Top 5 Homeschool Spots in Des Moines That is Not Home
You may hear the word “HOMESCHOOL” and think these kids must spend a lot of time at home. Or you might think homeschooling sounds great but you would lose your mind being home with your kids all of the time. While spending lots of time at home is an option, my active boys and I have been finding ourselves on the go. We have been busy exploring our community and learning so much while we’re out and about.
I want to share with you the top 5 places we’ve found ourselves buried in a good book, seeking answers to questions, coloring, playing games, or completing the occasional curriculum response page.
Check out these other Homeschool Resources:
A quiet playground
One benefit of being out and about during the day when others are at school is that many neighborhood playgrounds are empty. The kids can move however they want (climb UP the slide safely), stay on the swing as long as they want without taking turns, and even read a book and take their learning activities along with them! On nice days, we love to ride our bikes to the closest playground, play for a bit, have a snack and read, and then bike home. Take a look at all the amazing parks and playgrounds around the Des Moines metro.
Blank Park Zoo
There are many possibilities for learning while exploring the zoo! Depending on the age of your child and their interests, your focus on each visit might be different. You can create a scavenger hunt to search for specific animals, colors, or animal facts. You could prepare a plan or story math problems in advance to solve when you get to certain locations within the zoo or just simply count the number of animals in certain exhibits to determine which exhibit has the most animals. You could color in a world map of the places animals are found in their natural habitats as you view them. You can write down favorite facts you learn along the way or have your child prepare for a research paper or longer writing assignment about their favorite types of animals after the zoo trip. You can sit on a bench and read your favorite book out loud to the monkeys or giraffes! You could even join other homeschoolers for a meet-up and have the children share with each other about their favorite animals. The signs throughout the zoo and those who work there are very helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to answering all of your animal-related questions!
Playgrounds Cafe
There are many amazing coffee places around the metro but there is one that is specifically designed for kids! Playgrounds Cafe has space for dramatic play, motor play, and sensory play or you can stop in for a snack, lunch, and an indoor space to just hang out! This is a perfect homeschool space for families with multiple children or children of mixed ages. You can sit at a table to read or learn with the school-aged children while the little ones have a safe space to move and play! My children are both school-aged and a little big for the play equipment but they are very food-motivated so Playgrounds Cafe makes a great stop to get a snack and hang out to read or write while I fuel myself with a delicious coffee drink.
A waiting room
One benefit of being a homeschooled family is that you have space in the calendar for all the appointments and therapies without having to worry about missing school time. Waiting rooms also create excellent space to observe new toys and materials, new books, play brain games to pass the time, or bring your curriculum with you!
The Library
The local libraries around Des Moines Metro are full of amazing kid-friendly spaces, and events, and are filled with books on every single topic of interest your child might want to explore. Integrating a mix of nonfiction and fiction books on topics of interest for your child is an excellent way to promote a love of learning. We also include books at their particular reading level and chapter books or audiobooks that can be read aloud. Using the Libby app for audiobooks along with your library card can help integrate a love of reading and listening into many of your daily routines. At many of the libraries, you can even check out stuffed animals, toys, and board games to extend learning beyond just books! The libraries often have interactive story times for little ones and afterschool programs and events for the school-aged kids, if you’re looking for opportunities to learn alongside others.
