Learning is a lifelong process; therefore, it should be something our children see us doing as adults daily as well. So, as a family consider the 4CS of learning in your own home, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking. Utilize the suggestions below to help your entire family embrace the 4Cs of Learning.
Creativity
- Set out a box of building materials and ask your child to help you build something with the materials
- Purchase some painting canvas’ and paints, and see what masterpieces you and your children can design
- Build a Lego or Playdoh dream town and discuss what the people would be like who lived there, and what they would do for work and school.
- Author a creative story together as a family. Take turns passing the paper around the table and everyone writes a sentence or two.
- Make a meal together from a few random items selected from the ingredients in your pantry and fridge. See who can make the most creative, delicious meal.
Collaboration & Communication
- Build a bird feeder together
- Using 10 notecards, a roll of tape, one pair of scissors, and 4 sheets of plain paper build the tallest structure you can that can stand on its own.
- Choose a video game your child loves to play and work through a mission together, allowing your child to take the lead and guide you through the process
- Go to a zoo or outdoor recreation area and each person record things he or she sees, hears, smells, and touches. Then together create a family poem or story about the adventures of the day and all you learned and experienced together.
Critical Thinking
- If your family was stranded on an island and each only allowed 5 items, what would you bring and why.
- Go Geocaching together
- Create a scavenger hunt that you must work through to find the treasure at the end
- Go to an escape chamber as a family and navigate together to escape.
- Play a board game that requires strategy and thinking like Chess, Scrabble or Clue.
