Sometimes such disgusted duties do not have to be boring or contrary to meaningful learning. I remember as a child that I wanted the holidays to come, mainly because we were going to the beach, of course, but there were also an incentive that looked forward to: the books for the holidays.
I don't know if my course books were very boring, but those activity books (I remember those in English and language) seemed almost magical to me, with their games, their colors, their stickers, their riddles ... Come on, as they should have It was the textbooks during the course (today I look at my daughters' books and they look a lot more like those).
It is also true that I am talking about the subjects I liked most, and probably if the holiday notebook had been math I would not remember it with such love. But specifically those matters were to my liking.
Our daughters are still young, and we will not buy any notebook of "school" activities (and it will not be because there is no offer, soon they will get books for children of one and two years ... and we will talk about that another day).
But a few days ago, within our usual stop in the children's books section When we go to the mall (almost always just to look; I recommend it to you), my daughters chose some notebooks from among those that fit their age.
These notebooks propose painting, trimming, pasting, joining points, making strokes, identifying numbers or for older people to review letters, crosswords and other very attractive hobbies for children, with whom they really enjoy. They are not homework for them, they are games.
The best activity is the one they like
In addition, on other occasions we have talked about educational cards (for children of three, four and five years), adapted to them, which are similar to those they do in school, we can print them from home and they also like them.
Of course, whatever "duties" should be appropriate to your tastes and interests. That is why it is good for them to choose the type of exercise they want: if they prefer to color, read, cut, numbers ... A book that combines different skills will be very entertaining and poses challenges for children. What they cannot do this year, they may be more interested in next year.
But we cannot pretend that a three-year-old child who does not have certain abilities, who has not yet developed enough fine motor skills, makes fine or complicated strokes. Nor is it advisable to give older children too easy tasks: each activity in its own time.
It is also important that we help them in that task to keep it fun for them. Of course, you have to limit the time spent on activities, we can not expect to spend two hours in front of a booklet or chips.
You have to rest and do other activities, crafts, go for a walk, help at home ... We remind you of everything we can do with the children so that they do not get bored these days with so much free time, there is where to choose!
And, if the child does not want homework, absolutely nothing happens because he will continue to learn from his environment, with us, provided he receives the appropriate stimuli. A child cannot be forced to do what he does not want because he will end up abhorring him. And this, of course, is a maxim that should also be applied at school.
Definitely, Every child is different, some will enjoy the holiday booksOthers will prefer other activities, but in principle I would not close the door to this type of learning. Always combining it with direct experience and interaction with the environment, which is how they will learn the most, and how they will have more fun.
Photos | Eva Paris and Daquella way on Flickr In Babies and more | Activities with music for children, Should homework be prohibited? My activity briefcase, much more than a book (or the ten euros better invested lately)
