How Do You - Literally - Prioritize Education in Your Home?

Well, I am of a different opinion. I think that it is terribly sad for kids in homes who do not get to be kids and to have the opportunity to play and have some fun. I will never allow the kids to be bombarded with hours of homework. Their teachers have them for 8 hours a day then they expect a kid, a child, to work hours at home afterwards. If this was a job there would be strict guidelines that would prohibit them working more than X amount of hours per day based on their ages.

If kids do not play they do not enjoy life, they do not get to learn how their mind and body work together, they don't learn to have an imagination, they stagnate and their mind is squandered. It is just so sad to me when I hear parents talking like this.

I understand you want your kids to do well, to succeed in life, have scholarships for college so the cost will be less, but in fact they will not even be wanted in college unless they have a well rounded education and have some kinds of extra curricular activities.

I think that 8 hours per day doing school is more than enough for most kids, if they cannot learn a topic in that amount of time then there is something horribly wrong with the teachers who can't seem to teach them.

I think what you are suggesting will make your kids hate school. I think doing some fun family activities that are educational might be more of an impact. Go to some children's museums or to some sort of wonder of the world that would spark the inquisitiveness in their brains. Reading isn't for everyone. Lots of kids don't like to read, it is a learning style thing. They may learn by hearing, or by seeing, or by touching. They may even learn by writing it down.

Well, we just started a family-wide rule. No screen entertainment or cell phones between 6-8 pm Sun-Thurs. Too much of a distraction for my 12 year old with constant texts coming and going. But to show we were all going to make an effort to unplug ourselves from technology, DH and I are following the same rule. We aren't going on our laptops during that time either. I'm making an effort to read books more to set a better example.

I think your house doesn't have to have all the "stuff" to look educated. It will tell with personal interaction. If I was to ask your daughter where Georgia the country is and she replied "between Florida and Alabama" I'd say... whooooops. Whats up? So anyway, lol... education shows in daily interactions. Books smarts is sometimes not all it takes. Common sense is also a huge factor in education.
The fact that your are aware of what you need to do, and what you were not doing is a HUGE step for you. You woke up to what was going on. You are personally crusading for them. This is the BEST way to get it into their heads. Monkey See Monkey Do... my husband and I are all about education but we are not so education that we dont have a huge flat screen tv and veg out every so often. Our kids are small yet. 5,2 and 1. Though we take time, both of us, each day to sit with each one. We work on writing and reading with 5 year old, art and alphabet and numbers with 2, year old, and interactive play with 1 year old. I think it helps immensely. They know that there is time to play and time to learn. They are usually great about sitting through learn time with very little distractions. Music is always second and high on the importance scale. Music is a great way to learn math and communication skills. Sport is ALWAYS last on importance here. We have no designated areas, except our dining room tables and bedrooms.

On Gamma G's note, kids should be kids. HOWEVER, America has the lowest skill rating for education. We have some of the best opportunities for education, but are reserved normally for the already intelligent or the rich. We have highly accredited colleges and university's that remain out of reach because of costs. Education should not cost us so much money. My husband comes from India. Where there are billions of people. They are in competition every single day to live, just to live. Someone who can not learn or are not forced to learn, quickly sucumbs. They do not have welfare, they dont have Social Security, they dont have any of that to fall back on. Not enough resources. Each and every family has to fight for survival. If you not intellegent enough or dont apply yourself, another family that does, will rise above you. In a country where the average person there can run circles around most Americans grade point averages, they still would be considered by most, as inadequately educated. They HAVE to do this to help there families. Not only themselves, but there entire familes. Here we live on a base of individuality. On a sense of entitlement to be Americans, most other places, live on the base of family first, family strong. Blood and family. Unity, togetherness, what one makes all share. Sometimes I think that makes for a better life, a reason to push ones self for better and higher purpose. Does that make one not be a child? Does that take from a childhood? Does letting a kid be a kid till 18 or 19 really benefit? When does one stop being a kid and start learning true responsibility? I think pushing education as a main goal should be more strong advocated in all homes. Yes, letting kids be kids should be secondary. Learning to balance both is the key. I hope to find that.

Hooray for you! I love what you're doing in your home, and I agree with the answers so far. Education doesn't have to happen at a desk, or with an open book. I am an AP English teacher, and my husband is an avid reader. We eat, sleep, and breathe education in our home, but there is plenty of time for fun, too.

Our boys are almost 8 and 14, and we want them to make good grades, but more importantly, we want to foster a love of learning. We want them to be curious about the world around them, and so far they are. They both love to read, and they have always seen us reading. We read a single book as a family, pass a well-loved book around from one person to the next, and read independently, telling each other about whatever we're reading. They both do their homework right when they get home from school each day, mostly because they both have personalities where they like to finish work first so that they can enjoy free time. I'm the same way.

We also travel pretty often. When we do, we try to learn all we can about the places we visit. We research before we go, and talk to the locals when we get there. We have also talked about college from the time the boys were very young. They know they are expected to go to college, and they are both excited about it. When we travel, we drive through (and sometimes stop and visit) universities. We loved visiting Notre Dame! We're Catholic, so it was a particularly special treat.

Day to day experiences offer so much education, too, from caring for our animals (we live on a farm), to visiting local markets. My oldest likes to cook with his dad, so he's constantly using math and trying new recipes.

My point is that we have high expectations for our children at school, and they meet those expectations. At home education is also a constant focus, probably more than in many houses simply because of my job, but the boys learn so much through many of the fun activities they do day to day.

If you let them know how important education is to you, it will likely become important to them as well. You're on the right track!

First I think you have to clarify -- first as parents, then with the kids -- what about education you are trying to emphasize. You talk a lot at the top about grades and performance. To me, that's not what I want my kids to focus on in education, I think it should be more about curiosity and critical thinking and understanding. I don't care if you got an A because you were able to spit back answers after cramming for a test, but I do care if you got a B- after studying hard and discussing it and trying to understand and think it through, that's a greater success to me!

I think it can take you further in supporting their education, especially with a kid with learning issues, to have the focus be less of "how can I help you get better grades" to more of "how can I help you in this particular class, with this particular teacher's expectations, and your particular quirks and habits and strengths and weaknesses?"

I'm not sure you can mandate an educational time, aside from the basics of "homework time." Think about your own desires and rhythms, even back when you were a kid. Would you have responded well to that kind of directive? What would have motivated you? And think about each kid and how they are motivated? Mine are different (one boy one girl). My daughter is thrilled to go practice piano and will carve out time to do it. My son will only pick up his guitar when I've said it's time to turn off the TV, but then he can do it for ages. So our most successful creative/educational times come when electronics are turned off.

They also have the habit of reading for close to 30 minutes every night before sleep. We start our bedtime routine with extra time built in, so they don't have to go to sleep yet but the only thing they may do is read. Again, they aren't mandated to read for that long, but they choose to do it almost every night.

I hope some of this helps, I do think it's great that you are making such a family effort to streamline schedules and emphasize what's important to you. Kudos!

Well, we homeschool (through an online school with an incredibly intensive curriculum) so education has to take the forefront in our house. However, I know exactly what you mean by "walking into someone's house and being able to tell," because that's my house. :) I only say all this because, funny enough, my mother HATES the way my house looks.

Why? Because there are maps on the walls instead of framed art. There are "this weeks math facts" taped to the bathroom door. There are art projects on the walls and shelves. We have two gigantic cork boards (and I do mean big) to display drawings, work, etc.

I totally agree with your idea to have an "educational" time. Start with homework, but if there is none, maybe you could try this...write tons of suggestions on scraps of paper and put them in a jar, etc. Each child pulls one out, and that's what he does. Learning to sew on a button? Very valuable. Read a chapter in a book, draw a picture, bake some cookies, research "(subject you want)" and write two paragraphs.

I think just fostering and environment will help. Keep art supplies, books, etc, handy. Dedicate space for it. Hang up interesting things. Read together. I have given up on having a house that looks "decorated" because education has always been on the forefront. I think it's really great that you want to do this!

When I was a kid, we talked about school subjects at home. Not homework (thankfully back then there was very little, the occasional report or science project (fun) in elementary school, weekly math homework in high school and I took all AP courses), but the actual topics. So if we were studying neurons in science, we actually talked about axons and dendrites and brains at dinner. If we were reading Romeo & Juliet in English, we talked about it at home.

We went to the library every week and were limited to checking out only the number of books we could carry (my mom was not carrying books for 3 kids and herself). My parents both read for enjoyment and that was obvious to us from the time we were tiny. They read to us often as well. I remember having a babysitter once a week who read The Hobbit to us.

I hated 'studying' and busy work and rarely did it. If my parents had forced me to study every day (especially for 90 minutes) I think I would have hated school. I remember being outside until it was dark (we were supposed to recognize dark, but really we just recognized all the moms in the neighborhood standing at their back doors yelling for the kids to come in). We spent weekends outside playing. I spent rainy days inside reading. I read after bedtime until I fell asleep or my mom caught me.

We always knew school was important in our home. Just did. I always knew I would go to professional school. By the time I was 14, I had picked out the school. So had all my friends. Do your kids attend a school where all the kids are expected to go to college? It probably makes a big difference. When applying to a good school is the norm in your school I suspect kids achieve to keep up with their peers. I think it would be much harder if all their friends do not expect to go to a good school and have career plans.

honestly, I think a 90-minute education time is a lot to throw into a daily schedule. I do realize that sometimes just doing homework will hit that mark, but that should be an exception...not a standard. Kids are kids, & they need regular breaks.

I think a more adaptable approach would be a simple review of the day's subjects. Many progressive H.S.s require a 20 minute study period on each subject. Perhaps a review process such as this would be beneficial, but not focusing on time/quantity...going for a quality in comprehension instead. :)

For my sons, study time was in their rooms once they hit teen years. For grade school & high school, music only.....no tv. They each have their own desks, their own basic supplies. Nothing else is needed.

Now for some honest comments: desks, materials, etc....do not reflect nor imply "intellect". While it is true that our homes should reflect our interests, as families we do also need "down-time". A space to play, a space to chill. I also believe that if we push too hard, then our kids will reach burnout....which creates a nightmare in high school.

When people walk into my home, the first thing they notice are the books stacked everywhere. On tables, under tables, & in bookcases. Both of my sons are also avid readers....so we have books in every room - even the bathrooms! For me, & my family, we want our home to be an honest expression of "who" we are....not a dressed for the public look. The desks, the books, etc are a true reflection of our interests & personalities.

Oh, & your comments about your DH not reading....neither does my DH. I think with your sons, it's all about them...not how Dad is lacking. Perhaps they are more like their Dad than you realize!

I know a family that had family book time every other night. They chose a book at the older children's interest level and the parents read it to their children for 30 minutes. They had wonderful discussions. You could ask the local librarian for appropriate books.

When my kids were little, we didn't have computers or cell phones. We had a tv only in one room. And no cable. Today you have so many electronic games and goodies to compete with. I think the suggestion of scheduling an hour or two a day when all family members have to do something other than electronic would be wonderful. It could be homework, it could be board games, it could be anything of the children's choosing after homework is completed. Because we learn through homework, through reading and we also through indoor and outdoor play!

I think if you make it not just a priority, but an stepping stone for their future. Talk to them a lot about how succeeding in school and college will help them have a more successful career.

As for me, I had a desk in my room growing up. It is good to have a quiet study space.

Also, whatever you spend the most time on, equals what your biggest priorities are.

You've gotten many great responses. Gamma G has a very valid point, however I think that it is this very point that should help us as parents to figure out how to encourage education while also encouraging play. Both can & do exist together. Not everything has to be strict scheduling, hours of long reading or intellectually decorated. Not everything should be video games, internet surfing & movie watching either. Like any other venture in life, weight loss, healthy habits or education, finding the balance is key. Ultimately I think it's important to develop play-filled education. If the learning is viewed as work, the kids will rebel against it. My son is still young- kindergarten, but I've implemented a few house rules based on education. Rule #1 is absolutely no video games during the week. Again, my son is younger so you'd have to find your own balance in this. I do allow my son to "play" and explore on Google Earth (w/supervision) 2 day/week for about 30 min. I view this as educational yet he sees it to be similar to a video game. Rule #2, homework must be done BEFORE any tv or extended play. I allow about 30 minutes of free time as soon as he gets home. Then it's homework. After his homework is done he is free to play whatever (still no video games).
I've learned from teaching pre-school that running with a child's interest is the best way to incorporate learning as it enables the child to actually want to learn. It provides them with the thirst for knowledge. If your son is interested in a certain music group, or a particular sport, put reading material based on those interests around the house. Use framed maps as decor, a globe, a "history of..." book or dvd collection based on said interests. Maybe even track a music groups tour around the world pin-pointing locations on a map & peppering a few location based facts in. My hubby wasn't a big reader either, but I started putting books & magazines of his interests around & now he reads everything! I think as along as you make it part of everyday life, part of everyday rountine & keep it balanced so it's not a forced goal, but a by-product of the environment, you'll have far better luck. As far as you son fighting homework, I use a reward system. If my little guy fights for 20 minutes to do his HW, he loses 20 min of video time on the weekend. If he cooperates he earns game time, or on the 2 days/week, he gets to "play" on Google Earth. During the week we keep all video games, dvds, and many of the electronics tucked away in a cabinet. I also keep the tv off as much as possible. This helps focus & the "out of sight out of mind" theory seems to work. I hope some of this helps. I think you are wonderful for wanted to create an encouraging environment & for being pro-active in your children's education. Keep up the great work & find your family's balance. :)

We are in the same boat with my 14 year old daughter. She is in all honors classes but pulling in Bs & Cs, with straight A potential. The problem is she was a straight A student all through middle school and I never had to help her with her studies, it just came naturally. As a result, she never learned good study habits. High school is a different story! She got 2 C-s and a C on her mid-terms despite telling me every day for two weeks that she was studying. My husband and I both work full time as well, but I have found that sitting down with her every night to review her day's notes, and help her study for upcoming test and quizzes, has been a tremendous help. I have worked with her on study skills as they don't teach this any more. So every night we sit at the dining room table and go over her notes, I quiz her randomly on a few things, and ask about upcoming tests. Then when she gets them back, we go over the questions she got wrong. It's a lot of work, and sure there are other things I could be doing every night, but this is really important. Colleges are so competitive these days and she has to start getting good grades NOW. I've encouraged her to also have study groups at my house where I provide snacks, but everyone must sit at the dining room table. Good luck!