Children can be hard to convince of the importance of attending school, doing additional reading and completing their homework. Most kids will go through a stage of being generally uninterested in pursuing an education with some getting really rebellious. As parents, guardians and teachers, it's our job and challenge to ensure this phase isn't long-lasting.

The best way to get kids interested in school work is to show them that learning can be fun. This will usually mean having to get involved, leading some activities and taking part hands-on in your childrens' experiments and discoveries. All subjects can be approached with a touch of creativity, and some lend themselves particularly well to experimentation.

Languages

Languages can be a good way to get your kids interested in school. They open up a whole new world in terms of literature and movies, which are some of the routes you can use to get the young ones intrigued.

Organise a European film night, for example. Invite some of your child's friends over for an evening of movies and popcorn but instead of opting for a well known blockbuster, choose foreign language cinema with subtitles.

When it comes to books, opt for translated foreign literature and make a point of explaining that literature in its original language can be even more exciting.

History and Geography

History and geography can work wonders to encourage kids to start learning more actively. Try to tie them in with your own family's history.

A fun task for the whole family is to put together a family tree. Go to the local branch of your national archives to dig around for interesting information about your ancestors. It's a great day out. Once home, piece together the information.

In terms of geography, invest in a world map or a globe and use pins to mark places where members of your family have lived or travelled. Dig out old photos as well, to inspire your kids to discover more about the many different countries of the world.

Science and Maths

Science and maths can seem dull in a classroom environment if no practical element is involved. But these subjects are made for experimenting!

Science experiments aren't always tricky and don't all require a large amount of preparation. Lots of items found in the home can be used to carry them out.

For example, you can use fruit to make a battery, and you can use cabbages to test acidity. Tennis balls and other items can be put to good use too.

The weather is an excellent way to start talking about science. Go out and measure the level of rainfall or run out in the snow and explain how snowflakes are formed.