Finding learning in the fun

Hey there, I am Kaydence Hernandez and I currently am a YDP here at Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley. I have been working with the Club for about three years. I started as a Junior Staff early in my high school years and once that ended I quickly became a volunteer and was in and out of the gym and gamesroom. I was then hired the summer after graduating. When I started my chapter with the Club I never knew that I would learn so much from the kids. Watching the kids here learn and grow has been an inspiration as someone who aspires to become an educator in the near future. 

Working here at the Club has helped me gain the skill of preparing a lesson but making it enjoyable for the kids. With that being said, there are times where I do not have time to plan and have to think creatively to create on the spot and incorporate learning into games. When that happens, it’s time for some quick, on the spot fun and high-yield learning. If you’re a busy parent, some of these activities are great to keep the family entertained while continuing to learn, too.

For example, the kids find legos as a fun activity but they don’t know that they’re engaging in an educational activity. Legos can introduce creativity, achieving a sense of accomplishment, and problem solving. Another example is a game called Tapple, this game involves a timer and letters from the alphabet. The kids are given a category in which they have to think quickly to come up with an answer to the category that starts with one of the available letters. Tapple tests mental responsiveness and builds the kids vocabulary. The last example is the game Monopoly. The game gives them skills and knowledge they need for their future, like teaching them to make smart investments and making strategic decisions to increase their wealth. The game requires them to engage with their peers and experience real world budgeting. It also helps them grow their math skills while learning about fair and unfair consequences.

There are many games that are fun to play but also very educational. These are just a few of the games we can throw out there for the kids to get some learning in. Here at the Club our mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible members of society. Giving the kids an opportunity to play games that reach that mission and get them to engage with on the spot learning is my goal.