While there are plenty of reasons to be wary of too much screen time for your kids, the occasional movie night can be more than just an excuse to lounge in front of the TV. Here are a few reasons you should schedule movie night into your homeschool routine.
Bond As a Family
You likely spend a lot of time with your children if you homeschool, but doing math homework doesn’t really qualify as a bonding moment. Letting your kids pick a movie and watching it together as a family is a great way to grow closer and do things that don’t feel like school.
Teach a History Lesson
Movies can be fun and educational. There are hundreds of films based on real historic events, so if you’re in the middle of a history lesson and want to emphasize the point even further, see if there’s a movie based on the event or person. This can bring history to life for your kids and is especially helpful if it’s a topic they are struggling with. A movie provides a new perspective to look at someone and can help children understand the concept better than a textbook.
Encourage Reading
If you have a child who loves to watch TV but isn’t enthusiastic about reading, use movie night as a tool to encourage them to open up that book more often. Tell your child that once they finish a book, the whole family can order pizza and watch the movie together as a special treat. Who knows, maybe they’ll like the book better!
De-Stress
No matter how much you try to help your kids with their schoolwork, they will inevitably feel stressed at some point. Maybe it’s a math concept that can’t quite grasp or maybe it’s some reading they’re having a hard time getting through. Whatever the case, sometimes relaxing and watching a movie together can give your child the 2-hour escape from reality they need to refresh their mind and get back to work.
Teach Social Concepts
This mainly pertains to younger children, but older ones can benefit as well. Use any movie of your choice to point out any social concept you want to talk about, whether it’s bullying, politeness, or gratitude. Pause the movie when a character exhibits particularly good or bad behavior and ask your kids what they thought about that character’s actions. Together you can work through the situation and teach a valuable lesson.
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