Educational Activities that are Easy for Moms to Make the Kids Do

Apparently, during the quarantine, a lot of kids are home. Schools are closed. Moms are desperate for educational activities for their children to do, but most moms are just too busy to really get into it. These learning activity ideas are easy to implement for all age groups.

OK. So I’m going to be real. I hate organizing, herding, and trying to “control” my kids. I’d rather hock a loogie in my own mouth (and I don’t want to do THAT at all). I’m not a structured parent whatsoever. But my kids are smart despite this, so I’m going to tell you how.

When I say Easy Learning Ideas, I mean these are easy for mom to implement.

This is also for all age groups: Elementary, Middle School, High School, College, Masters, Doctorate… because all these ideas you adapt for the age / skill level.

I need to mention that I’ve never agreed with educational institutions about learning. If you want your child to be ready to work for a chemical plant or food industry or be a nurse, then traditional education has you covered. They specialize in being present, on time, following rules, and getting a bunch of boring work done. Plus MEMORIZATION!

But if you want your kid to be actually smart, like IQ Einstein stuff, which they can be as a server or as a neurosurgeon, you’re going to want to do things that require them to think and problem solve.

Studies seemingly lean that art and learning a musical instrument are amazing ways to work the mind (which is probably why so many schools are doing away with these).

So with all that said, some easy learning ideas for homeschooling during the school closures and quarantine so that your kid doesn’t become an idiot (like his dad, just kidding)…

Minecraft

For those unfamiliar, Minecraft is a video game where you build things. It’s like the ultimate building blocks. If you believe having your toddler sit there and play with building blocks would improve his cognitive function, then you must accept the idea that a complex version of building blocks can exist for 6 years old on into adulthood.

You can even give your kid assignments.

If you want to focus on the science, ask them to build a flying house out of red stone that actually moves.

If you want to focus on the creative, ask them to build a huge castle with a moat.

If you want to focus on social skills (which is probably the most important skill to have as a human), they can role play with characters and make videos of it.

Fun one: Build me a roller coaster / train ride through the Seven Wonders of the World. Now they have to google what the Seven Wonders are.

Video Tape a Play Acted out by Stuffies to post on YouTube

On youtube, there is a trending craze going on where kids from 8 years to 18 years of age take their stuffies (stuffed animals) and video a story. But they write the story.

This teaches them how to write a story, develop characters, write a plot, and play out social scenarios in their head.

If you wanted to overachieve, you could join in and act out Shakespeare with a stuffed Mario, Freddie Fazbear, and Sylveon. Or you could go dark and do Faust by Goethe.

GachaLife

This is an app that helps you design / draw characters and then you can write stories, make animations (memes) really easy.

This teaches them how to utilize animation and video editing software, create storyboards, write a drama with characters and a plot, etc.

The more they do it, the more they watch others, the more they improve.

It’s really designed for 5 or 10 year olds, but a lot of teenagers and Generation Z’ers love it. Many also will take GachaLife characters and turn them into comics in ibis Paint.

The internet is full of tutorials and shared videos. My oldest daughter has an Instagram devoted entirely to her gachalife, and she watches other people’s on YouTube all the time.

There are several apps like Gacha Studio (everyone says is the worst, but it was the first) and GachaVerse (ok-ish). You’ll want to google and shop around.

As of now, GachaLife is the one my daughter most recommends, but GachaLife2 is supposed to be coming out late 2020 (according to her, I have no idea personally).

Make them Read

It’s just kind of a fact that kids who read a lot score better on reading comprehension and learn faster because they know how to comprehend what they read. So, apparently, they need to be reading regularly.

This has to be the most creative educational activity one can muster… But actually it is the way I do it…

Most people are pretty content letting their kids read whatever they want to read, and schools push a lot of popular books for their age from Judy Blume to Diaries of a Wimpy Kid. That’s great.

I do that too.

But as a homeschool supplement to regular school, I push my kids to read books and articles about emotional regulation, like tips to deal with anxiety.

For reasons.

Hearing that stuff from strangers who obviously were smart enough to get published helps improve their trust in the information. Plus they are reading.

Not to mention, just as a mom, I frequently make the kids google emotional regulation.

“Gabby, your anxiety is through the roof.”
I don’t know how to calm down. Tell me how to calm down.
I wouldn’t know… No. You know? Google “Tips on Dealing with Anxiety.” Right now. On your phone. Read to me. I need this too.

The easiest thing to do is use a kindle / e-reader and put books on there for them to read.

Other reading ideas I’ll mention below…

Hand them Blank Paper to Draw On or use a Sketchbook App

I have always avoided coloring books with the kids and instead handed them blank paper. Now that they are older, they prefer blank paper and a black pen. They love drawing.

Other things you can hand them is oil pastels (show them how to blend), watercolor, brush pens… but focus on actual art supplies real artists use.

Now a days though, you can eliminate a mess with an ipad and Procreate or AutoDesk Sketchbook or IBIS Paint, or Adobe has a sketch app.

Then you can give them art assignments like draw a flower, or draw a self portrait or a manga character, or even go further and ask them to practice painting water.

They, the children, can use Google, Pinterest, and Youtube to find tutorials. If you’re ok with Amino, they can also share their art and get peer critique and encouragement.

Make them Watch YouTube

It’s too easy for you as a parent to get on YouTube, search words you want your kids to learn about, find the best video, and save to a playlist to force your kids to watch later.

There’s so many free educational videos out there…

My kids’ Top YouTubers or YouTube Channels that Teach include:

TED
TED-Ed
The Try Guys
The Slow Mo Guys
Mythbusters
Kurzgesagt
UK Parliament (I make them watch this as a punishment)

You can find a directory of the Top 100 YouTube Channels for Education

You can also search for word ideas like the following:

Theory of Relativity
Neil Degrasse Tyson
The History of Zero (the number)
What is Pi
Four Dimensional Math
The Law of Supply and Demand
The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility
Origami
Zentangle
Jonathan Haidt
Dr. Joy DeGruy
Plot Summary of [insert any book title here]
Writing Tips for Newbies or Beginners
How to Cope with Anxiety
Mindfulness Meditation
Tai Chi
Learn a dance
How to Cook Intro / Basic Cooking Skills
How to change oil in the car

Make them Make a Video Answer to your question(s)…

Teach presentation and video editing skills while making them learn something.

Ask any question or a list of questions, and tell them to research using the internet, and make a video about their results.

Not only will you be judging them on being knowledgeable about the subject and their ability to research, but you’ll also be paying attention to their appearance, speech and ability to organize information for their audience.

Have them Make Collages in Canva

The idea is to give an assignment that requires thoughtful consideration of elements to put in art.

In addition, research may be necessary, which then also is more reading! Yay Reading!

Highlight critical thinking skills…

You might want to pay to go Pro with this simply because the Pro Canva lets you remove the background of a photo with one click. But if you go free, you can still do it mood board style with layout options that allow for multiple pictures, or they can just stack pictures.

Adobe Spark is also a good free app.

But give them an assignment. You can pick anything like “Make a collage of…”

Mood – Sad or Happy or Angry
Expert Mood – Indifferent, Enabling, Anxious
Personality State or Trait – Intelligent, narcissistic, emotional
Literary Term + Topic like Juxtaposition of Good and Evil or Irony found in Romeo and Juliet
Literature – Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, or go on a limb with Tell Tale Heart
A Song
Current Events and Issues
Pop Culture and how it relates to ___________.

Get the Star Gazing app

There are several apps to choose from, but you can find an app for devices that tells you what star is in front of your phone if you point the phone that direction. They usually also reveal constellations and what not had you been able to see the full sky. It’s fun for kids to play with and get to know the constellations.

Make your Kids Cook

Mainly so that you don’t have to. It’s a life skill. It teaches fractions.

You can get a little extra if you want and incorporate some math. Of all these ideas, think age appropriate…

One, you can make things that have to be divied up. Like french fries, onion rings, bacon, pizza rolls, whatever. Just something where you are like, “There’s 4 of us, now count all the stuff we just made, how many should each of us get?”

Purposely make some things off so like for 4 people, make 21 things. Give someone (yourself) the extra thing. And now ask, “So what percentage more of the french fries did your mom get?”

Two, have your child double a recipe or half it.

Three, you can also have them figure out the carbs based on servings. It’s similar to figuring out medicine dosage, which is another good math skill.

Four, look for basic math questions. One kitchen math stumper got me good with I was buying plastic containers for cereal. I wanted to know what box size or how many boxes can fit in a 4 cup container.

Middle and High School Kids could start a business or faux business

Really there’s so many online opportunities. This includes…

Sell printables or crafts on Etsy
Sell T-shirt Designs on Zazzle or Cafepress
Start a blog
Sell a self-published book on Amazon
Sell a silly service on Fiverr like funny videos for birthdays

But you can equally do a FAUX BUSINESS– like one for pretend.

The idea isn’t to make money as much as to learn about running a business. Make them google industry tips, tutorials on their idea in general, but also make them

create a business plan
create a marketing plan using the 4 P’s of marketing,
create a logo and a brand
learn bookkeeping techniques and choose accounting software,
figure out their tax requirements and other legal requirements,
types of business entities,
how to register with the state…
do you need business insurance?
laws regarding copyright
do some market research
do an industry analysis
create a value proposition

Now this one isn’t the “easiest” thing for moms. If they do a real business, you will want to supervise to minimize any potential losses such as law suits and bad investments… And there’s a learning curve on your part (I was a business major, so not so much for me, but even then I hit up Google).

But it’s so much work for the kids (like it keeps adults busy 40 plus hours a week) that they have something to do for a long, long, long time.

Buy those Puzzle Books

You can almost find these anywhere: News Stands, grocery stores, dollar stores, Cracker Barrel…

Like they have activity books for kids… But if you got older kids, you can do more age appropriate activity books that my ninth grade English teacher swore would exercise your left brain though most teachers now a days say that theory is witchdoctory and not a real science and avoid it all together…

But you can look for in the stores or printouts on Google:

Logic Puzzles (please, for sake of the future)
Soduko
Word Search
Mensa: 10 Minute Brain Teasers, Mind Benders, Mind Puzzles…
5 Minute Mysteries or other mini mysteries –though some suck intellectually

Make them Keep a Journal or Start a Blog or Try to Get Published

Because college is all about writing and one’s ability to write well… Reading and Writing are probably more important than Arithmetic in real adult life.

Basically, give them writing assignments.

Sure you’ll have to read it and make sure your kid is not an idiot, and worse, take a minute to explain how to improve their writing, but for the most part, this is underachieving as far as preparation is concerned.

You can go one of two ways for an easy button on writing prompts:

This book of questions my church banned from my beach week for its two questions about sex… The Book of Questions
Google Writing Prompt Ideas

If you want to start a blog, you can easily start a Blogger blog on blogspot, let it be ugly with a free template, and set it to private.

I actually have a private free blogger blog dedicated to homeschool assignments I set for my kids when I homeschooled. I’d make the kids visit the blog to get their assignments and turn them in.

If you want to get into more complicated writing projects and overachieve slightly more…

One idea is search for Writer’s Guidelines with your favorite periodicals and websites for news and opinion, and try to give them an assignment they will inevitably submit for publication. Just know most people get rejected regularly. Even Stephen King and JK Rowling did.

But here you can do a rough draft and many revisions and walk your child through the writing process to get a polished piece of work as a final draft.

Slightly easier, have your kids write a reaction to an article in your local paper and make them send it as a Letter to the Editor. Again, rough draft plus revisions.

Overachieving Bonus: Make a Pillow Fort… and have them Draw it to Scale

So basically, the kids make a pillow fort.
Then they measure all the sides.
Then you use ratios to make it smaller (feet to inches, or feet to centimeters depending on how large your fort is and how small your paper is).
Then you draw it out using a ruler

So say you have a square where each side is 3 feet in length… Think the average paper is 8.5 inches by 11 inches, so a 3 inch by 3 inch square would be to scale.

But say you wanted it to take more space of the page. So try to get 3 feet ratio to 8 inches, each foot would be …

36 inches : 8 inches is basically a fraction you have to knock down… 18:4, and then 9:2 so every 9 inches in real life would be 2 inches on paper.

It doesn’t have to be exact. The idea is to get kids trying to do this and thinking along the lines of ratios.

You could also have them draw a scale bar. Not necessary for math. Practical if you want them to get a head start on engineering.

You can follow up with Scale Drawing Worksheets

Educational Activities & Ideas during School Closures that are Easy for Moms to Make Kids Do