The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Psalms 14:1
As a wives and mothers, we have a lot of influence over our families and that includes how time is spent. I love to buy something different than our current normal activities just to see what happens. It might be a new soccer ball or an intriguing puzzle. I've bought Lego Architecture sets and even a tarantula which was later donated to a classroom.
I started working on this paint by number a friend recommended and some of my family were drawn in where I was working. I simply handed them the paint brush and kept talking. Later, I just left it on the table. Other family members sat down and started painting. Every family member painted some of it. Emily and Hannah asked for their own to paint, so I supplied them with easier sets.
Over the years, I have also used homemade and store bought live traps, board games, nature crafts, decks of different card games, musical instruments, craft supplies, game cameras, zip lines, wood burning kits, metal stamping, crossword puzzles, tavern puzzles, survival type gear, Etch a Sketches, magnetic sculptures, homemade science experiments, and so forth. It has let our family develop new interests, spend more time together, and hone in on likes/dislikes for our children's career direction. It has also helped limit screen time without me having to say a word about it.
If you are looking to implement this in your family and do not have a lot of money, I suggest starting with DIY items. Google, Pinterest, and YouTube can help you come up with plenty of ideas. If something doesn't work, keep trying. If an experiment flops, go find a new adventure! Remember the best lesson is learned by example. If they see you trying new things and keeping an attitude of learning, they will be more likely to do the same.
Happy Homeschooling!
