The Genius Hour at Home: What Parents Should Know

For many children, school can be tedious—especially when it comes to material they're simply uninterested in. When you’re only 10 years old, topics like fractions may not hold your attention much, even though your teacher likens them to slices of cake or pizza. 

To fuel a hunger for learning, educators have started implementing the Genius Hour, a one-hour period during which students can choose what they learn. Also known as “Passion Projects,” the Genius Hour is a time when “students are in control, choosing what they study, how they study it, and what they do, produce, or create as a result.” 

As opposed to traditional learning, where the teacher sets the parameters for the lesson, the possibilities of the Genius Hour are limitless. This is precisely what makes it so empowering and exciting for youngsters who want to explore their interests. 

Here’s what parents should know about the Genius Hour at home.

The Genius Hour’s origins

The Genius Hour isn’t a concept that originates in the world of education. Instead, its roots are in corporate America. Author Daniel Pink explains a unique feature of some workplaces that began with Google’s “20% time” concept: “Each week, employees can take a Genius Hour—60 minutes to work on new ideas or master new skills,” with the condition that these pursuits be somehow related to work. 

Google understood that workers were most productive when they engaged in tasks that were of great interest to them. And aside from keeping employee morale high, the Genius Hour benefits companies considerably. In fact, several of Google’s most successful projects, such as Gmail and AdSense, were conceptualized during these periods. 

Just as the Genius Hour has since been adapted for the classroom, so, too, can it be adapted for the home. And yes, there are benefits for parents, as well—including a healthier emotional environment. Though parental participation in the Genius Hour is not required, parents should know they also stand to gain tremendously from engaging in this creative period.    

Genius Hour timing

The classroom Genius Hour may not always last for exactly an hour. In some cases, to fit scheduling confines and teacher preferences, it may end up being under or over 60 minutes long. Elizabeth Mulvahill explains: “Some teachers allot one class period or one hour per week. Others aim for the 80/20 rule, in which 80 percent of the time is traditional standards-based teaching and learning and 20 percent is student directed.” 

Parents can modify the duration and frequency of the Genius Hour in the same way teachers do. Understandably, some family schedules may only allow for one session a week, while others may permit two or even three.

In addition, it is perfectly acceptable to let the Genius Hour exceed the 60-minute mark. However, parents should think twice about limiting it to anything less than 40 minutes, when kids may still be warming up or at the peak of their creativity. 

Making the Genius Hour win-win

At Google, the Genius Hour benefits the company by providing a designated time for generating innovative business ideas. In the classroom, the advantages of the Genius Hour are destined for the student, rather than the teacher or school (though both may also indirectly benefit in the end—for instance, from improved behavior and a spirit of curiosity). 

For parents, the benefits of the Genius Hour may lie somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. While the Genius Hour is meant to be a time when students decide what they learn and explore, parents can set some reasonable parameters on potential projects. 

Being able to choose from a fixed number of options may be especially helpful for young or indecisive children. Below are some ideas that can speak to your kids’ skills and have a positive outcome for the living space you all inhabit:

  • For avid readers — Set your child up with a stack of books that you’re looking to donate. Ask them to skim the covers, foreword, and/or the first few pages to help decide whether each book should be kept or given away. The result: you’ll clear out some of the clutter in your house, and your child will develop a taste for the type of reading material they’re drawn to. 

  • For technically inclined teens — Surely you have a few broken appliances stored away at home or perhaps a few items that only partially work. Set your child up with these malfunctioning devices and have them determine whether each is fixable. Your child can even go a step further and determine how salvageable devices can be repaired. Fixing broken appliances both saves your family money and lessens pollution.  

  • For artists or interior designers in the making — If there’s a room or corner of your house that looks dull, ask a creative child how it can be beautified. Allow them to suggest décor, colors, or artwork for the space that they may even want to create themselves. Giving them this job will make them feel important and let their imagination sore. 

  • For aspiring chefs — Getting tired of rotating between the same five dinner recipes? Maybe your gastronomically inclined child could come up with some fresh ideas. In this case, ask your child to suggest new family recipes based on the current contents of the kitchen or certain dietary needs. Older children generally like to have a say in what they eat, and assigning them this task will be fun and helpful. 

Of course, it’s also acceptable to let children make their own choices, as Genius Hour in the classroom is typically handled. The point is to tailor this activity in whatever way will make it most effective and meaningful for your household.

Tiffany Sorensen holds a Master of Science in Spanish-English Translation from New York University. She works remotely from sunny Mexico, where she gives English and Spanish classes, writes educational articles, and designs practice tests for the ACT.

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