[actfrench]

Did you have any luck with digital apps or youtube videos? I've found that some tools are much more effective for personalized, independent learning than others - whereas others require much more parent or teacher involvement. The more they resemble tools used in school, the more work the parent has to do to understand them because they utilize specific methods that have been standardized as teaching methods for group classes to benefit the maximum number of students well (but not necessarily individual students well). Then, in addition to knowing the material, the person facilitating has to understand that specific teaching method (like common core teaching techniques).

As a teacher, I've found that most kids either respond best to digital apps , videos or building stuff for independent learning.

If your kids like TV, they might respond really well to Khan Academy or some of the extraordinarily wonderful educational youtube videos out there. I myself used to be resistant to TV, but then I saw how much vocabulary and science especially our 3 year old was learning from his videos, and I started to change my opinion. I also find that if I let him watch as many shows as he wants, he'll eventually get bored and want to do something else.

If it's of interest to you I've spent the last couple months curating a list of my all-time favorite educational youtube channels for kids. The factors I used for vetting them were that they were 1) secular 2) mastery-based 3) fun and engaging for kids 4) scientifically accurate

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_x3VzF6ifPzFJARuqMulSQ/cha...?

You might be interested to know there's a whole group of homeschoolers that do their entire schooling around youtube videos and documentaries and are really happy with the results they're seeing in their kids. It's often called "documentary schooling"

In the film, class dismissed, the mom gets really frustrated because she feels like her kids are "just watching youtube" all day. Then she goes upstairs and finds out her younger daughter has taught herself sign language. I think sometimes don't give our kids enough credit for the natural curiosity and where it can take them!

Here's a few other groups focused on documentary or youtube schooling:

Homeschooling with Netflix and other secular media https://www.facebook.com/groups/267905676686095/

homeschooling with Netflix https://www.facebook.com/groups/homeschoolingwithnetflix/

Also check out "Gameschooling" if your kids like video games or board games:) https://www.facebook.com/groups/GameschoolMyLittlePoppies/

Also, I agree with you - teachers are incredible. A 15k education is well worth the price.

[jwally]

This is awesome info. Literally bookmarking this. Thanks! To your point, my kids fell in love with "Blaze and the monster machines" (a nickelodeon production that I actually like) and the 3 year old would talk about concepts from the shows for weeks after (centripetal force, reciprocating saws, stabilizer legs, metal = hard).

[snowwrestler]

We took our kid to a county park where they keep some animals that were too injured to return to the wild, and give talks about them, etc. My kid was answering a lot of the questions and the presenter said "wow, you know a lot of about animals!"

"That's because I watch so much TV!!" my kid said proudly.

Bit of a cringe moment in front of the other parents, but then again, my kid did know all the answers...

(The relevant TV show is "Wild Kratts" on PBS and pbskids.org.)

[actfrench]

My kids LOVE Wildkratts too (which is also on youtube by the way)

Recently, they've really gotten into live animal cams and zoo channels on youtube.

[was_boring]

Don’t worry about that. One of the reasons I got really into STEM at a young age was because of educational programs. Started with Magic Schoolbus, graduated to Bill Nye and copious amounts of Discovery (90s when it tried to stay about science)

[actfrench]

We live in a digital age. It's better to help kids learn to navigate technology effectively then pretend that it doesn't exist. And one of the huge advantages is they have access to the best educational programming available at the tap of a finger. Rather than wait for a teacher to teach them, they can follow their own natural curiosity to learn whatever interests them in a given moment. A challenge with technology is that it can become more of entertainment and stop kids from thinking for themselves (same for adults)! I find it helpful to sometimes engage with my child when they're watching TV to nurture our own connection and also encourage him to think critically. Sometimes he yells at me and then I go away;) But hey, I do the same when someone interrupts me when I'm trying to work! It's also often a nice bonding experience. Generally after an hour or so my child asks to play at the park. When I don't tell him he can't watch TV, TV loses it's charge, so his natural desire to get a break from digital media is able to rise up in him without me forcing me to go away from it.

[actfrench]

I'd so glad it was helpful. Every child is differently and I'd be happy to help you out with some more personalized recommendations as well.