Make Your Backyard a Learning Environment for Kids
Many parents have had to quickly take on teaching duties for their children due to school closures caused by the COVID-19 virus, and maybe like them, you’ve been struggling to supplement your kid’s education, or lack thereof, with fun kid’s activities that don’t include sitting in front of a computer or tablet screen. Well, your backyard can function as a multipurpose learning environment for your kids to learn about all sorts of things. Below are some fun ideas about how you can transform your backyard and create cool learning experiences for your kids.
Outdoor Art Opportunities
Let’s be honest. Art projects can be super messy. And that’s why you maybe don’t do too many activities that include paint and glue. But you can move your art projects outdoors and turn them into fun learning opportunities. You can collect natural materials, such as leaves and flowers, and have your kids create pictures with them, while also learning the name of the plants they are using. You can also have them draw or color plants or animals found in your backyard space.
Observe Scientific Phenomena
Another outdoor kid activity you can do in your backyard is to set up a science observation point. This can be done at night for a cool, stay-at-home camping experience as well. With a tent and some resources about space and the night sky, you can have your kids identify different constellations as they learn about the solar system.
Create Comfortable Reading Areas
Sometimes kids need a break from running around or spending hours in front of a screen, so to get them outdoors and to settle them down, you can create a nice little reading space. Choose a shaded spot, maybe with the use of lifetime patio covers, which offer much-needed protection from the sun. You can use outdoor pillows as well, for some comfort, and allow your kids to read their favorite books.
Learning Environment for Math
Last, your backyard and all the things in it can be a great way to develop your kid’s math skills. You can have them collect objects, such as rocks, sticks, or leaves, from the yard and then let them practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication.