Our Favourite Homework Games for Primary School Kids

Introduction

 

Sometimes after a long day at school, homework is the last thing on your child’s mind. Nevertheless, it’s an important part of their education and needs to be given the time it deserves. So what can you as a parent do to make the task more enjoyable?

 

One idea is to turn homework into a game.

 

Who said homework had to be boring? If children enjoy what they’re learning, they’re more likely to remember what they’re being taught. In this post, we look at some homework games you can try with your child to make learning and revising more fun.

 

The Egg Timer Game

 

The Egg Timer Game – also known as the Pomodoro Technique

 

The Egg Timer Game offers your child an incentive for dedicating a certain amount of time to doing homework.

 

Start by agreeing some goals with your child and then assign a specific reward for when each time period is complete.

 

For example, you might agree that if your child works uninterrupted for 20 minutes (use a stopwatch or egg timer for added fun) they’ll get 20 minutes of play time – playing their favourite computer game, or watching a TV show.

 

Just make sure that your child understands the bigger picture when it comes to playing the game. You want to them to associate their homework with getting better grades, rather than just receiving treats.

 

The Mouth-watering Maths Game

 

If your child has maths homework, using sweets to help with numbers can turn the experience from a chore into a treat. Addition, subtraction and division exercises are a whole lot more fun when the numbers are replaced with sweets or pieces of chocolate.

 

And for more complex maths exercises, a treat can simply be awarded for correct answers.

 

The Flashcards Spelling Game

 

 

If your child has an assignment that involves remembering information, the flashcards game can be a great way of making homework more fun. This game works particularly well for vocabulary or spelling homework.

 

For example, if your child has vocabulary to learn, have them create flashcards with all the words they need to know. Once they’ve created all the flashcards, test them on their spelling by having them write the word down or speaking it aloud.

 

For all the words they get right, stick the corresponding flashcard to the wall so they can chart their progress.

 

The Playing Teacher Game

 

They say if you want to learn something, go teach it. The Playing Teacher Game involves a little role reversal and lets your child step into the role of educator. This game works particularly well with subjects that require theory, like Science, for example.

 

Have your child explain a concept to you as a teacher. Get them to stand up at the front of the class and fully take on the role.

 

By having them teach you, their understanding of the concept will improve as they begin to fully appreciate the logic and reasoning behind the idea.

 

Online Homework Games

 

If your child prefers to learn online, our online homework game will certainly prove useful.

 

Times Tables VR (by Exam Papers Plus)

 

 

We’ve recently produced our very own virtual reality game, Times Tables VR. Understanding times tables is essential for Maths exams and we hope the game will make the learning process enjoyable.

 

The game helps children learn their times tables in an immersive Virtual Reality world that they can navigate through using just their eyes. The app is designed to work with the Google Cardboard VR headset and is completely free with no adverts. You can download the app for free for iPhones from the App Store here and for Android from the Play Store here.

 

How do you get your kids to do their homework? Do you have any of your own homework games that you play with your child?

 

Related post:

How to Help Your Child Revise for Exams

Revision Games for Primary School Kids

 

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