As we creep into the holiday season, you may find yourself trying to carve out time with family and friends. Whether the visit is just a few minutes or for a few weeks, check out some of my favorite ways to engage the whole family in educational activities that are both fun and meaningful. 

Benefits of Family Involvement

Involving the entire family in educational activities creates a rich, supportive environment that fosters learning for children of all ages. When learning becomes a family affair, it strengthens relationships, boosts motivation, and encourages everyone to explore new ideas together. Family involvement in education not only promotes academic success but also helps children develop critical thinking, creativity, and social skills.

Family Activities Ideas

There are countless ways to turn everyday moments into educational opportunities that involve the whole family. Here are a few ideas to spark your family’s curiosity:

• Cooking Together: Cooking is my favorite enrichment! Turn the kitchen into a classroom by teaching kids how to follow recipes, measure ingredients, and learn basic cooking science.
• Family Nature Walks: Explore the outdoors together, identifying plants, animals, or geographic features. Use apps like iNaturalist to make it a learning adventure. When I was in college, we loved to go Geocaching and make our own for others to find. This can be a great way to encourage your writers and dreamers in nature- allow them to make clues to lead others to the treasure!
• DIY Science Experiments: Create at-home science labs with easy projects like making slime, launching a baking soda volcano, or building a simple circuit.

Educational Games and Projects

Games and projects that involve the whole family can be both fun and educational. Here are some great options to get everyone engaged:

• Math Card Games (Play with Addition, Multiplication, and Strategy): This is one of my favorite games, even as an adult. You can play the cards multiple times and come up with different answers each time. This is especially fun as your students are moving through more complex math standards. 
  • 24 Game- Math Card Games for Kids
• Family Trivia Night (Create your own quiz or use an app for trivia on science, history, or pop culture):
  • Kahoot! Trivia Platform
• LEGO® Building Challenges: Design a family-friendly competition to build bridges, structures, or animals using LEGOs. Incorporate engineering principles by challenging everyone to create sturdy or functional designs.
• Board Games That Teach Strategy and Critical Thinking: A few weeks ago, I mentioned I love games like Catan or Ticket to Ride! Here are a few more that are fun for the whole family while teaching resource management, critical thinking, and planning.
  • House of Danger This is a choose your own adventure game and is less scary than it sounds- think mad scientist, chimps that talk, and collecting clues! There are 6 others in the series. Excellent for students who are independent readers already.
  • Chameleon Players have to “blend in” with the group's words, whether they know the topic or not. At the end of the round, players get to vote who was just trying to blend in! 
  • Hues and Cues This game is so fun for your creative thinkers, observers, and artists! It can be challenging to play with others that you might not know as well. Who else will know exactly what color the beans were last night at dinner?

Collaborative Learning Experiences

Collaborative learning helps family members bond while solving problems together. Here are some ways to foster teamwork:

• Family Book Club: Pick a book the whole family can enjoy and have weekly discussions about themes, characters, and story development. Let each person choose a book that reflects their interests.
• STEM Challenges: Engage the family in building a tower, bridge, or vehicle using household items. Projects like these encourage creativity, engineering, and problem-solving as a team.
• History Time Capsule: Create a time capsule that represents your family’s life in the current year. Each family member can contribute something meaningful, and together you’ll learn about history and memory-keeping.

Creating a Supportive and Stimulating Environment

A supportive learning environment at home goes beyond specific activities. It involves creating a space where curiosity and discovery are encouraged every day. Here’s how to cultivate this atmosphere:

• Learning Spaces: Designate a space in your home for educational activities, whether it’s a reading nook, science corner, or art station. Having a dedicated area helps signal that learning is valued in your household.
• Encourage Questions: Foster a culture of curiosity by encouraging questions. Whether it’s about how things work, why the sky is blue, or who invented something, the whole family can learn together by researching and discussing answers.
• Set Learning Goals Together: Whether it’s completing a project, reading a certain number of books, or mastering a new skill, setting family learning goals helps keep everyone motivated and accountable.

Resources and Ideas

Looking for more ways to get the family involved in learning? Here are some resources and materials to check out:

• Smithsonian Learning Lab: A treasure trove of interactive activities, virtual museum tours, and educational resources for all ages.
  • Link: Smithsonian Learning Lab
• Family Science Experiments Book: "The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book" is packed with fun and easy science activities the whole family can enjoy.
  • Link: The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book
• Reading Lists for Family Book Clubs: Scholastic offers book recommendations and guides for family reading activities.
  • Link: Scholastic Family Reading
• National Geographic Kids: Explore amazing facts about science, animals, and history with videos and interactive activities for children.
  • Link: National Geographic Kids

Encouragement for Family Engagement

The best way to encourage family learning is to make it fun and accessible. Get creative, experiment with new ideas, and be open to exploring the world alongside your children. Learning together creates stronger bonds, sparks new interests, and makes education an exciting adventure for everyone involved.

Remember, learning doesn’t have to be limited to specific times or formal lessons. It can happen at the dinner table, during a weekend outing, or even while playing games. By engaging the whole family, you’re fostering a love of learning that will last a lifetime!