Undoubtedly, technology can enrich your homeschool curriculum in numerous ways. However, in a world where electronic devices dominate our daily lives, it’s crucial to strike a balance and explore the joy of learning through screenless homeschool activities. Here’s a list of ten activities that can elevate your middle schooler’s education—and the best part is, they’re all screen-free!
I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to do my course on how to homeschool, click here.
Take an Excursion
One of the most enjoyable and beneficial things you can do with your child is to go on an adventure together.
Your active participation in these screenless activities strengthens your bond and enhances your child’s learning experience.
And with pandemic restrictions loosening, you have plenty of options.
Do some research, ask your child what activities they would like to do on your trip, and choose the perfect destination!
Put Together DIY Projects
If you have some home improvement projects you’ve been ignoring, doing them with your child could be the perfect activity.
Engaging in DIY projects, such as repairing a leaky faucet, applying a fresh coat of paint, or creating your decor, not only provides a fun activity but also teaches your child valuable life skills.
These skills, like problem-solving and resourcefulness, are essential for their future.
And you’ll save a lot of money in the process.
Consider shaping up your backyard to incorporate more physical activity into your child’s homeschool routine.
This not only promotes a healthy lifestyle but also enhances their cognitive abilities, making learning more effective.
Have your child help you make improvements and keep track of your work so you’ll have proof if you ever sell your home.
Make Your Games
If your family loves board games, consider making your own.
You only need a little imagination and some spare parts from various games around the house (or you can order genuine-looking parts online).
Break a Sweat
One of the best ways to teach your child essential life skills is to have them work a job.
Certain businesses hire young teenagers.
But suppose your homeschooled child has an entrepreneurial spirit.
In that case, they may enjoy picking up a side gig like babysitting, dog walking, or mowing lawns.
Volunteering can also produce an excellent work ethic in kids and provide them with opportunities to serve their communities.
Check with your local library, summer camps, or other outlets for your child to volunteer their time and energy while learning.
And, of course, one of the best of all screen-free activities is sport.
I love team sports, as homeschoolers can socialize and have fun simultaneously!
Embrace Science Kits
No homeschool curriculum is complete without science, and there is no shortage of screenless homeschool activities that require little effort.
Start by ordering a science kit online.
This kit will give you everything you need for chemistry, biology, physics, and more educational activities.
Join (or Start) a Science Co-Op
Consider getting your child into a local science co-op or beginning your own to take it further.
This will allow your child to deepen their science knowledge while reaping the benefits of socialization.
Co-ops can work for any subject, so don’t limit yourself to only science!
If you want to learn more about homeschool co-ops, watch the video below.
Plant a Garden
If your kid has a green thumb, plant a garden with them.
Research native plants that will grow well in your region, design a garden layout, and learn how to plant and cultivate your garden together!
We try to spend as much time as possible outdoors, and our vegetable garden is doing well because we’re outside so often.
The children love planting and eating fresh produce as it arises.
Especially the fruits and berries!
Listen to an Audiobook
Many movies are new renditions of old classical books.
Many of these books, such as Narnia or The Famous Five, can be found as audiobooks on YouTube.
This means your child an LISTEN instead of WATCHING.
And all for free!
They’ll also learn wonderful language skills to boot.
Many of my YouTube channel subscribers love the audiobook list here that I listen to with my children.
Play Math Games
One of the best screenless homeschool activities is math games.
These educate children while they have fun, incorporate interest-based learning into the game, and encourage a love of learning!
Research the many games you can create centered around math to work mathematics into your homeschool routine.
Plenty of board games involve numbers, formulas, and critical thinking.
You can DIY a graphed neighborhood scavenger hunt, multiplication hopscotch, or other activities.
Cook Together
Cooking together is another fantastic activity that fosters a strong bond with your child and teaches them valuable life skills.
Plan meals, find interesting recipes, and set a budget for the ingredients.
Then, enjoy the process of cooking and baking for the whole family!
Kids and adults spend enough time on their computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices.
Consider the activities above to boost your homeschool curriculum without requiring your middle schooler to stare at a screen. And keep researching other activities worth trying out!
These activities look pretty cool, but what are the advantages of embracing more offline options?
The Benefits of Screenless Homeschool Activities
While technology is constantly evolving and growing, there are many benefits to screenless homeschool activities.
Some reasons you might want to consider incorporating more screenless activities into your homeschool routine include the following:
Increased Focus and Attention
When screens constantly surround us, it’s easy for our attention spans to shorten.
When focused on a screen, we’re not paying attention to the world around us.
This can be a problem when learning, especially when we must be aware of our surroundings.
Incorporating more screenless activities into your homeschool routine can help increase focus and attention spans.
Improved Social Skills
With all of the social media platforms available today, it’s easy for kids to become withdrawn and antisocial.
Screen-free homeschooling helps children make more friendships with their families as they bond more in face-to-face interactions.
More Creativity
Unplugging technology can help children become more creative and productive.
After reading many testimonies from parents who had technology-free weeks, the familiar factor parents noticed was how much more productive children were and how much more they used their imaginations!
More Harmony in the Family
Another thing unplugging will do is create more harmony in the family, as children will not fight as much.
There’s something about a screen that means there will be fights, and taking that screen away takes away the fights!
Conclusion: Screenless Homeschool Activities
In conclusion, many fun and screenless activities can be done at home to homeschool. These activities help keep children engaged, stimulated, and learning while having fun. Parents and children can get creative and develop their own ideas or use some of the suggestions provided in this article. Whatever the activity, it will surely be an excellent way for families to spend time together while homeschooling. If you want to know more about screen-free homeschooling, check out this article.
