Gameschooling

For reasons I cannot quite define, I have it in my head that dads have all the fun while moms do all the work. It's absolutely not true: my mom did a ton to make our childhood fun, and both my dad and my husband are super hard workers both at their jobs and at home. Yet the stereotype lives on in my head, and despite my best intentions, I've been living as if it's the truth.

Don't get me wrong; I love my kids. I love laughing with them. I love reading and singing with them. I love that they play independently so well.

Yep, there's the kicker. I enjoy watching them play happily, but I'm not usually all gung-ho about joining in. I enjoy doing school (for real, it's fun for me), but after that, I'm ready to check out and do my own thing while they do theirs.

I don't feel responsible to entertain them all the time. I don't have any intention of dropping my other household duties every time they want to do something. They are a priority, but the world doesn't revolve around them. And yet -- I don't want them to grow up feeling ignored. I don't want school to be all work and no fun. I don't want life to be all work and no fun.

So when a blogger I follow (loosely) started posting things about "gameschooling," I was intrigued. For one thing, Silas wants to do math like his big brothers, and I'm not ready to jump into a formal curriculum with another kid. Gameschooling. Levi and Owen love to play games, but the younger kids often can't join in. Gameschooling. I want to have fun with my children without being bored to tears by building another train track or Duplo creation (just keepin' it real, folks). Gameschooling.

I beefed up my Amazon wish list, sent it to the grandparents and great-grandparents, set my New Year's resolution, and waited for the Christmas presents to roll in. (Yes, I hijacked my kids' Christmas gifts for educational gaming purposes. Don't judge. They're all happy with what they received, and all the games have been opened except one, simply because of time constraints.)

Here's what we got:
Scrambled States of America: goes along with this fun book that was also a gift (geography)

Sums in Space: Silas is almost ready for this, and can play it if I help him do the math on his fingers. It's also one that he can play with Levi and/or Owen while I'm working with another child. It's a bonus that it features astronauts trying to get to their rocket ship before it blasts off -- we are still completely space-obsessed around here! Also, it can be played competitively OR cooperatively, so we have the option of avoiding sore losers. (math)

Rat-a-Tat Cat: Another one I hoped Silas would get into. He can't play it according to the real rules yet, but he'll play along and simply help determine whether the numbers are higher or lower. I actually enjoy this one myself, as an adult! (math)

Flag Frenzy: we haven't opened this one yet (geography)

Robot Turtles: computer programming learned at the table, with progressively harder levels. A favorite with Levi. (math, strategy, computers)

Kingdom Builder: sort of a cross between Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, and Catan . . . (strategy)

No-Stress Chess: Levi is already weaned off the helping cards and can beat me easily. (strategy)

Candy Land: because we didn't own it, and Toby is a part of this family, too ;) (early math)

4-Way Countdown: Levi and Owen play this at church, but not we have a board of our own. I've never played and honestly have no idea how it works, but they love it! (math)

Balance Beans: a one-player game for those downtimes between subjects. Super cute and fun. (math)

I am waaaaay too type A to chuck curriculum in favor of games, and they will always be supplemental in our house. Even still, I'm happy to be fostering a love of games early on, practicing skills "in secret" (or not-so-secret, in Sums in Space), and encouraging my boys to play together. Some day, when I'm (reluctantly) willing to let them stay up later than 7:30pm, it'll be fun to play together as a family, doing something we've all learned to love!