The 6 easy activities your primary-schoolers won't realise are actually educational.

If I told my 9-year-old we’d be doing something fun this weekend that was also educational (bonus!), he’d roll his eyes at me. 

But like vegetables hidden in spaghetti sauce or quality time disguised as walking the dog together, when it comes to helping our primary school-aged children develop their learning, sometimes we’ve got to be creative. 

With three busy boys in our house (aged 5, 7 and 9), I’m always looking for easy and fun activities we can do together which don’t involve screens and which will actually get their brains ticking. 

Here are six of our favourites, just promise me you won’t tell my kids they’re actually educational.  

1. Cooking a meal. 

Kids love cooking, and they’ll never guess just how good it is for their development. 

Following a recipe is great for helping kids improve their reading and expand their vocabulary – as they discover words for foods they might not have read before, and then decode the method which might include mysterious instructions such as "separate an egg" or "sauté the onion". 

Cooking is basically a science experiment in disguise, as you explore how food reacts when combined with other ingredients, is agitated by mixing, or transformed by heating. 

Image: Supplied. 

Cooking also encourages healthy eating habits, as children learn about how to make food from scratch and enjoy the fruits of their labour. It's also a great way to introduce children to other cultures (or teach them more about your own), as they try new recipes and flavours or learn about the significance of certain dishes. 

2. Anything with LEGO.

LEGO is the MVP of fun and engaging play that’s actually educational. 

When building a LEGO set from scratch and following the instructions, kids are learning to understand visual instructions, identify shapes and colours, and plan ahead for what they’re creating. The bonus of LEGO’s visual instructions is that even kids who aren’t confident readers yet – like my middle son who until recently struggled with reading – can still independently follow the instructions and build what they see on the box.

But the real beauty of LEGO is the endless possibilities. 

Give a child a tub of LEGO and they’ll surprise you with what they can create. 

It builds their fine motor skills and spatial awareness, unlocks creativity, enhances their focus and concentration and teaches them perseverance. 

Sure, it’s frustrating when you can’t find the "right" piece or when your masterpiece falls apart, but you can always rebuild and try, try again. 

Image: Supplied. 

3. Outdoor obstacle courses.

My boys have energy to burn, and in lockdown times we perfected the art of the outdoor obstacle course. 

Led by my eldest, they’d use backyard items to create a course that might include jumping over things, climbing under things, balancing, running, and even some push-ups and star jumps to get their heart rates going. 

Not only is it physical exercise, but it also taught them to work together, and use their creativity as the courses became increasingly complex. 

Today they still love an obstacle course, or even a park challenge where they have to complete a circuit of their own design. If your kids have a watch with a timer on it, then get them to time themselves as they complete the course and see if they can set a new PB, which helps them understand time and math concepts.

4. Completing a puzzle. 

After a morning of kids’ sport or park playing, completing a puzzle is the perfect way to decompress and help your children be still and mindful. 

The beauty of puzzles is they suit any skill level – my five-year-old loves completing puzzles with less than 100 pieces (and with a bit of help), while my older boys love bigger puzzles with more patience and skills required. 

As well as an amazing sense of accomplishment when they see the puzzle in its finished form, puzzles will help kids with their problem-solving skills, short-term memory skills, and colour and shape recognition, while giving them a dose of dopamine with every successfully placed piece.  

Tired of the puzzles you’ve got at home? 

Head to your local charity shop, they always seem to have a great collection on hand, and get your kids involved in choosing their next challenge.

5. Gardening.  

If I ask my kids to help me in the garden, they’re often less than enthusiastic. But if I start gardening in their presence, they’ll inevitably want to help. It could be weeding, digging in the dirt, potting plants or even just exploring what’s in our garden (or our local botanical gardens if we’re in need of a day out). 

Gardening teaches kids so much about the natural world around them. We’ve discovered giant earthworms and luminous green caterpillars, and then looked them up online to find out more about their life cycles and food choices. We’ve talked about the seasons – as leaves fall from trees or bulbs magically burst out of the cold earth. 

It teaches them about how plants grow and what they need to survive – from why they need water, to what photosynthesis is. And it also teaches them to be responsible. My youngest son recently grew a grass-head using grass seeds and is now responsible for making sure it has enough water and sunlight to survive. 

They can also climb a tree or play hide and seek amongst the flowers – creativity and problem-solving in bucket loads. 

Image: Supplied.

6. Board games for the win.

From Pictionary for learning to draw and translate simple concepts creatively, to Monopoly for understanding money, society, and (let’s be honest) capitalism, board games are a great way to engage kids while encouraging learning. 

Chess teaches kids to think strategically, and so do games like Connect 4 and Guess Who. 

So dig out those board games and start playing. 

Check out Nature's Way Kids Smart Bursts with DHA to help support the brain development, eye health and cognitive function of your kids. Available from your local pharmacy or supermarket. 

Always read the label and follow the directions for use. 

Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia.