Collaborative post
Love is in the air in February, and love of learning should be too. But some kids just can’t wrap their heads around some subjects the way schools teach them. Others simply don’t like rote memorization of facts. Thankfully, you can make learning fun —and teach your kids to love it as well! The Tuttle Twins books have your back!
Start With the Right Books
One of the reasons some kids learn to dislike learning is because they aren’t exposed to the right books. To help them fall in love with learning from an early age, read with them every day, and choose books that 1) ignite their natural curiosity, 2) connect to their interests, and 3) spark discussions.
The Tuttle Twins books provide the perfect balance between learning and curiosity, and the Tuttle Twins series contains a wide array of topics designed to pique kids’ interests. You’ll also find a lot of books that teach critical thinking in the Tuttle Twins series, which will spark some incredible discussions with your kids that are not only learning opportunities but bonding times as well.
Of all the Tuttle Twins books, The Tuttle Twins and the Education Vacation might be a great place to start for kids who have come away from traditional schooling with a bad taste in their mouth. In this book, the twins learn that being graded on work quality isn’t the only — or even the best — way to learn. Instead, they discover that kids learn better when they have the freedom to discover their own interests and develop their abilities on their own instead of being crammed into the same mold the school uses for everyone.
Mix in the Right Curriculum
Some other books that teach critical thinking in the Tuttle Twins series are the America’s History curriculum. The Tuttle Twins history books also teach critical thinking — through the lens of history. History is full of engaging content and different periods that will appeal to kids of all skill levels and mentalities, and when you share it in the right way, without rote memorization of facts and dates, history will capture kids’ imagination in ways it never could using an ordinary curriculum.
The Tuttle Twins history books don’t just tell what happened. They also explain why things happened the way they did and encourage critical thinking to figure out what could have been done differently to bring about better outcomes for everyone.
Sprinkle in Fun Activities
In addition to books that teach critical thinking, like the Tuttle Twins history books and other titles in the Tuttle Twins series, you can also plan some fun activities that will nurture their natural curiosity while making learning hands-on and even, in some ways, playful. The key is to encourage questions and let your kids lead their own discoveries while displaying your own excitement over learning and supporting mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures.
Some fun activities include playtime that includes whatever interests them, such as dinosaurs, coding, or art. Connecting skills to real life also makes learning fun and helps kids see the relevance of what they’re learning — fending off that dreaded question: when will I ever need to know this?
For example, baking is a great way to reinforce math skills, while playing with Legos shows engineering in action. Going outside and using nature to teach will also make learning more interesting because it’s a change of scenery.
Hands-on activities include incorporating props, music, movement, and creativity to engage all the senses and reinforce what they’re learning. Almost anything can be turned into a learning experience! And the Tuttle Twins series is a great companion every step of the way!