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Hi there! Welcome to a fun guide on how to balance online and offline learning at home. This is inspired by a webinar from Khan Academy Kids and Tinkergarden. Let’s dive into how you can make learning exciting both on and off the screen!
Khan Academy Kids is a free app designed for children aged 2 to 7. It offers a variety of activities, including reading, math, and creative play. The app is interactive and colorful, making learning fun without keeping kids glued to the screen for too long. You can download it from your app store and explore activities like books, time-telling, and math games.
Many families love the app but wonder how to fit it into their daily routine. Khan Academy provides schedules to help you plan your day, ensuring there’s time for both online learning and offline activities like playtime and outdoor fun. You can find these schedules in a handout linked to the webinar.
Now, let’s talk about Tinkergarden, a program that encourages outdoor play and learning. Meghan Fitzgerald, a mom and teacher, co-founded Tinkergarden to help families make the most of outdoor play. The program offers a curriculum used by teachers across the country, but during times when we can’t gather in parks, Tinkergarden at Home provides free resources for families.
Tinkergarden at Home sends out weekly plans for play that you can do with your kids using items you already have. The activities are designed to be simple and can be done indoors or outdoors, depending on your space. Each week focuses on a theme, like building a water playground or exploring hidden senses through obstacle courses.
It’s important to balance screen time with physical play. Kids need to move their bodies and use their senses, which helps them learn and grow. A good mix of online activities from Khan Academy Kids and hands-on play from Tinkergarden can create a well-rounded day for your child.
Independent play is crucial for kids. It helps them develop creativity and problem-solving skills. Set up your home or yard to encourage open-ended play, where kids can explore and create on their own. Tinkergarden activities are designed to support this kind of play, making it easy for kids to engage and learn independently.
Here are some tips for parents to help their kids balance learning and play:
Remember, it’s okay if things don’t go perfectly. The goal is to create a fun and balanced learning environment for your child. Enjoy the journey of learning together!
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Activity: Create Your Own Learning Schedule
With the help of a parent or guardian, create a daily schedule that includes both online and offline activities. Use colorful markers or crayons to draw a timeline on a piece of paper. Include time for using the Khan Academy Kids app, outdoor play inspired by Tinkergarden, and other fun activities like reading or drawing. Discuss why it’s important to have a balance and how each activity helps you learn and grow.
Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt
Go outside with an adult and explore your backyard or a nearby park. Make a list of things to find, like a smooth rock, a leaf with an interesting shape, or a stick that looks like a letter. As you find each item, talk about what makes it special and how it might be used in a Tinkergarden activity. This helps you learn to observe and appreciate the world around you.
Question: What Did You Learn Today?
At the end of the day, think about all the activities you did. What was your favorite part of using the Khan Academy Kids app? What did you enjoy most about playing outside? Share your thoughts with a family member and ask them what they learned today too. This helps you reflect on your day and understand the value of balancing different types of learning.