more. For older children, the reading component will give them great practice!
Scrabble
This is great for kids who can read a little or are learning how to spell or perfect their spelling. Playing with a young child isn’t about keeping track of the score, but keeping track of the words and expanding your child’s vocabulary. Older children can play with scores, and you can add a component to it by asking them to add the scores up themselves. This makes the game both a reading, spelling, and math exercise all rolled into one!
These are just a few board games your toddler or early elementary school child will enjoy, and there are plenty of others to choose from. It gets a lot easier when your child can read because the games become more competitive and interesting for you too, plus you can start playing more complex games. Finally, it gives you and your child a lot of quality time, which you both may need beyond your usual quarantine routine.
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