This post is all about our experience incorporating current events as a family in our homeschool.
Why are current events important for kids who homeschool? After choosing the core subjects for our homeschool year after year, I realized this was a missing ingredient. And an important one.
While our children are less exposed to the world to a degree, it does not mean that gaining awareness of what is happening in our community, culture, and world is unimportant. If anything, current events for kids is a powerful tool for critical thinking, discernment, and finding connection.
I’m excited to share a resource (and a temporary amazing deal of FOUR MONTHS FREE) that can make incorporating current events for your kids insanely easy. If you have been following our homeschool journey, you already know it is World Watch News. Let me tell you more about that and share this crazy discount below.
This post is all about the benefits of studying current events in homeschool.
Why Study Current Events in Your Homeschool
Critical Thinking
Current events, even when catered towards kids, are rarely linear. The world is complicated, just like its people. Inviting current events into your homeschool brings polarizing topics that tickle your mind. Whether it is about something distant or near, students can put themselves in others’ shoes and discern what they would do in that situation.
In studying the Bible and hearing of what is happening in the world, they can make those natural connections on their own. Students, just like us adults, will consider their foundational beliefs and wrestle with opinions at the same time. Current events opens up a mental vault that helps us exercise and develop those critical thinking skills. When within the homeschool, you can do so with the safety and grounding of your family environment.
Understanding Cause and Effect
A surprising benefit we have seen from bringing studying current events is witnessing cause and effect. This happens with the economy, politics, environment, crime, health, etc. In the episodes we have seen with World Watch News, there are many times we need to pause the video to chat about the how and why behind the story.
Global Awareness
It is easy to stay in our mostly peaceful homeschool bubble. However, we want to raise children who are aware of their surroundings and the world we live in. We want to raise children who have the potential to be leaders in their community. Therefore, it is necessary to be informed and connected to the latest world news.
Along the same lines, teaching current events is also a way to understand different perspectives. Not only are they developing their own perspective, but can empathize and find compassion for another one. The benefit of homeschooling is that we are not just throwing bits of current events at them, but we can have meaningful discussions and explanation time to help break down the circumstances.
How to Integrate Current Events at Different Grades of Homeschool
Maybe you want to start incorporating current events in your homeschool, but not sure where to start. Here are some practical ways you can consider:
- Elementary Students: Take easy topics like a tropical storm or space travel and relate it to what they are studying in science (or let it be science for the week!). They can read picture books or make a nature craft around the story.
- Middle School Students: After hearing about current events, students can create their own newspaper and write a written narration based on what happened. This is a fun age where they can practice reporting the news to you! Incorporate relevant podcasts and documentaries.
- High School Students: Encourage independent research and analysis, ask for reflections, and provide opportunities for debate or projects.
If you’re like me, and want to make it as SIMPLE as possible, you have to check out World Watch News. It is an affordable monthly subscription that provides 10 minute daily videos of current events designed for families. Each episode is produced so thoughtfully with a balance of serious and silly news. It holds our kids attention and breaks up some morning moods for the teenagers. It is a guarantee that none of my kids would vote World Watch News off the island of our morning meetings!
The Best Homeschool Resource for Current Events for Families
So I kind of already bragged about World Watch News in the paragraph above, but I have a little more to say. 🙂 After being a subscriber of World Watch News for years, it is safe to say it really is the best homeschool resource for current events. I can attest to a few things for our family. World Watch News has:
- been easy to implement and sustain in our morning meetings
- held the attention of my children since the age of 7 years old
- equipped us with current topics and news stories to discuss with friends and family
- provided a wonderful way to break up our normal book studies
- not let us down with unbiased news and warnings for any sensitive content
- been affordable and not a wasted subscription
- led to deeper discussions and the progression of critical thinking skills
- remained a family favorite as my kids have grown in the teen years
Some Frequently Asked Questions about World Watch News
Q: Is World Watch News biased politically?
World Watch News is produced by Christians, but they do a great job of presenting the facts to kids. I never feel a political lean or stance on those topics. The evidence of Christianity I do see is in the minimal ads that include Christian colleges or homeschool curriculum. At the end of each episode, the host ends with, “Whatever the news, the purpose of the Lord will stand.” Love that!
Q: What ages is World Watch News best for?
I started my subscription when my youngest was 6-7 years old, and felt appropriate and she was interested! The current ages of my kids are 10, 13, and 16 and there is consistently a positive response when I say it’s time for World Watch News in the morning.
Q: Are there any discounts for the subscription?
While already affordable, YES, I do have a limited time discount for World Watch News! It is a very generous offer of FOUR MONTHS FREE of a World Watch News subscription. That is unheard of these days. I appreciate that they provide this way for families to see if it is a good fit for them, and have time to work it into their homeschool rhythm before deciding whether to continue their subscription or not (which I know you will want to!).
Benefits of Staying Informed as a Family
Another favorite part about using World Watch News together as a family is building connections. I have plenty of opportunity to have conflict with my kids about internal topics. However, watching an episode and discussing topics about the world is external. Similar to reading aloud as a family, it leads us to unity, a shared vision, and commonality.
It strengthens our family bonds and encourages respectful conversation. We increase in curiosity and compassion together as we gain a shared understanding of the world.
This post is all about the benefits of studying current events in homeschool.
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Thank you to World Watch News for sponsoring this blog post. As always, the opinions are expressed are my own.
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