Saturday, August 4, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Create A Story Book With Your Child
A fun way to build your child’s imagination
Writing is still one of our major forms of communication as well as a great way to express ourselves. Creating a storybook with your child is a fun way to introduce him or her to creative writing. You will also get to spend a few hours of quality time together and the end result will become a family treasure for years to come.
All you need is a notebook, a pen, and anything else you and your child would like to use to illustrate a story. You can draw pictures together, or make a collage out of old photos and magazine cut outs. Of course you can also add stickers, glitter or anything else you can come up with.
But let’s start at the beginning. The idea is to come up with a story and to write it down in the notebook. If your child has never made up a story, she will need some guidance and help from you. Think about what she is interested in right now: dinosaurs, ponies, ballet; characters from a particular book or TV show, etc.
Ask your child to name the main characters and encourage them to describe what they look like, what clothes they are wearing and where they are. You’ll be surprised how quickly they will come up with a story line from there. Encourage them along the way.
If your child is old enough to write, have her write the story herself as you go along creating it. Offer to take turns if she is still new at writing. Otherwise, write it down for her.
Have fun decorating or illustrating the story.
Start your next creative writing afternoon by reading some of the stories you have already created. Give your child the option to either continue with the same set of characters or to come up with some new ones. Before long you will have an entire book of stories that you will both treasure for a long time.
Article by:
Susanne Myers is the founder of http://www.kinderinfo.com/ [1] . Did you find this information useful and helpful? Be sure to sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter so you can recceive our child care tips and family fun ideas right in your inbox! Sign up today at http://www.kinderinfo.com/newsletter[2] and receive a FREE copy of our latest e-book, Summer Fun!
Dania
www.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Finding Educational Games Online Your Kids will Love
Many times parents look online for educational games for their kids to play online. Some of these games can be found for free, but most of them are charge a small fee. As a teacher, you I highly recommend allowing your children to play these games as the advantages are many.
Advantages of Online Games:
When preschool children are exposed to online games, the results are phenomenal. The vivid pictures combined with words allow children to phonics without them even realizing it. Talk about learning reading skills while having fun.
Math sites are even more numerous. Cute little animal characters bee bop around the screen offering kids all kinds of incentives to play. Many math sites are aimed at children from 2 to 5 years old. While this may sound young to you, it is a perfect age. Kids have the hand eye coordination to move a mouse and click a button. The characters sing and dance away, encouraging them to count along.
Benefits of Online Games for Middle School
My middle school students have sat there and played Sudoku and that race car game for hours. (It was after a standardized test.) Granted, they did not have much else to do in class but they also did not complain either. They often ask to go to these sites and play the games.
While the math games are more popular for middle school students, some kids really like the science games. It really depends on the kid's interest. I have seen kids really get into stock market games and business games. There is one online game site that has kids building elaborate empires. It is completely free and they do everything from running factories and building web pages.
Downloads for the iPod
If you have a teen in your house, you have definitely heard about iPod apps. It may be worth considering letting your pre-teen, teen or tween download a few education games for the iPod. There are a couple of free games and a few games that you can get for a fee that are educational.
Many of the iPod games are just like the online versions except smaller. You won't get as many levels and the graphics aren't quite as good.
If you are getting it for your toddler, I would check out of the free version first. Oftentimes, you can find a "Lite" version of the games. These are super simple versions that only have a 5-minute trial or just one level.
In any case, educational games are out there and are worth checking out. Look around and you will see.
Advantages of Online Games:
- Computer Technology is a requirement in many states
- Computer games generally do not require additional resources
- Most computer games only require an internet connection
- Computer games support the curriculum found in the classroom
When preschool children are exposed to online games, the results are phenomenal. The vivid pictures combined with words allow children to phonics without them even realizing it. Talk about learning reading skills while having fun.
Math sites are even more numerous. Cute little animal characters bee bop around the screen offering kids all kinds of incentives to play. Many math sites are aimed at children from 2 to 5 years old. While this may sound young to you, it is a perfect age. Kids have the hand eye coordination to move a mouse and click a button. The characters sing and dance away, encouraging them to count along.
Benefits of Online Games for Middle School
My middle school students have sat there and played Sudoku and that race car game for hours. (It was after a standardized test.) Granted, they did not have much else to do in class but they also did not complain either. They often ask to go to these sites and play the games.
While the math games are more popular for middle school students, some kids really like the science games. It really depends on the kid's interest. I have seen kids really get into stock market games and business games. There is one online game site that has kids building elaborate empires. It is completely free and they do everything from running factories and building web pages.
Downloads for the iPod
If you have a teen in your house, you have definitely heard about iPod apps. It may be worth considering letting your pre-teen, teen or tween download a few education games for the iPod. There are a couple of free games and a few games that you can get for a fee that are educational.
Many of the iPod games are just like the online versions except smaller. You won't get as many levels and the graphics aren't quite as good.
If you are getting it for your toddler, I would check out of the free version first. Oftentimes, you can find a "Lite" version of the games. These are super simple versions that only have a 5-minute trial or just one level.
In any case, educational games are out there and are worth checking out. Look around and you will see.
Teach Your Child with Educational Games
There is no doubt that to get a head-start compared to the competition, your ch ild needs to start early and what better than using Educational Games and toys. Parents and teachers have realized the importance of including variety in learning and are seriously considering or are already using these alternatives.
It is all about studying, focusing and concentrating on the child attending school, doing homework or classes. Little do we realize that it is not easy for a child to become so serious during the best age of his/her life. Isn't it frustrating when your boss overloads you with work right when you want a break? That's exactly how frustrating it is for your child not to play and study instead.
But there is something to sort out this dilemma - that would keep both you and your child happy. While you want your child to have fun and succeed at the same time, your child needs to have fun while learning maths and science too. What can be better than introducing Games for kids while learning! Yes, we are looking at Educational games that teach your child while letting it have fun at the same time too.
These Games for kids often include categories like math games, facts, word games, language games, science rhymes, nature games, music, logic, geography and history quiz among others which gives your child an opportunity to select different subjects as and when he/she likes. In fact, there are some websites that will also bring out the artistic streak in your child by allowing it to colour drawings online. Wile, everything has gone electronic today, you sure can make optimum use of it by giving your child the opportunity to play Educational games.
You can find such Educational games online which makes it easily accessible if you have a computer or laptop at home. The online Educational Games for kids are an amazing way to build the required skills that your child needs to excel. These Games for kids teach mathematics, language, science, environment, computers etc. with fun and ease. It is a rewarding experience after all as he enjoys crossing levels using his mental abilities and learning along the way too. Educational Games for kids can be the best option for children who are preschoolers to middle school.
There are lots of online websites that sell these games. You can always explore further and as a parent or teacher who can decide which one is the best and most-suited for your child. The best thing is that the various graphics and animations make these a lot more interesting to children and the learning is also there. That is something which is difficult to find in a classroom. So give that advantage of starting early to your child with these Educational Games and toys for children.
harry ellis - About the Author:
For more information on educational games and toys for kids, checkout these videos on games for music learning
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Children’s Birthday Party Ideas
Little Kid Crafts For All Seasons
Posted By Audrey Okaneko
When my children were young, we had so much fun with birthday parties. Each year we did something different from the year before. Some years our themes allowed us to invite several children and some years our themes allowed us to only invite a small amount of other children.
When my daughter turned 3, we invited our local family members and about 5 other families. We had child appropriate activities, plus lunch and then Barny came. This was the period of time when Barny was sooooo popular with kids. We had hired a local party entertainer who rented the Barnie costume and then came and sang songs with the kids for an hour. It was perfect. The party lasted about 3 hours including cake, presents, eating, singing and a few games.
One year we rented a moon bounce. I was told by the moon bounce owner that at this age, about 12 kids could fit inside. We invited 11 other kids and the moon bounce entertained the kids for almost the entire time. We did have time to eat pizza and cake, and open presents. The remainder of the time was spent in the moon bounce.
It has been my observation that games such as a piñata leaves many children bored and wondering around. Children want to participate which is why I recommend a moon bounce. All of the children can participate at the same time.
When my daughter turned 8 we had an arts and craft party. We were able to invite several kids to this party. We used the recreation room at the local park and had long tables, each with a different craft. The kids took home t-shirts that they used puffy paint on, picture frames that they made themselves and necklaces or bracelets that they strung themselves on fishing line. We provided an assortment of beads. We also had cake and ice cream and even had time for presents.
Our goal was always to finish the party in 3 hours or less. This allowed for eating, presents and activities. After 3 hours kids become bored and restless.
One party that I have such fond memories of was a dress up tea party. We had a home here in town that converted part of the house to a dress up parlor. They had several very fancy dresses, high heeled shoes, necklaces, clip on earnings and tiaras. In addition the women who ran this business put makeup on all of the girls and painted their nails. They then served sandwiches on china with mini china tea cups filled with lemonade. The kids had a blast. Every child brought home a photo of themselves all dressed up.
We had many parties where with the help of other moms we transported the kids to another location. Here is a list of several ideas of places to take kids for a party:
Article by:
Audrey Okaneko is mom to two girls. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at http://www.scrapping-made-simple.com/ [1]
One year we rented a moon bounce. I was told by the moon bounce owner that at this age, about 12 kids could fit inside. We invited 11 other kids and the moon bounce entertained the kids for almost the entire time. We did have time to eat pizza and cake, and open presents. The remainder of the time was spent in the moon bounce.
It has been my observation that games such as a piñata leaves many children bored and wondering around. Children want to participate which is why I recommend a moon bounce. All of the children can participate at the same time.
When my daughter turned 8 we had an arts and craft party. We were able to invite several kids to this party. We used the recreation room at the local park and had long tables, each with a different craft. The kids took home t-shirts that they used puffy paint on, picture frames that they made themselves and necklaces or bracelets that they strung themselves on fishing line. We provided an assortment of beads. We also had cake and ice cream and even had time for presents.
Our goal was always to finish the party in 3 hours or less. This allowed for eating, presents and activities. After 3 hours kids become bored and restless.
One party that I have such fond memories of was a dress up tea party. We had a home here in town that converted part of the house to a dress up parlor. They had several very fancy dresses, high heeled shoes, necklaces, clip on earnings and tiaras. In addition the women who ran this business put makeup on all of the girls and painted their nails. They then served sandwiches on china with mini china tea cups filled with lemonade. The kids had a blast. Every child brought home a photo of themselves all dressed up.
We had many parties where with the help of other moms we transported the kids to another location. Here is a list of several ideas of places to take kids for a party:
- Movie theater with pizza afterwards
- Ice skating or roller skating rink
- Children’s museum
- Miniature Golf
- A professional sporting event
- Batting Cages
- Children’s Gym such as Gymboree
- The Zoo (our local zoo is very small, so it’s easy to keep track of the kids)
Article by:
Audrey Okaneko is mom to two girls. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at http://www.scrapping-made-simple.com/ [1]
Easy Crafts For Your Toddler
Posted By Susanne Myers
Keeping an inquisitive toddler entertained and stimulated isn’t always an easy task. His curiosity will usually get him in all sorts of trouble as he is taking things apart to figure out how they work. A great way to keep him busy with something slightly less destructive is to make crafts with your toddler. Crafting is also a wonderful way to spend quality time with your child. Take a look at the craft ideas below, pick something and start making an easy craft with your toddler.
Paper Plate Mask
Who knew that plain paper plates could be so much fun? All you need are the plates themselves of course, some scissors, markers and some string. Start by holding the paper plate in front of your child’s face and mark the spots for the eyes. Cut two holes for the eyes so your child will be able to see through the mask. Cutting a mouth opening is optional. Then let your child decorate the mask with markers or crayons. You can also have her cut shapes (think ears) out of construction paper and glue them on the paper plate mask. Tape or staple a piece of string to each site of the mask and use them to tie the finished mask around your child’s head.
Collages
Here’s another one of our favorite craft activities – a collage. You can make a collage with your toddler on just about any topic. Keep old magazines and even grocery flyers around and let your child cut items out of these papers. Then use a glue stick to glue them on a large sheet of paper or construction paper. Use markers, crayons and stickers to further embellish the collage. Don’t forget to hang it up when you’re done.
Macaroni Necklace
Macaroni aren’t just good for making mac and cheese. They are also the building blocks of macaroni necklaces. All you need is a handful of uncooked macaroni noodles and a piece of string. Make a large knot in one end of the string, then let your child thread the noodles on the string. When she’s done, just tie the two pieces of string together and the necklace is ready to be worn. You can also make a colorful necklace by painting the individual noodles with acrylic paint.
Crayon Suncatcher
If you have a toddler in the house, you are bound to have lots of small pieces of broken crayons as well. Here’s a simple craft that will turn those crayon pieces and a little wax paper into a colorful suncatcher. Start by grading the crayon pieces with an old cheese grater, or shave them with a knife. Put each color into a small bowl or in a little pile. Then cut two round pieces out of wax paper. They should be the same size. Let your child sprinkle the crayon shavings on one of the pieces of wax paper. When she’s done, cover it with the other piece of wax paper. Put an old towel on your ironing board and carefully transfer the wax paper crayon “sandwich” on the ironing board. Turn your iron on medium high (without steam). Add another towel on top of the wax paper and gently iron over it several times until the crayon shavings are melted. Allow your suncatcher to cool and harden before you pick it up. Thread some yarn through it to hang it up in the window. You can also sew a button stitch all around the suncatcher with some yarn and a thick needle to make the suncatcher a little more stable.
Finger Paint
What child doesn’t love to finger paint? Smearing paint with your fingers is just plain fun. You can use store-bought finger paint, or make your own by mixing condensed milk with a few drops of food coloring. This works just as well as commercial finger paint and is completely non-toxic. Don’t forget to cover the “work area” with plenty of old newspapers to make cleanup a snap.
Sock Puppets
Does your washer or dryer eat socks? Ours sure does and we end up with quite a few single socks whose counterparts have mysteriously gone missing. These socks are perfect for making sock puppets. All you need are two buttons for eyes and some scraps of fabric or felt and a little yarn. After that it will be up to your toddler’s imagination to turn the sock into a puppet – with your help of course. Not only will you have a lot of fun making these sock puppets, you and your child will enjoy playing with the finished products just as much.
Article by:
How would you like to get craft ideas like these along with parenting information, product recall info, recipes, book reviews and more delivered to your email inbox every week? That’s exactly what ParentingZoo – the new online Parenting Magazine does. Sign up today at http://www.parentingzoo.com/
Keeping an inquisitive toddler entertained and stimulated isn’t always an easy task. His curiosity will usually get him in all sorts of trouble as he is taking things apart to figure out how they work. A great way to keep him busy with something slightly less destructive is to make crafts with your toddler. Crafting is also a wonderful way to spend quality time with your child. Take a look at the craft ideas below, pick something and start making an easy craft with your toddler.
Paper Plate Mask
Who knew that plain paper plates could be so much fun? All you need are the plates themselves of course, some scissors, markers and some string. Start by holding the paper plate in front of your child’s face and mark the spots for the eyes. Cut two holes for the eyes so your child will be able to see through the mask. Cutting a mouth opening is optional. Then let your child decorate the mask with markers or crayons. You can also have her cut shapes (think ears) out of construction paper and glue them on the paper plate mask. Tape or staple a piece of string to each site of the mask and use them to tie the finished mask around your child’s head.
Collages
Here’s another one of our favorite craft activities – a collage. You can make a collage with your toddler on just about any topic. Keep old magazines and even grocery flyers around and let your child cut items out of these papers. Then use a glue stick to glue them on a large sheet of paper or construction paper. Use markers, crayons and stickers to further embellish the collage. Don’t forget to hang it up when you’re done.
Macaroni Necklace
Macaroni aren’t just good for making mac and cheese. They are also the building blocks of macaroni necklaces. All you need is a handful of uncooked macaroni noodles and a piece of string. Make a large knot in one end of the string, then let your child thread the noodles on the string. When she’s done, just tie the two pieces of string together and the necklace is ready to be worn. You can also make a colorful necklace by painting the individual noodles with acrylic paint.
Crayon Suncatcher
If you have a toddler in the house, you are bound to have lots of small pieces of broken crayons as well. Here’s a simple craft that will turn those crayon pieces and a little wax paper into a colorful suncatcher. Start by grading the crayon pieces with an old cheese grater, or shave them with a knife. Put each color into a small bowl or in a little pile. Then cut two round pieces out of wax paper. They should be the same size. Let your child sprinkle the crayon shavings on one of the pieces of wax paper. When she’s done, cover it with the other piece of wax paper. Put an old towel on your ironing board and carefully transfer the wax paper crayon “sandwich” on the ironing board. Turn your iron on medium high (without steam). Add another towel on top of the wax paper and gently iron over it several times until the crayon shavings are melted. Allow your suncatcher to cool and harden before you pick it up. Thread some yarn through it to hang it up in the window. You can also sew a button stitch all around the suncatcher with some yarn and a thick needle to make the suncatcher a little more stable.
Finger Paint
What child doesn’t love to finger paint? Smearing paint with your fingers is just plain fun. You can use store-bought finger paint, or make your own by mixing condensed milk with a few drops of food coloring. This works just as well as commercial finger paint and is completely non-toxic. Don’t forget to cover the “work area” with plenty of old newspapers to make cleanup a snap.
Sock Puppets
Does your washer or dryer eat socks? Ours sure does and we end up with quite a few single socks whose counterparts have mysteriously gone missing. These socks are perfect for making sock puppets. All you need are two buttons for eyes and some scraps of fabric or felt and a little yarn. After that it will be up to your toddler’s imagination to turn the sock into a puppet – with your help of course. Not only will you have a lot of fun making these sock puppets, you and your child will enjoy playing with the finished products just as much.
Article by:
How would you like to get craft ideas like these along with parenting information, product recall info, recipes, book reviews and more delivered to your email inbox every week? That’s exactly what ParentingZoo – the new online Parenting Magazine does. Sign up today at http://www.parentingzoo.com/
Dania
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Developing Toddler Motor Skills
Check out the Talking to Toddlers Webinar!
Posted By Rachel Paxton
If you have a toddler, you already know that he or she is a little bundle of endless energy! My twin boys turned two several months ago, and they have been non-stop action since they learned
to walk. There is never a dull moment! It’s been a long time since I’ve had a toddler in the house and I had forgotten howquickly they grow and how much they learn during this toddler stage.
At this age toddlers are developing many motor skills. There are two main types of motor skills: gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills involve large muscles, and are
strengthened by walking/running, climbing, and general play. Fine motor skills involve mostly the hands and fingers and hand to eye coordination. Your toddler will strengthen many of these
abilities on his or her own, but there are many ways you can encourage and help them to develop their motor skills.
Eating and Grooming
The easiest way to encourage your toddler to develop motor skills is to have them help with everyday activities like feeding and grooming themselves. Toddlers are famously messy when eating,
but this is the age when they should be using a spoon and fork to feed themselves, as messy as it may be. This will greatly help their fine motor skills and hand to eye coordination. Your toddler will also enjoy dressing and undressing, combing their own hair, and brushing their own teeth.
Drawing and Coloring
A toddler as young as 18 months old is capable of coloring. I didn’t know this until my boys brought home their first coloring page from Sunday School. I couldn’t believe it! Toddlers love
to scribble. Walmart sells some great oversized coloring books that my boys love to color in. Sit and color with them and show them how to hold the crayon. My boys love to take the crayons
out of my hands and tell me “no” when I try to color on the same page with them!
Puzzles and Shape Sorters
Puzzles and shape sorters are great for toddlers 18+ months old. Again, I was surprised at how young my boys were able to place pieces into a wooden puzzle. It took them a couple of months to
figure out which pieces went where and to be able to turn the pieces just the right way to fit into the puzzle, but it kept them busy for 10-15 minutes at a time and it was amazing how much
they remembered each time they sat down to do their puzzles.
Shape sorters are also great. We’ve had several different ones, and the boys have responded better to some than others. We found a neat one at Baby Depot that is shaped like a toolbox on the
outside and is a shape sorter on the inside. My boys have spent many hours figuring out which shapes go where. The toolbox makes a sound when the shape is placed in the correct hole.
Songs with Hand Motions
Toddlers love to sing and dance. Songs with hand motions are a great way for toddlers to learn fine motor skills. My boys started doing small hand motions at around 18 months old, but
after about age 2 they were ready to do most of the hand motions to their favorite songs. Some of their favorites: “Itsy-Bitsy Spider”, “Patty Cake”, “If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap Your
Hands”. Sunday school favorites include: “Deep and Wide” and
“This Little Light of Mine”.
Free Play and Exercise
Playing is a great way to develop both gross and fine motor skills. Running, jumping, hopping, and skipping are all skills your toddler will eventually master. I’ll never forget the first
time one of my boys jumped. He squatted all the way down on the ground and threw himself up in the air with his hands all the way up, and jumped about a half an inch off the ground. It was the
most hysterical thing I’d ever seen. When you catch your toddler doing these types of activities you can encourage them to keep doing them to develop these skills.
While your toddler may or may not be ready for a tricycle yet, this is a good age to introduce one to them, so they will know what’s expected and be ready to jump on and pedal away when
they’re ready.
My boys are also working on mastering climbing jungle gyms at the park, and playing “catch”. Throwing and catching a large ball is great for developing your toddler’s hand to eye coordination. At
first just have your toddler hold out their arms and throw the ball into their arms so it is easy for them to catch. They will soon get the idea!
Article by:
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For more inspirational articles and tips for everyday living, visit http://www.christian-parent.com/
The easiest way to encourage your toddler to develop motor skills is to have them help with everyday activities like feeding and grooming themselves. Toddlers are famously messy when eating,
but this is the age when they should be using a spoon and fork to feed themselves, as messy as it may be. This will greatly help their fine motor skills and hand to eye coordination. Your toddler will also enjoy dressing and undressing, combing their own hair, and brushing their own teeth.
Drawing and Coloring
A toddler as young as 18 months old is capable of coloring. I didn’t know this until my boys brought home their first coloring page from Sunday School. I couldn’t believe it! Toddlers love
to scribble. Walmart sells some great oversized coloring books that my boys love to color in. Sit and color with them and show them how to hold the crayon. My boys love to take the crayons
out of my hands and tell me “no” when I try to color on the same page with them!
Puzzles and Shape Sorters
Puzzles and shape sorters are great for toddlers 18+ months old. Again, I was surprised at how young my boys were able to place pieces into a wooden puzzle. It took them a couple of months to
figure out which pieces went where and to be able to turn the pieces just the right way to fit into the puzzle, but it kept them busy for 10-15 minutes at a time and it was amazing how much
they remembered each time they sat down to do their puzzles.
Shape sorters are also great. We’ve had several different ones, and the boys have responded better to some than others. We found a neat one at Baby Depot that is shaped like a toolbox on the
outside and is a shape sorter on the inside. My boys have spent many hours figuring out which shapes go where. The toolbox makes a sound when the shape is placed in the correct hole.
Songs with Hand Motions
Toddlers love to sing and dance. Songs with hand motions are a great way for toddlers to learn fine motor skills. My boys started doing small hand motions at around 18 months old, but
after about age 2 they were ready to do most of the hand motions to their favorite songs. Some of their favorites: “Itsy-Bitsy Spider”, “Patty Cake”, “If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap Your
Hands”. Sunday school favorites include: “Deep and Wide” and
“This Little Light of Mine”.
Free Play and Exercise
Playing is a great way to develop both gross and fine motor skills. Running, jumping, hopping, and skipping are all skills your toddler will eventually master. I’ll never forget the first
time one of my boys jumped. He squatted all the way down on the ground and threw himself up in the air with his hands all the way up, and jumped about a half an inch off the ground. It was the
most hysterical thing I’d ever seen. When you catch your toddler doing these types of activities you can encourage them to keep doing them to develop these skills.
While your toddler may or may not be ready for a tricycle yet, this is a good age to introduce one to them, so they will know what’s expected and be ready to jump on and pedal away when
they’re ready.
My boys are also working on mastering climbing jungle gyms at the park, and playing “catch”. Throwing and catching a large ball is great for developing your toddler’s hand to eye coordination. At
first just have your toddler hold out their arms and throw the ball into their arms so it is easy for them to catch. They will soon get the idea!
Article by:
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For more inspirational articles and tips for everyday living, visit http://www.christian-parent.com/
Educational Toys: Making Kids Smart By Having Fun
Talking to Toddlers Info Click Here
By Rony Pollock
Kids are like sponges. They absorb. But the similarity ends there. While sponges absorb, they shrink and disintegrate before long. Kids, on the other hand, soak up day to day experiences and when the right mindsets are instilled, they continually thrive. That’s why it’s important for parents like you to carefully select the toys they play with. Associating fun and play with learning is a fundamental aspect of every child’s growth. And one of the best ways to make this happen is through educational toys.
It All Starts at Home
The home front is crucial to a child’s development. This is where curiosity is first explored. This is where a child learns about colors, shapes, and sounds, what Yes and No mean, and that asking “why” can almost always generate an explanation. The first lessons brought about by childhood generally come from the people around the household. That’s why all activities of your kid should be carefully selected. The right books, appropriate TV programs, and educational toys can supplement and enhance your child’s learning process, making the early stages of learning easier and enjoyable.
Lessons of Playtime
Playing is every child’s first priority. Playtime may only seem to provide pure entertainment, but it is also an integral part of your child’s mental and emotional growth. While it’s good to provide children opportunities for skill formation, such as music or art classes, it’s also ideal to give them ample time to play. Doing so, would provide the following benefits:
- Personality development
- Awareness of their potentials
- Promote independent thinking
- An avenue for creative thinking and problem solving
- Improvement their motor skills
- Enhance their ability to think and communicate
- Value-formation
Guidance is essential to bring out the best in children. But it doesn’t mean that you should totally organize the whole experience for your child. The important thing is to provide supervision and the appropriate tools for play and let your child take it from there.
Toys that Fit
Giving your child high-quality educational toys will liven up and enhance the process of sensory and learning development. The right toys for the right age needs to be considered too. A rattle wouldn’t capture the interest a five-year-old kid. Here’s a quick guide on what educational toys children may enjoy at a certain age:
Infants – The keywords are soft, safe, and colorful. Vividly colored rattles and squeaky toys will stimulate their sense of touch, sight, and hearing.
1 to 2 years – This is a stage where children start learning how to maneuver the things in their hands. They are also beginning to discover that some things are paired together. Toddlers will enjoy building blocks and toys that will allow them to identify and match shapes.
2 to 3 years – Children are beginning to get more creative at this age. They like role playing with other kids or by themselves. Puzzles, Play Cubes, and educational toys that stir their imagination are the best options.
4 to 5 years – Kids are into creative thinking and decision-making by this age. Educational toys that can help enhance these developments include puzzle games and constructions toys.
As children grow older, they become more independent in their choices of what toys to play with. They usually forego free play for games that involve rules and friends. They learn to be competitive. This is the time where parents’ guidance is most crucial. But if you’ve established the foundation by providing your child with educational toys early on, then you may have a child who’s well-developed emotionally and smart to boot.
| About The Author
Rony Pollock
Make your kid’s journey to smartness fun with educational toys (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/childrenstoys.html)! Enhance your child’s learning with play kitchens (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/kidstoys-pretendplay.html) and toy pianos (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/childrenstoypiano.html). These and more only at http://ronjuneshop.com/ |
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
http://www.momsebizblog.blogspot.com/
Encouraging Your Child to Write
Youth Change Educational and Child Behavior Books
How in the world do you get your child to write? This is the battle cry of many parents. A lot of imagination, with a little bribery (or praise) is all you need to get your child writing. We’ll supply the imagination. The praise and bribery is all up to you.
Posted By Nicole Dean
How in the world do you get your child to write? This is the battle cry of many parents. A lot of imagination, with a little bribery (or praise) is all you need to get your child writing. We’ll supply the imagination. The praise and bribery is all up to you.
Grocery List: Enlist your child’s help in making the grocery list. Walk around the kitchen, naming things you need from the store. Ask your child to write everything down. Your child can also suggest foods you might need from the store and he can add those, too.
Old Checks: If you’ve recently switched banks and have checks that need to be destroyed, first let your child play with them. Give him some envelopes and he can pretend to pay bills – while getting him to do some writing. Of course, destroy the checks afterwards. If you do not have checks available, you can just give your child some blank pieces of paper and he can make his own checks.
Cards: If your child is interested in Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh cards, then give him some index cards cut in half and have him design his own cards. Encourage your child to give the characters names and special abilities on their cards.
Fictional Journal: Sometimes it is hard for children to write in a journal. What is there to write about? Instead of a standard journal, give your child a fictional journal. He or she can pretend to be anything they’d like to be and write a journal as that person. Your child could write from the perspective of an Astronaut discovering a new planet, Prince or Princess on an Adventure, Archaeologist finding a new species of Dinosaur, Famous Athlete, President of a Country, Passenger on the Titanic. Your child could write from the perspective something instead of someone, a mailbox, an animal, a pen. The possibilities are endless.
Letter-writing: Have your child write a letter to Santa, the Easter bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. Or, your child could write to their favorite athlete, fictional character, or movie star.
Alphabet Game: Take a piece of paper and write the letters A-Z in the left column. Then, choose a category from the following or make up one of your own. Vegetables, Fruits, Animals, Musical Instruments. For older children, the categories can be narrower and more difficult, like Countries, Characters in Literature, Presidents, etc. Set a timer and you and your child both list as many of the items in the category as you can for each letter. The trick at the end is that you have to cross off anything on your list that your child has listed. (for instance, if you both have “apple” for an “a” fruit, then the parent crosses theirs off.) Whoever has the most words wins.
Character Game: Tell your child to pick a character from a book or movie that he’s familiar with, and you do the same. Then, ask several questions and you each write the answers to the questions on a piece of paper. When you’ve finished asking the questions, then have your child read the answers and try to guess who he was pretending to be. You do the same and see if your child can guess who you were. Whether you are pretending to be Peter Pan or Shrek, you and your child will have fun and your child won’t even realize he’s practicing his writing!
Article by:
Visit http://www.showkidsthefun.com/ [1] and Free Online Preschool Themes (link to www.showmomthemoney.com/homeschooling.asp [2] ) for more fun ideas to spend time with your children.
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
http://www.momsebizblog.blogspot.com/
Old Checks: If you’ve recently switched banks and have checks that need to be destroyed, first let your child play with them. Give him some envelopes and he can pretend to pay bills – while getting him to do some writing. Of course, destroy the checks afterwards. If you do not have checks available, you can just give your child some blank pieces of paper and he can make his own checks.
Cards: If your child is interested in Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh cards, then give him some index cards cut in half and have him design his own cards. Encourage your child to give the characters names and special abilities on their cards.
Fictional Journal: Sometimes it is hard for children to write in a journal. What is there to write about? Instead of a standard journal, give your child a fictional journal. He or she can pretend to be anything they’d like to be and write a journal as that person. Your child could write from the perspective of an Astronaut discovering a new planet, Prince or Princess on an Adventure, Archaeologist finding a new species of Dinosaur, Famous Athlete, President of a Country, Passenger on the Titanic. Your child could write from the perspective something instead of someone, a mailbox, an animal, a pen. The possibilities are endless.
Letter-writing: Have your child write a letter to Santa, the Easter bunny, or the Tooth Fairy. Or, your child could write to their favorite athlete, fictional character, or movie star.
Alphabet Game: Take a piece of paper and write the letters A-Z in the left column. Then, choose a category from the following or make up one of your own. Vegetables, Fruits, Animals, Musical Instruments. For older children, the categories can be narrower and more difficult, like Countries, Characters in Literature, Presidents, etc. Set a timer and you and your child both list as many of the items in the category as you can for each letter. The trick at the end is that you have to cross off anything on your list that your child has listed. (for instance, if you both have “apple” for an “a” fruit, then the parent crosses theirs off.) Whoever has the most words wins.
Character Game: Tell your child to pick a character from a book or movie that he’s familiar with, and you do the same. Then, ask several questions and you each write the answers to the questions on a piece of paper. When you’ve finished asking the questions, then have your child read the answers and try to guess who he was pretending to be. You do the same and see if your child can guess who you were. Whether you are pretending to be Peter Pan or Shrek, you and your child will have fun and your child won’t even realize he’s practicing his writing!
Article by:
Visit http://www.showkidsthefun.com/ [1] and Free Online Preschool Themes (link to www.showmomthemoney.com/homeschooling.asp [2] ) for more fun ideas to spend time with your children.
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
http://www.momsebizblog.blogspot.com/
Monday, June 18, 2012
5 Essential Ingredients to Homeschooling Success
Click Here!
By Terri Johnson – co-author of Homeschooling ABCs http://tinyurl.com/6wnhasq – an online class starting this month for brand new homeschoolers
We’ve all seen it… or, at least, heard about it… the homeschooled
child who wins the geography bee, or the one who graduates at the age of 15, or
the one who excels in musical accomplishments…
Now, obviously, a student does not have to be homeschooled in
order to accomplish one of the feats above, nor does every homeschooled child
excel in such notable ways. However, every homeschooling parent desires for
success in teaching their children at home and launching them into the world to
become all that God has intended for them to be.
The flipside to this statement is that no one wants to fail when
it comes to teaching their children at home. So, what are the five necessary
ingredients to homeschooling success?
The first one is the desire to foster a closer relationship with
each of your children and your kids with one another. If you don’t want to
spend more time together and deepen these relationships (or, at least,
want to want to spend more time together), then homeschooling may not be
the best choice for you. However, I am sure that you have heard it said before
that at the end of the day, no one is going to say, “I wish that I had spent
more time at work… or by myself… or with my canary…” No, the universal regret
that aging and dying people declare is their sadness over not spending enough
time with their loved ones.
Teaching your children at home is an amazing
opportunity to spend more time with your dearest loved ones and have no
regrets.
The second ingredient to homeschooling success is a teachable
spirit on the part of the parent. This is essential because, like it or not,
you will learn so much more teaching your own children than you ever did in
school the first time around. So, you might as well like to
learn.
On that same note, the third essential ingredient to successful
homeschooling is creating a home environment that is conducive to learning.
This may show itself differently in each of our homes, but the result is the
same – a place where kids can learn and enjoy it.
A home that is conducive to learning may have quiet and cozy
reading nooks, bookshelves crammed with great books, a listening corner complete
with headphones and a beanbag chair, uncluttered smooth surfaces for writing,
stacks of coloring/activity books and colored pencils, a place to gather
together and talk about the day’s events. You get the idea… Create centers in
your home that make learning fun and accessible.
The fourth ingredient for a successful homeschool is 2 hours of
your time to devote to your children’s studies. Truly, when the one-on-one
teaching method is employed in your home, you do not need all day in order to
get things done. In fact, a child in K-2 grades might be finished with her
schoolwork in as few as 45 minutes (of course, that probably does not include
the time that you spend reading together because who can get enough of
that!).
At the other end of the spectrum, you might not need that much
time with your middle schooler or high schooler either, because they become such
independent learners by this age. The kids that will need the majority of that
time that you have designated for school – those full 2 hours – would be your
students in 3-6 grades as math and grammar assignments might get a little more
involved.
The final ingredient for homeschooling success is a library card.
That’s right! With access to a huge roomful of books, a world of learning
opportunities is at your doorstep. Let’s say that your child is interested in
insects or flowers, electricity or magnetism, transportation or inventions…
check out as many books as he can devour on the subject and then some more.
Watch your child light up with the delight of learning.
With these 5 essential ingredients incorporated into your
homeschool, you will experience successful learning in the lives of your
children, because this is the measure of success – children that love to
learn!
Enjoy those learning moments…
Terri Johnson
Co-author of Homeschooling ABCs – an online class
starting this month for brand new homeschoolers. Don't let self-doubt, or lack
of experience, rob you of the best first year possible! Sign up for class at http://tinyurl.com/6wnhasq
Best of Success to you,
Todd and Terri
Johnson
Knowledge Quest,
Inc.
Dania
Dania
http:quickbooksexpertguide.blogspot.com
The Best Educational Toys For Kids
Click Here!
By Skalegato
What are the best educational toys for kids? Well, first of all I think they should be toys that your child enjoys playing with. If they don't enjoy playing with the toy they won't play with it and therefore won't learn from it. The toys should also teach common everyday life lessons, things that are going to be useful to your child in their early years. Things like the alphabet and numbers are lesson they will need early on.
The thing about kids is that they are very inquisitive and hungry for knowledge. If they can get that knowledge in a fun way it will stick with them for a long time. That is what shows like Sesame Street does so well and way it is so successful. Toys that educate should follow that same rule and they will be more beneficial for your child. Think of it like this, toys that educate combine two things that kids love, playing with toys and satisfying their hunger to learn. So lets take a look at some of the best educational toys for kids.
One toy that has a fun way of teaching the alphabet and numbers to your toddler is the "Learning Home" from Fisher Price. This is a playhouse your child can craw through that plays traditional sing-a-long songs your child will love to sing and learn from. Another one of those great learning toys for toddlers is the "Learning Table" from LeapFrog. This toy also teaches the alphabet and counting, but it also teaches kids about colors and shapes. These are all things kids should know about.
Melissa and Doug's Deluxe Standing Easel will give your child a taste for art while at the same time keeping your walls and floors from becoming all market up with crayons and markers. This toy will expose your little ones to different art mediums in their on little area. Just imagine your little tykes doing their finger painting on their own little pad instead of your walls.
There are a lot of educational toys out there, but these are a few of the best educational toys for kids. You should always make sure that the toys you get your child are safe for them whether it's educational or not. Don't underestimate the power of toys that educate. Learning toys can give your child a head start on their education and give them skills that they will need in life.
You can get more information on the educational toys for toddlers that was mentioned here and some others. You can also find out where you can get a good price on them. Click the link above to get the info.
You can get more information on the educational toys for toddlers that was mentioned here and some others. You can also find out where you can get a good price on them. Click the link above to get the info.
About the Author
See more information about etiquette at Styles of Handkerchief Folding and see information about Handkerchief Folding at handkerchief folding suit
Thanks!
Dania
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
http://www.miamimommyblogger.wordpress.com/
http://www.momsebizblog.blogspot.com/
Thanks!
Dania
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
http://www.miamimommyblogger.wordpress.com/
http://www.momsebizblog.blogspot.com/
Sunday, June 17, 2012
3 Tips to Teach Your Child How to Read
Click Here!
|
Educational Toys: Making Kids Smart By Having Fun
Teach Your Child to Read
by Ronnie Pollock
Kids are like sponges. They absorb. But the similarity ends there. While sponges absorb, they shrink and disintegrate before long. Kids, on the other hand, soak up day to day experiences and when the right mindsets are instilled, they continually thrive. That’s why it’s important for parents like you to carefully select the toys they play with. Associating fun and play with learning is a fundamental aspect of every child’s growth. And one of the best ways to make this happen is through educational toys.
It All Starts at Home
The home front is crucial to a child’s development. This is where curiosity is first explored. This is where a child learns about colors, shapes, and sounds, what Yes and No mean, and that asking “why” can almost always generate an explanation. The first lessons brought about by childhood generally come from the people around the household. That’s why all activities of your kid should be carefully selected. The right books, appropriate TV programs, and educational toys can supplement and enhance your child’s learning process, making the early stages of learning easier and enjoyable.
Lessons of Playtime
Playing is every child’s first priority. Playtime may only seem to provide pure entertainment, but it is also an integral part of your child’s mental and emotional growth. While it’s good to provide children opportunities for skill formation, such as music or art classes, it’s also ideal to give them ample time to play. Doing so, would provide the following benefits:
- Personality development
- Awareness of their potentials
- Promote independent thinking
- An avenue for creative thinking and problem solving
- Improvement their motor skills
- Enhance their ability to think and communicate
- Value-formation
Guidance is essential to bring out the best in children. But it doesn’t mean that you should totally organize the whole experience for your child. The important thing is to provide supervision and the appropriate tools for play and let your child take it from there.
Toys that Fit
Giving your child high-quality educational toys will liven up and enhance the process of sensory and learning development. The right toys for the right age needs to be considered too. A rattle wouldn’t capture the interest a five-year-old kid. Here’s a quick guide on what educational toys children may enjoy at a certain age:
Infants – The keywords are soft, safe, and colorful. Vividly colored rattles and squeaky toys will stimulate their sense of touch, sight, and hearing.
1 to 2 years – This is a stage where children start learning how to maneuver the things in their hands. They are also beginning to discover that some things are paired together. Toddlers will enjoy building blocks and toys that will allow them to identify and match shapes.
2 to 3 years – Children are beginning to get more creative at this age. They like role playing with other kids or by themselves. Puzzles, Play Cubes, and educational toys that stir their imagination are the best options.
4 to 5 years – Kids are into creative thinking and decision-making by this age. Educational toys that can help enhance these developments include puzzle games and constructions toys.
As children grow older, they become more independent in their choices of what toys to play with. They usually forego free play for games that involve rules and friends. They learn to be competitive. This is the time where parents’ guidance is most crucial. But if you’ve established the foundation by providing your child with educational toys early on, then you may have a child who’s well-developed emotionally and smart to boot.
About The Author
Rony Pollock
Make your kid’s journey to smartness fun with educational toys (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/childrenstoys.html)! Enhance your child’s learning with play kitchens (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/kidstoys-pretendplay.html) and toy pianos (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/childrenstoypiano.html). These and more only at http://RonJuneShop.com
Make your kid’s journey to smartness fun with educational toys (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/childrenstoys.html)! Enhance your child’s learning with play kitchens (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/kidstoys-pretendplay.html) and toy pianos (http://www.ronjuneshop.com/childrenstoypiano.html). These and more only at http://RonJuneShop.com
Dania
www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com
checkout my other educational sites
http://medicalcodingguide.wordpress.com/
http://www.quickbooksexpertguide.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Really Good News About Your Children’s Video Games
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier has grabbed national attention for suggesting that playing “action” video and computer games has positive effects – enhancing student’s visual selective attention. But that finding is just one small part of a more important message that all parents and educators need to hear: video games are not the enemy, but the best opportunity we have to engage our kids in real learning.
Any observer knows that the attitude of today’s children to video and computer games is the very opposite of the attitude that most of them have toward school. The amount of time they spend playing computer and video games – estimated at 10,000 hours by the time they are twenty-one, often in multi-hour bursts – belies the “short attention span” criticism of educators. And while years ago the group attracted to video and computer games was almost entirely adolescent boys, it is now increasingly girls and all children of all ages and social groups. One would be hard-pressed today to find a kid in America who doesn’t play computer or video games of one sort or another.
The evidence is quickly mounting that our “Digital Native” children’s brains are changing to accommodate these new technologies with which they spend so much time. Not only are they better at spreading their attention over a wide range of events, as Green and Bavelier report, but they are better at parallel processing, taking in information more quickly (at “twitchspeed”), understanding multimedia, and collaborating over networks.
What attracts and “glues” kids to today’s video and computer games is neither the violence, or even the surface subject matter, but rather the learning the games provide. Kids, like and all humans, love to learn when it isn’t forced on them. Modern computer and video games provide learning opportunities every second, or fraction thereof.
On the surface, kids learn to do things – to fly airplanes, to drive fast cars, to be theme park operators, war fighters, civilization builders and veterinarians. But on deeper levels they learn infinitely more: to take in information from many sources and make decisions quickly; to deduce a game’s rules from playing rather than by being told; to create strategies for overcoming obstacles; to understand complex systems through experimentation. And, increasingly, they learn to collaborate with others. Many adults are not aware that games have long ago passed out of the single-player isolation shell imposed by lack of networking, and have gone back to being the social medium they have always been – on a worldwide scale. Massively Multiplayer games such as EverQuest now have hundreds of thousands of people playing simultaneously, collaborating nightly in clans and guilds.
Today’s game-playing kid enters the first grade able to do and understand so many complex things – from building, to flying, to reasoning – that the curriculum they are given feel like they are being handed depressants. And it gets worse as the students progress. Their “Digital Immigrant” teachers know so little about the digital world of their charges – from online gaming to exchanging, sharing, meeting, evaluating, coordinating, programming, searching, customizing and socializing, that it is often impossible for them to design learning in the language and speed their students need and relish, despite their best efforts.
An emerging coalition of academics, writers, foundations, game designers, companies like Microsoft and, increasingly, the U.S. Military is working to make parents and educators aware of the enormous potential for learning contained in the gaming medium. While “edutainment,” may work for pre-schoolers, it is primitive when it comes to the enormous sophistication of today’s games. We need new and better learning games, and these are finally beginning to appear. Microsoft has sponsored a “Games-to-Teach” project at MIT which is building games for learning difficult concepts in physics and environmental science on the X-Box and Pocket PC. Lucas Games has lesson plans to help teachers integrate its games into curricula to teach critical thinking. A UK study by TEEM (Teachers Evaluating
Educational Multimedia) has shown that certain games can help youngsters to learn logical thinking and computer literacy. Given the almost perfect overlap between the profiles of gamers and military recruits, the US Military uses over 50 different video and computer games to teach everything from doctrine, to strategy and tactics. “America’s Army, Operations,” a recruiting game released for free in 2002, now has almost 2 million registered users, with almost a million having completed virtual basic training.
Academic research into the positive effects of games on learning, which not so long ago sat unread on the shelf, is being noticed by national media. Theoretical and practical guides such as “What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy” by Professor of Education James Paul Gee, and my own “Digital Game-Based Learning,” are now on bookshelves. Experts, such as former Stanford CFO William Massey, who created the learning game “Virtual U.” are working with game designers to build games that communicate their knowledge and experience. Foundations like Sloan, Markle and others are funding these efforts. The Woodrow Wilson school has begun a project called “Serious Games” to increase the use of gaming in public policy debates, picking up an effort that begin 10 years ago with “Sim Health” from Maxis.
Yet despite all the findings, research, and cries for help from the kids in school, many parents and educators still tend to think of video and computer games as frivolous at best and harmful at worst. The press often encourages this with headlines about “killing games” when in fact two thirds of the games are rated “E (everybody),” and sixteen of the top 20 sellers are rated either “E” or “T (teen)”. To counteract this “name prejudice,” users and funders of today’s “new” educational games often refer to them by “code” names, such as “Desktop Simulators,” “Synthetic Environments,” or “Immersive Interactive Experiences.”
Yet what these new, highly effective learning tools really are a combination of the most compelling and interactive design elements of the best video and computer games with specific curricular content. The tricky part is doing this in ways that capture, rather than lose, the learner’s interest and attention. We are now becoming much better at this. The money and will is there to do it, and our students are crying for it.
About The Author
Marc Prensky is an internationally acclaimed speaker, writer, consultant, and designer in the critical areas of education and learning. He is the author of Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-Hill, 2001). Marc is founder and CEO of Games2train, a game-based learning company, and founder of The Digital Multiplier, an organization dedicated to eliminating the digital divide in learning worldwide. He is also the creator of the sites and . Marc holds an MBA from Harvard and a Masters in Teaching from Yale. More of his writings can be found at . More of Marc’s writings on the positive effects of video games can be found at www.marcprensky.com/writing/default.asp.
marc@games2train.com
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
http://www.miamimommyblogger.wordpress.com/
http://www.momsebizblog.blogspot.com/
Online Fun Games For Kids - For Better Knowledge in Mathematics
 |
| Online Games for Kids That Help Them Learn Math - Siblings Playing Online Games |
by: Diane Notes
Fun math games for kids are available to assist children obtain the exercise they have from interactive games with other kids. By playing games and having fun, kids often find out develop in the scary world of mathematics.
Fun math games for kids will join the love of fun with interactive math games. Just by acquiring fun, best of all they are surely learning inside a natural way. The interactive fun math games for kids planned to hide the curriculum from kindergarten to grade 12. From all over the world, kids compete with one another with Mathletics.
Math is part of daily life, even if it may be complex. There are several fun math games for kids to play.
KidThing for Online Math Games
You can download a browser who allows for you and your children to access educational materials online at no cost. As long as safe and secure access relates to the goal of KidThing and also protected access educational capital by going online lacking by means of traditional search engines.
You kids never have to enter web addresses and aren't uncovered to advertising because content that has become a part of KidThing is screened and cataloged. To help kids find video, games, and resources. The content is taken from educational publishing companies; absolutely more sort of a media player. You kids needn't come upon objectionable material.
Jump Start Math Games
Each family can now access a whole library of online math games for under $10 a month. Fun math games for kids allow everyone in the household the opportunity to enjoy games from several subject areas and grade levels with one low free. The Jump Start Math Games is often an effective strategy to older kids to attempt remedial skills without condemnation.
Fun math games for kids won't make math seem like an unpleasant chore that has got to be endured. The children at all times imagine that math is like doing the amazing tricks; they are going to benefit from o study and acquire excited. Online fun math games for kids could be an effective way of reinforcing math skills.
Fun math games for kids will help them to practice even during vacation time. Keeping the kids interested, active and engaged in making the biggest variance of their in general education understanding.
You can make math more fun by visiting online fun math games for kids, rather then giving your kids a sheet full of addition math evils to completed. They can advance skills in dangerous opinion and spelling as well.
About The Author
To know more about http://www.children4myworld.com/online-fun-games-for-kids-for-better-learning-in-math/, there are a number sources of math games here at http://www.children4myworld.com/
Dania
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Educational Baby Games and Toys, Choose The Games That Make A Difference
Baby educational games and toys will help your baby to learn about the world in a fun and safe way, they will have more fun with a toy if it’s stimulating to the sense of sight, hearing, touch, taste or smell than they would if it was just cute or pretty.
Educational Baby Games and Toys, Make Learning Fun!
Educational Baby games and toys are so important, they stimulate your babies brain, creating interest and arousing curiosity for further development of their mind.
When your baby is born their eyesight is blurry. In the first two months of their life they can only focus on objects eight to ten inches in front of him, so the first colours your baby sees are black, white and red. Lets make their environment exciting.
Education Baby games and toys should be bright. The brighter the better!
Bright colours, moving objects, classical music and textured toys will all help to stimulate your baby, as he begins to discover his whole new world.
Baby educational games and toys will help your baby to learn about the world in a fun and safe way, they will have more fun with a toy if it's stimulating to the sense of sight, hearing, touch, taste or smell than they would if it was just cute or pretty.
As your baby grows, you will want educational toys that help your child learn eye-hand coordination and develop their large and small motor-control skills, you will also need educational baby games and toys that stimulate social and language development, imagination, and creativity.
The first senses babies use to learn, are sight and sound.
When your baby is born their favourite sight is you, and they love to hear your voice. Now you can sing to your hearts content, they will love it.
So what else do baby need?
Not a lot, so don’t go over the top with toys, they don’t need it and neither does your bank account. It wont be long before they will want every toy and game there is, so be sensible while you can.
Interaction is your great fun learning game, seeing you, listening to you, giggling and laughing at you.
But you cannot be your child’s only entertainment system, you will need some time out!
So lets look at some other toys and games that your baby will love.
Up to eight weeks old your babies favourite sight and sounds are human faces and voices, they will also enjoy watching brightly coloured mobiles, wind-chimes and cot-toys, if clearly in view, they will focus best on hand held toys that are 8 inches from their face and will respond to soft music and being rocked gently.
At twelve weeks your baby can focus for longer on mobiles and cot-toys, they will also be able to see them at a greater distance. He will show a preference for bright colours and look at them for longer, but he will still have more interest in human faces and large pictures of faces, he will also enjoy wrist rattles, musical toys and squeaky toys.
From three to six months he will start to grasp a toy that is placed in his hand, and will begin to reach for toys. Your babies favourite early toys will be lightweight rattles and colourful teething rings, he will have learned to use both hands and will start to play with foam bricks, soft balls, cuddly soft toys or grip-toys with an internal squeak.
He will love floor activities up to the age of nine months, large bright activity quilts are a good idea, as is a activity centres. He will also love colourful toys with interesting designs and textures to study during quiet play, and of course, noisy toys for rattling and banging will have them enjoying and laughing.
Their first books should be brightly illustrated and made from "Chew Proof" card or Textured Fabrics, push and pull along toys will encourage walking and be a great aid for balancing.
Learning to walk is a fabulous time for your baby, but can be testing on you, as they will be everywhere, and while trying out their newfound skill, there will be bumps, cries and tears, and some of those will be yours.
The average ages for walking is between nine and thirteen months, but remember, this is only guideline so don’t be concerned if they are not quite on the move yet.
The timing is determined by your baby’s muscle strength, his ability to balance and most importantly, his personality, his motivation and confidence.
The weight of your baby may also play a part; a heavier baby will take longer to get up on their feet.
Give plenty of praise when he starts walking, they need encouragement just like we do, but don’t try to rush him along if he’s not quite ready, if he is pushed to quickly he may go back to crawling until he feels ready to give it another go.
Walking Aids come in many shapes and sizes, from simple baby learning toys such as Building Block Trolleys to Walkers that develop from simple aids to ride on toys, as you toddlers skills develop.
Baby ride on toys, are great for developing and strengthening the muscles in his legs and arms, the best one of all, has to be The Rocking Horse. This is excellent for learning to keep their balance and start their pretend play, there are others such as sea-saw and trikes, but you cant beat the classics.
This form of play benefits all toddlers. It improves mood, appetite and quality of sleep and brings better general health, it also develops their muscles, increases their strength and agility, and improves their co-ordination,
Just a quick note about the First Pair of Shoes
While your baby is still crawling, shoes are largely there for decoration, although its important that they are not too small.
When children start to walk, they often curl their toes, so it's better for children to go barefoot or wear socks for as long as possible. The bones in a child’s feet are very soft and can easily be damage, which can lead to posture problems.
Wait until your child is walking unaided, and ready to walk outside, before buying his first pair of shoes and please get his feet measured by someone who is properly qualified.
But it is not just baby games that your baby will need, he will also enjoy physical contact and will enjoy being massaged, and this will help relax your baby, keep his joints flexible and encourage muscle coordination.
Massage will also give you confidence in handling your baby and help you get to know him.
Ask your doctor about massaging your baby, it is important to get the right information before you start.
Food is a brilliant way for children to learn it stimulates your baby’s sense of taste and smell by allowing him a wide variety of tastes and textures, it is important to allow your baby to experiment and see how your baby reacts to different foods and varying taste.
Eating food with his hands is natural and beneficial, and should be encourage.
So many children come to fear food by having to eat everything on the plate, others become fussy eaters through not being taught to experiment with food.
Most importantly remember that you are your baby’s super hero; he looks up to you for the best start in life and what you do and how you react in his environment, will be reflected in him, he will follow in your footsteps. You can make a difference
Your baby will grow more now, in the first year of his or her little life than at any other time, both physically and mentally.
About The Author
Victoria Welch
I have spent many years working with children of all ages, from nursery through to high school, and have also spent a lot of time with children with special needs.
During all my time working with children, one strong pattern began to emerge. Children who had experienced structured play with their parents and guardians seemed to have a strong bond, felt loved and appreciated.
Their carers also seemed to be benefiting and had an understanding of the child’s uniqueness, enjoyments and development needs.
Educational-Games-For-Kids.com was set up to drive this message home and help parents choose the right educational games and toys for their little ones. http://www.education-games-for-kids.com/
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
I have spent many years working with children of all ages, from nursery through to high school, and have also spent a lot of time with children with special needs.
During all my time working with children, one strong pattern began to emerge. Children who had experienced structured play with their parents and guardians seemed to have a strong bond, felt loved and appreciated.
Their carers also seemed to be benefiting and had an understanding of the child’s uniqueness, enjoyments and development needs.
Educational-Games-For-Kids.com was set up to drive this message home and help parents choose the right educational games and toys for their little ones. http://www.education-games-for-kids.com/
Dania
http://www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com/
7 Tips to Get Your Child Counting To 20
Homeschooling ABCS Click Here
Posted By Nicole Dean
As children, we all learned to count in different ways. How did you learn to count? Didn’t you feel proud when you were able to count all the way to twenty! Counting is one of the most important learning components children need to become proficient.
Here are 7 tips to get your child counting to 20.
•Utilize a deck of cards.
•Purchase the Leap Frog product which offers singing as a way for your child to count from 1 to 20.
•Use construction paper with crayon, and write the numbers on separate sheets.
•Use a variety of books which teach children to count
•Utilize a box of elbow macaroni in teaching your child how to count.
•Use pennies to help your child to count.
•If you have stairs in your home, count them with your child as you go up and down.
Statistics today show more and more public school children are lacking in mathematical skills. This is why it is so important to teach children to count from the time they are infants. They do retain information, and with so many teaching tools available today, it is becoming clear that the earlier a child is taught to count, the better prepared he or she will be when it comes time to enroll them in school.
While learning is important, making the process an enjoyable one creates the atmosphere conducive to learning. It is a fact that babies learn more at an early age because they have the ability to soak up so much information. Therefore, beginning the counting process as early as possible, using creative means, can not only help your child but is an inducement for them to want to learn more as they grow.
Engage your entire family in teaching your child to count. Make it a fun and enjoyable experience. These 7 tips to get your child counting to 20 can be used or added to your existing methods. Utilize all of the tips outlined and add your own creative ideas as well.
Times have certainly changed since we were kids. Many of the methods and tools available today were not even part of our daily curriculum. Now, more than ever, we have more opportunities to teach our children the vital lessons they need to learn in order to achieve. It all begins with the number 1, and akin to when we were kids, you can still utilize the old with the new in ensuring your child can count, either by reading the numbers or by using his or her fingers and toes.
Article by: Nicole Dean co-created www.kidsactivitycalendar.com [1] to help her child and others prepare for Kindergarten in a fun way. To get your free sample lesson, stop by www.kidsactivitycalendar.com/letter-a-sample.htm [2] today.
Dania
www.kidzsmartz.blogspot.com
www.momebizblog.blogspot.com
Friday, June 1, 2012
More Math Games For The Active Child
Posted By Peggy Baron
Math games are the perfect way for the squirmy child to learn math. Some kids don’t learn as well when trying to concentrate all their efforts on sitting still. These kids do better when allowed to actively partake in math games – and what could be more fun?
Here are four more ideas for math games that you may like to try with your active child:
Hide and Seek
This is a twist on traditional hide and seek because no person is going to hide. You’re going to be hiding math problems or flash cards for your child to find. Make one room or the whole house or backyard the “seek” territory and hide flashcards all around. Just remember how many you hid in case you can’t remember where they all are later [wink].
Nature Patterns
Ask your child to gather up rocks, sticks, handfuls of grass, dandelions, or anything that doesn’t move (no bugs!) First have her group the like-things together in piles. Next start a pattern on the sidewalk from these piles and ask her to add on to it following the pattern you started. It will depend on her ability, but for example you could place rock, rock, grass, dandelion, rock rock, grass, dandelion, and tell her to keep it going.
Math Double/Triple Obstacle Course
Send your child on his merry way scrambling over and under chairs, up and down stairs, on top of beds, etc., with some well-placed math question cards. These cards ask them to double or triple a number. “Double the number 3″ or “Triple the number 2″. The questions will be relative to what your child is capable of, but try to make them multiplication-related.
Rock Pile
Here’s another multiplication game. Gather a bunch of rocks into a pile at the top of your driveway. Ask your child to put 3 rocks out at the bottom of your driveway. Next have her run over and add rocks to double the original 3 rocks and tell you the total. Then ask her to put 3 x the original rocks, 4 x, etc. If your child isn’t ready for multiplication yet, have her put out the three rocks, take one away, and tell you what’s left.
These math games are just a starting point to get you going with some math games for your active child. There are many ways you can do math that are fun, including some cooking in the kitchen.
Check out Cookin’ Kids – a cooking website just for kids. Cooking terms, safety tips, kid jokes, and easy free recipes [1]. Parents can visit too and pick up some free parent tips, http://cookinkids.com/
Dania
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