I try to incorporate many hands-on activities to keep the learning fresh and energizing for both my kids and me. It’s important for me to find constantly find different ways to get my kids to know, understand, and demonstrate essential life skills and strategies they’ll need later in life through creative play and activities. Over the past few years of being a parent I’ve come to believe that learning has to be fun to make the kids want to keep doing it as a lifelong activity.
One way to help make reading and learning fun for kids is incorporating comic-style textbooks! Many educators have found comic books provide a variety of benefits in the classroom, including: easy to track storylines, bright, attention-getting imagery, and new vocabulary, not otherwise found in children’s books.
When I heard there were comic books that could help my children learn science, I was skeptical. But I’m being won over, because I’ve discovered the magic of Manga learning tools!
What is Manga?
It’s a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children.
Why does it matter? And what does it have to do with learning?
I’ve discovered this tremendous resource for teaching kids science and all about the human body. Rather than a dry text and diagram textbook, concepts are covered in a story-based format that’s also visual, so learners of all kinds have more to glom onto, and it’s easier to recall. Sort of like our trusted and true pal Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus, but for a slightly older children depending on the book. Last but certainly not least – it makes learning fun! Imagine if your child requested to re-read a science text book. That’s what these amazing books can inspire.
We started on the Survive! Inside the Human Body series, and even I am learning!
Your turn: What do you think of this new trend of using comic-style textbooks to keep learning fresh and fun for kids? Feel free to share in the comments.
I can confirm this, I literately learnt English by reading manga. I think it’s one of the best way one can learn language. At the first times, I always have a dictionary by my hand, so finishing a chapter would take about one evening. By right now I’m a fluent speaker.
New idea. Thanks for sharing this article.