We can encourage learning in our kids.  Every situation we face can be a learning experience.  Teaching our kids involves more than just moral and ethical learning, but basic school type learning.  As you are driving down the street, have your younger kids pick out specific letters on the billboards you pass.  Have small kids find a specific color.  You can turn dinner time into counting time.  Let your kids figure out times tables while you set the table. When kids can see how the things they learn in school apply to their daily life, it makes it more fun to learn these things.  It can help them become more excited about school and make learning easier.
Find ways to encourage learning in your kids, both by teaching and example.  Get them excited about learning and you can open doorways for them.  There are so many opportunities available and so many things that we can learn from.  Make sure your kids take advantage of all they can.  Be the example to them in their lives.

Related posts:

1. Back to School – Goal Setting for Kids Help your kids remember that the purpose of school is...
2. Learning Resources for Kids: Holiday Cooking With Kids Kids like to do what adults or parents do. Plan...
3. Learning Resources for Kids-Stories Scrapbook by Kids Kids like to make crafts. Stories scrapbook is an example...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Related posts:

1. Preparing Your Kids For School There are several different ways you need to prepare your...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Get 1-800-flowers for your number one performer.

Motivational quotes  and positive images are not only for adults. I looked around my kids’ school and there were plenty of  positive images and positive words are pasted on the walls to motivate kids and teachers.  Visualization has the power.  How people invent or create things is because of visualization.   Below are parenting tips given by Natalie Ledwell on how you can help your kids in visualization process:

1. Encourage your kids to think what they want in life and what positive characters that they want to develop.

2. Teach your kids to say it often in powerful affirmation in present tense,  I AM…

3. Put in descriptive words that your kids want to be such as I AM BRAVE, I AM HAPPY, I AM SMART

4. Surround your kids with positive images and music.

5.  Transforming Mind. RAS, reticular activating system is the gateway between subconscious mind and conscious mind.  Nurture the subconscious mind of your kids with positive things. Do you know that subconscious mind is more powerful than your conscious mind. Your subconscious mind actually gives a command to your conscious mind to execute things. If your  kids’ subconscious mind is bombarded with positive words and positive images repeatedly,  their mind will undergo transformation and  their mind is programmed to do wonderful things. It will happen to your kids. Do take notes if your kids watch television about all bad or negative things,  these will affect their subconscious mind as well.

Check out Free Mind Movies Videos that can transform yourself and your kids:

This is the special Mind Movies video created for kids:

Related posts:

1. What is Your Belief About Parenting? Parenting is like a learning journey for lifetime. None is...
2. Alarming Parenting Trends We, parents try to give the best for our kids...
3. Ten Women Success Tips Many women have achieved a great success in their life....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

No one can predict exactly what opportunities will be available for today’s kids by the time they grow up to be adults. There will be new careers or new opportunities  arise  in the future due to demand.  ICT, technology and science are predicted to dominate the  world business and careers. IPC  (International Primary Curriculum) prepares kids to be adaptable, resilient, globally-minded learner for the fast changing world where they will live and work.

How IPC helps kids in their learning?

IPC, International Primary Curriculum was introduced in year 2000 and it is now implemented in preschool and primary schools in 65 countries. Initially, it was designed for international schools but now non-international schools use it as well.  Learning through IPC is learning based on a theme. For example:  if the topic is about RAINFOREST, you learn rainforest from different aspects such as english, geography, science, history and art.  There’s a connectivity among all subjects to learn one topic.  Kids are taught  about teamwork, how to work in groups, discussion and work together on a project.  IPC trains kids to use their knowledge, skills and understanding. Children are encouraged to express their ideas,  look for information and do research from all kinds of resources such as  magazines, books or internet. Kids use mind mapping in chart or diagram to record the information or their findings and to memorize better. Mind mapping can be used for brainstorming or to find solutions. Below are some samples of my kids’ mind mapping chart.

The following video shows how IPC in action  is put into practice at school:

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Read more articles for “parenting” and child development on Education.com

Get 1-800-Flowers for your number one performer.

Parents may have some reasons why they prefer homeschooling for their kids over public schooling. Although my kids are going for formal education at private school, I have seen that few parents are opting for homeschooling.  The reasons behind homeschooling vary.

1. Bullying at School.

A child can be a target of bullying at school if he or she is different from others.  Sometimes, bullying can go really bad. Demi Lovato, American teen actress and singer-songwriter, opted for homeschooling in seventh grade because she experienced painful bullying at school.

2.  Kids with Special Needs

Children with mild ADHD may go through formal education in the beginning but find out that the lessons are too fast for them as they go for higher level. They can’t go to special school for children with special needs because the curriculum is too easy for them either.  Then, homeschooling is the better choice.

3. Education Cost

For parents who work overseas and kids can’t go to public schools in the country but you can’t afford for high cost of  international school, homeschooling is an alternative.

Apart from the 3 reasons above, there are parents who insist to educate their kids at home. The benefits of homeschooling can be greater than public schooling as your kids learn  real life education. 5 main benefits  of homeschooling are:

1.  Real Life Education

Daily chores or living skills become parts of homeschooling such as home organizing and cooking.

2. Freedom

This can be time freedom. You can arrange the time for learning and the choices of subjects. Kids feel more relax, no pressure and concentrate more with home atmosphere.

3. Individual Attention

Your child will receive undivided attention from you.  The amount of time allocated to learn each subject  depend on the abilities and interests of the child.

4. Moral and values

parents can instill  moral and values in homeschooling curriculum. Kids will see what is taught and what is being practiced.

5. Health

You don’t have to worry if there is pandemic because home environment is clean.  Your kids enjoy healthy diet from home meals and they are stress free.

Apart from advantages, there’re disadvantages that you must tackle it.

1.  Lack of Social Skills

Kids don’t meet often with their peers. Try to organize with homeschooled parents community to meet up and let kids have their time together. You can let your kids to join enrichment activities outside such as music class, sports  so they will meet their peers.

2. Competition

Competition can be healthy. Homeschooling kids don’t have a benchmark. Competition at school push kids to excel against each other. You have to set the benchmark or goal for your kids.

Visit  Homeschooling Resources Community.  I often visit BBC School to equip what my kids learn from school. BBC school has interactive learning. With the resources from the internet, parents can learn to be a great teacher for their kids. For parents with homeschooling kids, you can share your experiences or resources here. Thank you!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Get Flowers for your number one performer.

Learning from school is often associated with learning from textbooks, it is true somehow. School develops child’s academic performance while enrichment programs after school are toward developing talent or skill of a child. Parents shall do the checklist before enrolling a child into after school program:

• The objectives and goals must be clear. Ask about what kids will learn during the program, how are the measures for kids achievement, the number of kids and their age in the class. You certainly want to make sure that your child fits into the program where there are kids of his age.
• Safety is the main requirement of after school program. Look for the program that has professional and trained coach/staff.
• Fun and recreational. Avoid rigorous and boring after school activities.
• Take into child’s opinion. He/she will join the program not you. Gauge his/her interest. You may ask for a trial class and you may watch her response during the trial class.

After school program are all about enhancing a child’s sense of competence. Good and effective after school programs support the resilience of kids and help them to grow stronger, mentally, emotionally and physically. Some benefits of after school program are:

1. Widen child’s interest. Kids learn something new, it’s challenging and fun. Mastering a new skill will boost child’s self confidence.
2. Enhance social skills. Kids meet other kids who share the same interest and make new friends.
3. Keeps kids busy and entertained. The program will divert kids attention from PC and television. Kids will put their energy and creativity throughout the program.

You may do evaluation if the after school program fits your child. Enroll one program at the time. Add another if your child can take in. Art, ballet, gymnastic, sports, drama/acting, music are examples of good after school programs which kids can learn and develop a new skill. Kids will take up a new skill easily when they start young as they are within the window of development and parents shall take this opportunity to develop young talent.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Read more articles for “parenting” and child development on Education.com

Get Flowers for your number one performer.

Kids will love schooling if they find out that learning is fun. Homework & rote learning isn’t the solution to help kids master or learn the subject. In fact, kids will probably hate school if they have to learn this way. As parents, you can inquire from the school if you are about to register pre-school or primary school for your kids.  Alternatively, you can add fun learning methods below which are more effective and appealing for young kids. Fun learning methods works for kids below 12 years old or kids in primary school and pre-school. When they get used to it, they will carry on when they are in secondary school. In fun learning methods, kids are taught not to be spoon-fed with the information, they must actively involve to find the information and teachers act as a guide.

Fun Learning Methods for Kids

1. Practical Examples
Besides kids learn theories from the textbook and do homework on their workbook, kids need practical examples. Take an example of give & take away with the real objects so kids can learn subtraction and addition easily.

2. Show and Tell
I guess every child likes to pretend play as a teacher. In show and tell, a child takes an initiative to be a teacher, an opportunity to explain to his peers about a particular topic. An example: when they study about flower or plant, each child can bring one particular flower or plant to classroom and she must gather the information about that particular plant or flower before show and tell. Kids will learn about presentation skill.

3. Mind Mapping & Visualization
I believe drawing and coloring is the most fun activity for kids. Why don’t transform information they learn into drawing and charts or map. If you are interested about memory techniques for kids, you can visit Students Winning Edge.

4. Case Study or Working in a Group
Kids love to think and they can find out the solution if we ask a question “why” or give them a case. Case study is an exercise which kids are taught to think in a real life situation which often prevail in adult working life. Students are normally required to work in a group. Besides exercising creative thinking skill, kids learn to work together to and to cooperate since they are young. They have to produce the solution or answer as a result of working in a group.

5. Quiz
Quiz can be a fun learning activity. Spelling quiz or a series of questions in maths or other subjects which students can compete against each other to answer the questions in a short time.

6. Project
Kids will learn how to summarize their observation, information and together with their creativity in a project. Below is the rain forest project that my child made when she learned about rain forest and visited rain forest.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.