Our Homeschooling Journey: Playful Learning

I hope I'm not too late to join the ongoing contest in the Home Edders community. It has been a while since I last joined a contest. I have all the intent to join once I read a contest announcement, I even think create a draft in my head while I am reading it. But for some reason, I tend to not push through with it. I think I may be too intimidated by contests or I feel a bit pressured as I write.

Now, I decided to join because this contest is really close to my heart. My ultimate goal in our homeschooling journey is to teach my kid to love learning. And what better way to love something when you are having fun doing it! Last year, we are on our kindergarten year and though it looks simple and easy - introducing kids to learning, intro to colors, intro to animal sounds, intro to body parts, and so much more to introduce to a kid's very young mind. They can take it. They can absorb information. It's just a matter on how we present the ideas to them.

To make our homeschooling journey an extra boost last year, I decided to incorporate games in our learnings. At the end of this article, you may look at the other learning games I have created that aided in my daughter's study time. There is one game though that I haven't shared yet.

This game was made when we were studying about the different parts of the face, how to care for them and what they are for. In our daily chitchat, my daughter has already asked about these and we have already had brief discussions about the parts of the face.

This game is intended for young learners that may or may not yet have an idea of the names of the parts of the face. The lessons that can be integrated in this game is the 5 senses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, and smell). You may also incorporate a lesson on how to care for the parts of the face, and how important they are to a person.

Let me share how I made this game and how to play this game.

How to make the Pin the Part on the Face Game

First, I looked for a blank face on the internet and I found a little blank face of a boy. It doesn't matter if you want a boy face or a girl face. As long as it's a blank face, you're good.

Next you can either have the kid draw the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth/lips or you may look for these parts on the internet. I printed out the body parts. Although looking back now, I should have grabbed this opportunity back then for an art class, just simply teaching some basic hand strokes for drawing. But then my daughter was only 4 back then and holding a pencil has a time limit for her. I gather she may or may not like drawing all of the parts of the face. Even so, I know I should have tried to ask her.

Anyway, going back to the game, print out all that needs to be printed out. You may glue everything on a cardboard so that it will be more sturdy. If you have a cork board, all you need to do is to attach attach a pin on each part of the face and you're good to go. We don't have a cork board and back then, I am strongly opposed to having anything pointy or sharp near my daughter. She's not afraid of any booboos. I am. But now, I let her handle the scissors and the paper cutter. Ahh, she's growing up too fast, next thing I know she's going to carve her first soap sculpture.

How to Play the Game

Playing this game is pretty much the easiest and most fun part of it all. All you have to do is to stick the blank face on the wall. Then, blindfold the participant, making sure that they aren't seeing anything on the wall. Once they're blindfolded, hand the parts one by one. It's more fun if you don't state what that part is, but it's totally up to you if you want to disclose what part of the face they're holding. The participant will then be instructed on where to pin the part of the face. This is a perfect chance to refresh their memory on where is left, right, up, and down because that's all you are allowed to say. When the participant has spotted the part where to pin it, you may now shout Pin it!

You may then all have a good laugh at how the face would look like after all the commotion. The family may now take turns being blindfolded and giving instructions to one another.

Lessons Learned in this Activity

1. Different parts of the face
   This one's obvious since it's basically what the entire game is about. Since the kid is blindfolded during the game, they will have a clear picture in their minds about the part of the body they are holding in their hand.
2. 5 senses
   After the game, you may then discuss the different senses. It's a lot easier to discuss since the kid is fresh from all the giggles and laughter. Their excitement is up, and sitting down for a discussion will help chill them down a notch. Make sure that the discussion is more like a conversation rather than a speech or lecture.
3. Directions (Left, right, up, down)
   During the game, they will be instructed to move their hand around the face. It will refresh their memory on where these directions are.
4. Following instructions.
   The only way to win in this game is by listening to instructions while not seeing the person speaking.
5. Having fun while learning.
   Like I said, I am all about loving learning. There will be lessons that will be hard to find the fun, but in every opportunity you find, always try to add in some fun and giggles in your lessons. This way, they are having fun, they are learning, you are assured that they are paying attention.

If you have a kindergartener, you might want to take a look at some of the other games that I made. These were very much helpful to my kid's early years. It also helped us through the pandemic and lockdowns.