Fun Learning: 5 Ways to Use the Internet as an Educational Tool
Fun Learning: 5 Ways to Use the Internet as an Educational Tool
Featured Author: Jenny Wise
The weather outside is cold and dreary, and your kids are just about fed up with being locked indoors. You want them to have fun, but you also want to make sure they’re nurturing their minds and bodies. While letting your children spend time on tablets and computers may seem like a counterproductive way to spend their time, the internet actually has a lot of educational value to offer. Here are five ways you can use the internet to nurture your children’s mind:
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
Learning Games
Ever since teachers began introducing technology in classrooms, children have been reaping the benefits of electronic educational games. As technology has grown and expanded into other markets, it still remains an excellent resource for teaching children invaluable skills in math, language, and science. A quick online search will reveal countless educational games that children can play in their free time. Some of these games are so complete and well thought out your kids may even forget they’re learning.
The Sim City franchise has been making city building games for years that help teach children and adults the value of real estate. Real estate is a complex field that requires skills in math, science, English, social studies and home economics. By incorporating real estate-based lessons into your curriculum, you can help students gain valuable skills in practical math application, forming a persuasive argument, earth science and so much more.
Drawing Lessons
If you want your children to explore their creative sides, then you might point them in the direction of online drawing tutorials. These quick and easy lessons will help develop your children’s ability to draw all kinds of subjects while mastering various styles. The great part about allowing your children’s creativity to flourish is the ability to chart progress through their many finished works.
Music Tutorials
If drawing doesn’t interest your kids, perhaps you could try one of the many online music tutorials that aim to teach musicians of all ages how to play their favorite songs. Piano, guitar, ukulele, violin — any instrument that interests your kids has a wide variety of lesson and tutorial videos to guide them from the very basics to the higher-level courses. Music enhances the creative brain, and it also pushes children to use valuable applicable mathematics as they learn about tempo, time signatures and arithmetic behind music theory.
Fun Science Projects
If you want your children to spend their time doing something a little more “hands on,” then you might consider looking up a scientific craft that you can do as a family. There are plenty of science project ideas you can use to give your children a chance to utilize the scientific method in a way that’s fun. Many of these projects can be readily made at home, and the instructions found online can guide you through the process of discovery that will amaze your children and fuel their wonder.
Exercise Videos
The internet doesn’t only have to benefit your children’s minds. There are also tons of health-centric websites and videos that can get your kids up and moving. The variety of exercise videos and programs you find online are just as diverse as you might hope, ranging anywhere from anaerobic exercises to yoga. These videos are structured to help children of all ages get up and move around, even if the weather won’t let them play outside.
The internet continues to be a great resource for people of all ages. Literally, anything you can think of exists out there on the web. By using the internet as an educational tool for your children, you can foster their education in a way that encourages their discovery and leaves them wanting to learn (or play) even more.
Thank You for This Terrific Guest Post…
Many thanks to Jenny Wise for sharing her tips for homeschooling: Jenny is a homeschool mom of four amazing kids. She created her blog, Special Home Educator as a forum for sharing her adventures in homeschooling and connecting with other homeschooling families.