by Eva Maler

Created on: June 08, 2009   Last Updated: November 12, 2009

Somewhere deep down inside myself a voice is speaking to me: There's a time for studying, and there is a time for play. Important as academic education is; recreation, socialising and out-of-school-experience are no less significance.

Given the TV is switched off and you, the parents keep yourselves firmly in the background chances are that your kids will learn just as much as they would do in class. Why, you may want to ask, should we keep ourselves in the background when we've only got our kids' best interests at heart?

Here is a funny thing with children: First, what old people (that is you, in your child's eyes) do comes across as slightly uncool. Second, the more you urge them to do anything (like sitting down and do study when they are on their well-deserved break. Forcing education on a kid is a bit like carrying water in a sieve.

Here are some cleverly disguised learning games worth trying.

The crazy seven

This is a great game for 10-12 year old math students. The players count among themselves from one; whenever they reach a number that in anyway contains a seven (i.e. either includes a seven (like 17, 77, 207) or can be divided by seven (like 63) the player in turn replaces that number with the word "boing" (or another signal word). The player who forgets to do so loses. Another great game, if stuck in the car.

Treasure Hunt

This is a game for bigger occasions because it involves some pre-organisation, a park or small forest and at least two teams of 2-5 children. A treasure (a few ideas: a book, cinema tickets, sweets, soft toys etc) and about 10- 20 clue cards are hidden in the parks. The clue cards also have questions on them (general knowledge, math, spelling as well as knowledge of your child's favourite TV- Show or band).

Send the kids off with an answer sheet and the team that finds the treasure with a full answer sheet wins.

This is a fantastic way to celebrate your child's birthday or for a bigger play date.

Set an example

This, of course, not only applies to the summer holidays. Even though children will run with the speed of light, if you make reading a chore, a lot of children fancy themselves as being grown-ups and doing grown-up things. If they hear you talking about books or current affairs, they will view theses things as grown-up. Try talking to your partner about a book you read or the news and subtly encourage your child to be part of the discussion. Soon your child will be very keen to contribute his or her opinion.

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