One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling is the creativity we are able to include in our children’s learning.

For some parents this is exciting. For others, however, it is daunting.

Some of us are hard-wired for creativity (that would be me - sometimes almost to my detriment!). Others of us are much more straightforward thinkers who need some encouragement in the creativity department (this describes my husband).

No matter your own personal level of creativity, it is a fact that creativity infuses our lives (and our children’s lives) with depth and richness.

When we left the public schools to homeschool it was such a treat that I could exercise limitless creativity in my children’s education.

Today I’d like to share some very simple ways that you can get creative, too.

Creative #Homeschooling - 5 Simple Ways to Enhance Learning Through Creativity

5 Simple Ways to Get Creative in Your Homeschool

For the sake of this post, let’s take a history subject (it seems that history has always been the spine of our homeschool) - let’s pretend we are studying The Civil War.

Now, I’d like to show you 5 ways to get creative studying this particular area, and you can apply these principles to any historical subject.

(Don’t feel like you need to limit yourself to these 5 areas - there are many more, and you will find yourself getting more creative with practice! Include nature study, geography, field trips - the sky is the limit!)

5 Ways to Get Creative in Your #Homeschool

Living Books

Look for a few quality living books about The Civil War to get your children engaged. (After a while you will become a pro at this - I’m always on the lookout for living books at books sales, thrift stores, the library, etc… It’s great to build up a library so your children can feast on the books!)

Keep a basket or shelf full of the books you will be using for your study so your children can grab them when the mood strikes.

To help you locate Living Books:

(For the Civil War, I love Follow the Drinking Gourd (picture book) and Gettysburg (chapter book). There are SO MANY to choose from - but hopefully this gives you the general idea.)

Follow the Drinking Gourd Gettysburg (Landmark Books)

Music

As a music teacher, I am always looking for ways to incorporate music appreciation and history! Music speaks LOUDLY to many children - it might be just the hook you need to get one of your children excited about a subject.

Research music/composers from The Civil War - who was writing music in the mid-late 1800s, both in America and abroad? What if you search “Civil War and music”? You will be amazed at what comes up!
I just finished a book - Civil War Drummer Boy - a true story about a 9-year-old Union drummer.
Use a chronological music resource to help - my curriculum, SQUILT Music, is organized by era to go along with history studies! Members of SQUILT LIVE! also have access to all of our lessons that are archived by era to make designing your own music appreciation curriculum EASY! We are currently learning about The Spirit of America in our lessons - using a song from The Civil War!
Can you use a service like Spotify to find a playlist of music from The Civil War? Use this as the backdrop of your days!

Art/Hands-On

Art is another simple way to get creative in your homeschool. And don’t worry - YOU don’t have to be artistic to accomplish this with your children.

Going back to the Civil War, I would start thinking about ways you can help your children learn about The Civil War with art.

Ideas:

Salt Dough Relief Map (these are so much fun and really cement learning)
Art Appreciation - learn about famous artworks during the Civil War
Civil War Cannon Chalk Art Tutorial
Drawing - here’s a beautiful lesson learning to draw Harriet Tubman.

Are you starting to get a feel for how to get creative with learning?

Games

Games are probably the most FUN way to get creative with homeschooling - and your kids will think you’re simply amazing.

My friend, Cait, has a lot of ideas about gameschooling - check out her favorite history games.

What about games children played during the Civil War? Do some research and learn a few with your own children.
Here’s a free printable Civil War game for kids.
How about a family game night where kids share their learning with dad or grandma & grandpa and play games?

Are you feeling more creative yet?

Food

This one is super popular in my house!

What type of cooking activity or meal can you plan that coincides with the Civil War?

Make Your Own Hardtack
Civil War Recipes for Soldiers — you could have a themed Civil War night complete with dinner, music, games, and a display of the artwork your children created!)
Could you exist for a few days on the same food eaten by Civil War soldiers?

Once you start incorporating creativity into your homeschool, I think you’ll find it comes more naturally. You will also find that children are the most creative of all - let them design their own learning and see what fun it will be!

Go forth and homeschool creatively!

You might also like:

10 Simple Homeschool Tips

Using Story of the World as a Spine for Learning

All of us (whether children or adults) will learn more when we are motivated.

We learn what is of relevance to us. We pursue what we enjoy.

Does your child ENJOY learning? Or, is learning something that is seen as a requirement, confined to the four walls of a school?

During this time of isolation - when so many families are suddenly responsible for the education of their children - you might find your child isn’t exactly enthused about completing that math lesson or reading aloud to you for 20 minutes. The line between being a parent and teacher is blurred.

I certainly don’t buy into the theory that everything for our children needs to be “fun” - but I am a firm believer that learning can be fun and when we educate our children at home we have a unique opportunity to show them what a joy learning can be.

Meet Your Children Where They Are

Doesn’t this go against the way we (the parents) were educated?

I don’t know about you, but I was educated in a public school classroom with 20-25 other children. We were given an assignment and expected to complete it. All children were brought to the same level and educated from there.

Guess what? Your child may be above grade level or below grade level (But who even defines “at grade level”? Don’t get me started.) Let children start where they are comfortable. Let them backtrack a little and do a few things with great success.

Examples:

Assign easier math problems - let your child play on a math app below their level to gain confidence. They are still practicing skills.
Ask your children what interests them - pay attention to this! Does your child love to play with LEGOS? You can learn a lot from LEGO bricks. Does your child want to learn to cook? Do a lot of cooking. You can take interests and cultivate them. That is LEARNING, and that is FUN!
Allow your children to read below their normal level - can they read to younger siblings? To you? Let them read for enjoyment and don’t require a book report or comprehension questions.

When you eliminate traditional constraints children begin to enjoy learning. Be patient and consistent. The rest works itself out.

Think Outside the Box (here’s an example:)

I love watching creative parents!

A friend of mine posted this picture of her 4 young children. She is teaching them at home now because the schools are closed.

As I talked with her she told me everything she did with her children and this chalk drawing - it is a PERFECT example of how to make learning fun.

This mom taped off the heart on the driveway - but it went so much further than that and I know her children learned a lot in the process:

color recognition for the youngest children
shape recognition for the older children
word problems: For example: “If you add the pink shapes and the blue shapes how many shapes are there in all?”
patience and encouragement: waiting for your sibling to finish their part - encouraging them that they are doing a good job

You could even extend the learning the next day:

find Bible verses about love - copy simple ones in the driveway
Have the children come up with their own word problems
Write an acrostic LOVE poem
Print this picture and include it in a letter to nursing home residents or relatives
Read aloud “The Velveteen Rabbit” or “Charlotte’s Web” - both perfect for this time of year, and both sweet stories about love

Do you see how many activities can come out of one chalk heart?

Be willing to think outside of the box. Again, learning doesn’t have to happen inside the 4 walls of a classroom.

Consider Your Child’s Learning Style

Do you know your child’s learning style?

Use this downloadable checklist to determine your child’s learning style.

This is extremely helpful - and not just if you are “homeschooling” your children. It is valuable information to have because it explains so much about your child.

I also recommend two wonderful books to help you discover more about your child - these changed the way I relate to my own children:

Use Games

The easiest way to make learning fun is to play games.

I first really saw the power of games when my children were little and we began exploring different math games. Then, we began to play geography games - and then the obsession began.

By simply making games a part of your family’s life children can learn so much - and have fun while doing so!

There are many resources here on the blog that can help you find games:

It’s All About Approach

Finally, if we want our children to become lifelong learners - adults who enjoy the acquisition of knowledge - we must give serious thought to the educational approach we use.

Is education something that is REQUIRED, confined to certain hours of the day, and something that normally involves cajoling, bribery, and tears?

Or, is education a lifestyle? Do we, as parents, constantly learn? Are we learning with our children?

Are we reading aloud, playing games, creating art, playing an instrument, and learning new things?

The DEFINITION of a thing matters - and I would suggest that we define learning in this way:

the acquisition of knowledge or skills through activities that engage, excite and delight a child

One last piece of advice: your child’s heart is more important than the knowledge you impart to them.

If a learning situation becomes stressful or emotional, just stop. Take a break. Send everyone to their corners and regroup for a bit.

Forget the requirements of traditional education and remember YOU are the parent. That is the most important job in the world.

5 Simple Ways to Enhance Learning With Creativity