Because learning shouldn’t stop when the bell rings — and neither does the snack scavenger hunt.
Let’s be real: between juggling afterschool activities, mystery stains, and trying to remember what sleep feels like, getting your kids to embrace learning outside of school can feel like asking them to fold laundry for fun. (Spoiler alert: they won’t.)
But the good news? Kids are naturally curious little creatures — kind of like raccoons, but with more questions and less rummaging through your trash (hopefully). The trick is sparking that curiosity and channeling it in ways that make them want to learn — not just because they have to, but because they want to.
Here’s how you can encourage your kids to fall in love with learning — beyond homework, spelling tests, and glue-stick catastrophes.
1. Follow Their Interests (Even the Slightly Obsessive Ones)
Got a kid who’s obsessed with dinosaurs? Or trains? Or memorizing the nutritional value of every snack in the pantry? (Same.)
Lean into it.
Let them build volcanoes, binge documentaries, or create comic strips starring a T-Rex accountant. Passion leads to knowledge, and knowledge leads to — you guessed it — even more passion. It’s a beautiful (and sometimes noisy) cycle.
And let’s be honest, if they’re going to recite something at the dinner table, wouldn’t you rather it be dinosaur facts than the plot of their favorite YouTuber’s Minecraft video?
2. Make Learning Fun (Disguised Like a Ninja)
Learning doesn’t always have to look like sitting at a desk or filling in worksheets. Sometimes it looks like baking cookies and learning fractions. Or building a pillow fort and discovering basic architecture. Or turning bath time into a science experiment — safely, of course.
Speaking of bath time: want to turn the tub into a safe splash zone while they "experiment" with the laws of physics (a.k.a. chucking rubber ducks)? Check out the AquaCushion Soft Safety Spout Cover. It turns any faucet into a soft, squishy, head-bump-proof safe space — so you can focus on the fun and not the ER co-pay.
Learning opportunities are everywhere — you just need to squint through the chaos and maybe wipe off a juice stain or two.
3. Encourage Questions (Even the Weird Ones)
Yes, even those questions.
Why is the sky blue?
Why do people have eyebrows?
Why can’t we eat dinner in the bathtub?
Questions are a kid’s way of learning about the world — and avoiding bedtime. But the more they ask, the more they explore. And the more they explore, the more confident they become in their ability to learn.
If you don’t know the answer, Google it together! It’s not about having all the answers — it’s about showing them how to find them (and also maybe learning something new yourself).
4. Expose Them to New Experiences (Without Losing Your Mind)
You don’t have to book a two-week safari (unless you want to, in which case, please adopt us). Sometimes, “new experiences” just means trying a new park, library program, museum, or even grocery store. Yes — even your local Aldi could be an exotic adventure if your kids are in charge of finding “three orange things that aren’t oranges.”
Trying new things activates their creativity and keeps their learning muscles flexed. Also, it might just wear them out before bedtime. A win for everyone.
And when you’re out and about juggling five snacks, three kids, and a beverage that’s somehow spilled before being opened — you’ll want this BreezeCap Modern Can Lid with Built-in Straw. It’s like a parenting cheat code: less mess, more hydration, and no mystery fizz up your nose.
5. Be a Role Model (No Pressure or Anything)
Your kids are always watching you — even when you’re hiding in the pantry with your emergency cookies. If they see you being curious, reading, exploring new hobbies, or talking about things you’ve learned, they’ll get the message: learning doesn’t stop when you become an adult.
(Just don’t try to explain taxes. That’s too cruel.)
Talk to them about your day — not just the to-dos, but the “aha” moments. Share what you’re reading or researching. Let them see you struggle with a new skill and celebrate when you master it. You’re showing them that it’s okay to learn, to fail, and to keep going.
Bonus Tip: Turn Car Time Into Learning Time
Let’s face it — as a working parent with multiple kids in afterschool activities, you probably live in your car. Good news: those hours spent carpooling to soccer, dance, and underwater basket-weaving class are perfect for sneaky learning!
Try audiobooks, trivia games, or storytelling challenges. Ask them what they learned that day — or challenge them to teach you something.
And if you forget whose cleats go where (again), don’t worry. You’re already winning just by being there.
Final Thoughts: You’re Doing Better Than You Think
If you’ve ever had a moment where you questioned whether you’re doing enough — this is your reminder: you are. Encouraging learning doesn’t have to be perfect or Pinterest-worthy. It just has to be consistent, supportive, and a little bit silly.
So go ahead, embrace the glitter, the mess, the endless questions, and the weird “science projects” made from cereal and toothpaste. Your kids will remember the joy of discovery, the feeling of being supported — and how you made learning come alive outside the classroom.