Transcript

Many studies have shown that children learn more effectively when they do activities based on their interests. Since you are their parent, I’m sure you have some sort of idea what interests their child. It could be learning about animals, outer space, playing with water, figuring out how things work, playing outdoors, creating art, or playing with dolls.

If you’re not sure what their interests are, just spend time observing them as they play. Be at their level or face-to-face and just watch what they naturally talk about or play with. I know it sounds so simple, but just listening to them gives you quite a bit of insight!

There are 2 types of interests:

Personal interests – your child’s favorite things, such as tractors or building with Legos

Situational interests – interests that emerge when something about an activity attracts a child to it. Ex: jumping in a puddle when they see it

If you want to dig further, you can ask your child these questions.

1. If you had a whole day to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?

2. What’s your favorite toy to play with?

3. If you could choose an activity to do with me, what would it be?

4. What do you like to learn about?

5. What kind of books do you like?

After you discover their interests, you can implement those ideas into your lesson planning. Here are some ideas.

If your child likes playing with water, plan some of these activities:

•Create a water sensory bin

•Set up an activity in the bath tub, such as making bath paint (shaving cream and food coloring)

•Run through the sprinkler in the backyard

•Make a washing station for a doll or toy cars

•Do some experiments with water

•Talk about different forms of water

Another example is a kid who is interested in trucks:.

•Read lots of books

•Visit a fire truck station

•Create a sensory play activity with trucks

•Make a road with duct tape for the trucks 

•Set up a race between different trucks 

I think it’s important to find activities that interest your child. I know not everything you teach will interest them, but whenever possible I think we should try to do it. I’m sure your child has a handful of interests that you can learn about. And you may have even known about this from watching your child as a toddler. I know for me, I knew early on that my middle son likes building. He has always been drawn towards activities where you can build. The beauty of homeschooling is that we CAN teach to their interests! I don’t have a quiz or a checklist for this lesson because I think this is just learned through observation and over time. I hope you’ll take some time to think about what your child’s interests are and start tapping into it. In the next lesson we will go over goal setting. I’ll meet you there when you’re ready!