Instilling a Love of Learning Within the Home
It’s back-to-school season—a time for school supply shopping, organizing, and preparing for the year ahead. As our families gear up for school, whether it’s public, private, charter, or homeschooling, it’s easy to forget that learning isn’t confined to the classroom. While traditional education is essential, our children’s home environment is where they first shape their values, interests, and sense of wonder about the world. The home is the starting point of their educational journey.
At home, we teach our children kindness, hard work, and curiosity. It’s where they develop virtues, an appreciation for beauty, and, through their participation in family life, an understanding of what it means to be human. The way we decorate our homes, the music we listen to, the food we eat, and the memories we create all influence how our children perceive the world.
But how can we best instill a love of learning within our homes? Here are some suggestions:
1. Decorate with Thought-Provoking Pieces
Choose art, books, and decor that are both beautiful and meaningful to you. Engage your children in conversations about these pieces—ask them what they think and share what you find interesting. This encourages critical thinking and a deeper appreciation for the objects around them.
2. Embrace Family and Cultural Heritage
Teach your children about their roots by displaying framed photographs of relatives and significant places. This can inspire a sense of belonging and spark curiosity about ancestry, heritage, and storytelling.
3. Encourage a Love of Music
Music is a powerful way to connect and communicate. Keep a record player or speaker in your home, and, if possible, provide opportunities to play musical instruments. Exploring different musical genres, from Mozart to Motown, fosters self-expression and curiosity about music’s history.
4. Introduce Other Cultures
Expose your children to different cultures through music, art, and food from around the world. Host multicultural nights where your children share what they’ve learned about another country or culture. This teaches them to be curious and respectful of people beyond their own experience.
5. Express Values Through Art
Artwork can elevate a child’s thinking. A beautifully decorated room reflects the family’s value of beauty and can inspire reflections on goodness, beauty, and God.
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.”
— George Moore
Getting Back to Our Roots:
Creating A Family Tree
Creating a family tree with your kids at home is a fun and educational activity that helps them connect with their roots and understand their heritage.
Gather Materials
You’ll need paper, pencils, markers, a ruler, and any old family photos or information you have on hand. You can also use a large poster board if you want to make a bigger, more detailed tree.
Start with Your Family
Begin by drawing a large tree on your paper or poster board. At the base of the tree, write down your child’s name. From there, draw branches leading up to include your immediate family members—parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.
Add Extended Family
Work your way up the tree, adding your parents’ and grandparents’ names, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins. This is a great opportunity to tell stories and share interesting facts about each family member as you go.
Include Photos and Details
If you have old family photos, attach them to the tree near the corresponding names. You can also add birthdates, marriage dates, and other significant details that make each family member’s contribution to the tree unique.
Decorate Together
Let your kids decorate the tree with leaves, flowers, or other creative elements. This is their chance to make the project their own and have some fun with it.
Talk About Family History
As you build the tree, take the time to discuss your family’s history, traditions, and values. This helps your children gain a deeper appreciation for where they come from and the people who came before them
When you’re finished, display the family tree in your home as a visual reminder of your family’s rich history and strong connections.
Upcoming Seminar: Art of Living for Women Houston
Home Unlimited Houston has an upcoming seminar all about one of the most special rooms in the house: the kitchen. In The Heart of the Home: Maintaining and Creating in It, Guilia Guissani will share with participants how organization and cleanliness in the kitchen has helped her spend more meaningful moments with family.
After a breakout session, Chef Lauren Marchetti will lead a class called Baking 101 where she will share her top baking tips as well as her secrets on quick breads, rolls, and more!
You do not want to miss The Heart of the Home: Maintaining and Creating in It!
