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In the UK, more and more families are choosing home education over traditional schooling. According to an article from the BBC, the number of children being home educated rose by an average of 75% between September 2020 and April 2021, compared to the previous two school years. Many parents have watched the rising COVID-19 case numbers in schools with some anxiety, opting instead to keep their children at home.
Another benefit of home education is that it’s flexible enough to flow with the seasons and our energy levels. As we discussed in our recent ‘Home Education Lately’ post, we’ve managed to maintain structure with core subjects, projects, and regular groups for extracurricular activities all throughout 2021. We’ve also enjoyed our days out, especially with all the fun holiday activities.
Based on our experience, a great way to take a break from formal lessons is to take your kids on an educational trip, whether it be to a park (weather permitting!), a museum, or a library to bring their excitement up for learning. Of course, you would need to prepare well — especially if you’re heading out with more than one child in tow. Below we list some of the essential equipment you need to bring along:
Materials for recording the day
Make no mistake, every trip can be a learning experience for any home educated child. Wherever you’re going, it would be good to bring along small notebooks for your kids to record their observations, thoughts, and reflections. Along with pencils or pens, you can even bring along colouring materials so they will feel inspired to create art on the spot. For older children, these trips would be a good time to introduce them to photography as well. Children have a unique perspective of the world, and taking photos will help them better remember the experience.
The Fujifilm XP140 camera is perfect for children ages five and up, as it is virtually indestructible. Built to be waterproof, shockproof, freeze proof, and dust-proof, this is a tough device your child can really grow up with. It has a stabilised lens with a 5x optical zoom, plus subject recognition and self-timer features, so your child can take a wide range of creative shots.
An all-terrain pushchair
Despite their seemingly inexhaustible energy, young children can easily get tired when they walk long distances. When this happens, you’re either going to have to carry them back to the car or even all the way home. Spare yourself the trouble and tuck your young children into a warm pushchair that works on any terrain, so you can easily get where you need to go.
If you are a parent with twins or two young children, it will be wise to invest in a pushchair that allows for easy movement around both urban and rural areas. The double prams from iCandy represent how modern tandem pushchairs are designed for easier maneuverability through doorways and public transportation. This is because a tandem pushchair is the same width as a single pushchair, meaning you won’t need to constantly fold it up to fit through entrances. You can also use the weather shield to keep the wind, rain, or sun away from your child’s face, and ensure they stay cheerful throughout your outing.
A first-aid kit
Bringing along a first-aid kit is a must for parents with energetic children, especially these days, when staying healthy requires us to be extra vigilant. Aside from bandages, wipes, and ointments, you can include a hand sanitizer and extra masks in your kit as well. Some parents even opt to include snacks, water, and medicine in their first-aid kit for good measure.
The excursion kit from Welly is a particularly child-friendly choice. The tin includes hydrocortisone cream for itchy rashes, antibiotic cream for cuts and scrapes, and bandages in bright colours and cute patterns, which are perfect for adventurous children. As a bonus, it can be easily stored away in your car.
Home education takes a lot of work, but being able to see your children fearlessly explore and interact with the world definitely makes the effort worthwhile.
Camera idea is partic’ good and a the one you mention looks very robust