How to Prepare Kids For School

March 21, 2020 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing tips on how to prepare kids for school. Parents have a huge role to play in the education of their children. So, it is imperative that we make a huge impact on our children before they set foot inside a school.

Here’s a few tips on how to prepare kids for school:

Build a Foundation

There are plenty of early childhood education activities you can spend a little time on each day with your child. Give them a head start by practicing their numbers from 1-10. Also, teach them the alphabet, how to write their name, and make sure they learn to have a good grip on the pencil. Teaching these basics will provide a solid foundation for school. When you start ahead of the curve, then it’s easier to stay ahead of the curve.

Read to Your Kids Daily

The benefits of reading to your child are too numerous to count. But, two of the most important benefits are: it helps your kids to read better and promotes better communication. Furthermore, reading to them daily promotes a longer attention span and teaches them to read independently. Most importantly, reading at a young age tends to lead to a love of reading as they grow up. This passion will have numerous benefits throughout their life.

Practice for the Real Thing

The experience of going to school for the first time can be a little traumatic for children. For many of them, the break to their daily life and the shift away from mom and dad can be quite a shock. Daycare and preschool have been shown to help tremendously. They are a great way to help with socialization and providing a solid foundation in their most formative years. Additionally, Day Care and Preschool helps kids get used to the school environment before the real thing. It’s certainly worth enrolling your child in one if you can.

Establish a Educational Routine

Kids can get used to the idea of school whether they’re in daycare or you’re teaching them at home. For instance, packing their schoolbag and unpacking it at the start and end of the day. Get creative and help your children find a routine before heading to school. When they enter kindergarten, they will be prepared.

Be Active in Their Education

It’s not only the child who has to navigate new relationships, you must do the same. Establish a good relationship with their teacher. For instance, you might want to consider joining their PTA.

Taking the time to prepare your child for school socially, emotionally and otherwise. Preparing your kids for school will help them have a great first year. Ensuring they have a great school year will influence how they do the year after.

The Importance of Encouraging Children to Learn

April 21, 2019 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

When you were a child your parents would always emphasize the importance of going to school, remember? Now that you are a parent yourself it is part of your nature to encourage your little ones to always do their best. Learning is a magic part of life. So, you will want to immerse your kids into the world of learning. When it comes to educational activities, start encouraging children to learn. Here are a few parenting tips, when encouraging children to learn:

Sometimes Kids Need an Extra Push

It is very important to work with your children when they don’t feel confident in a certain subject. It is not uncommon for your child to have a subject they truly hate. So, it’s your job to make them love it again. If you are looking for a way to help your youngster solve fractions, check out these equivalent fractions math worksheets. Enhance their understanding of tricky topics and allow them to grow in confidence with a helping hand.

Don’t Let Them Get Behind

It is very difficult to keep on top of all the homework and projects your child is given daily. Try to encourage your child to tell you about their homework each evening. This will enable you to keep an eye on their progress. If you suspect they are lagging behind, don’t be afraid to talk to them or their teacher. They might not understand the project or they could just need a gentle nudge in the right direction.

They Will Adopt a Good Work Ethic from a Young Age

When your child knows how to conduct themselves in school, they will start to form good habits over time. Conscientious children will become more reliable employees once they enter the working world. So, encourage them to develop these skills early.

Education Will Instill Discipline

School will not only help your kid to become smarter, but it will also instill discipline into the most rambunctious little ones. Whether they have to wear a school uniform or refer to the teacher by a certain name, this will help to keep your children in line. Never underestimate how school can shape your child’s manners and behavior. There is only so much you can do at home to support them. As a result, their school life plays a huge role in their development.

Believe it or not, school life shapes who we are as a person from a very young age. When your child goes to school they are exposed to people they might never have met before. They also have a sponge like mind that can absorb information easily. Use this process as a chance for your children to have a head start in school and make the most of the educational environment they have been given.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: early childhood education, educational tips, preschool tips

Leapfrog LeapPad Review and 5 Free Educational Apps

February 18, 2018 by Rhonda Gales 5 Comments

My granddaughter entered first grade this year. I remember praying that she would pull through her birth and become a healthy, happy little girl. She entered this world at 2lbs. 10oz. However, she is thriving and feisty. She loves watching YouTube videos on her tablet, but we’ve had to limit her time watching them. We want her to engage in more educational sites so she can enhance her educational. So, I purchased the Leapfrog LeapPad Ultimate, Pink for her as a Christmas gift. Math, reading, and science activities can be found on the pad when shipped. Additionally, there is music, puzzles, and other creative activities. The content is for preschool through 9 years old. As a result, she will get plenty of use out of it.

The tablet is well made, and the screen is shatter proof. Currently, we’re focused on reading and writing with Zarriah. Thankfully, she love the reading app. She is able to read along and focus on new words. Additionally, you purchase other products on www.Leapfrog.com or Amazon.

In addition to the printables that I create for her, I also have her visit the following free educational apps. They come highly recommended by the Virginia Beach school system. I must say I agree with their recommendation.

Seussville – www.seussville.com – First, great site for the Dr. Seuss lover. There’s plenty of activities and games that teach children to notice differences, reading, word search and more. You can also purchase Dr. Seuss books here.

PBS – www.pbskids.com – Next, this is a great site for the Daniel Tiger, Dinosaur Train, Arthur and Cookie Monster lover. Learn how to read, science and help rescue animals are a few of the apps available on PBS.

Highlights – www.highlights.com – Highlights has been around for many years. The site offers games and activities including hidden pictures, recipes, crafts and more. My grandson loves the hidden object activities.

Storyline Online – www.storylineonline.net – This site offers a diverse selection of books which are read on-line by celebrities. Stars participating are Kevin Costner, Viola Davis, Christian Slater, Ed O’Neil, and Mary Steenburgen to name a few. The site receives 100 million views annually from children around the world. Teachers use this in their classroom and doctor’s use in their waiting room. They also provide an option to purchase any books that you child may like.

Fun Brain – www.funbrain.com – Another one of my favorite free educational apps is Fun Brain. This site offers activities from 1st grade through 8th grade. I checked out the activities for the 1st grade and 5th grades. The 1st grade activities included 205 lessons which included learning about money, addition, subtraction and reading. Activities for the 5th grade included math, vocabulary words, reading and more.

Finally, I hope that you will check out the Leapfrog Leappad and the free educational apps. Providing additional educational activities for kids will enhance their learning experience. You may also like The Importance of Early Childhood Education.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tips Tagged With: early childhood education, kindergarten activities, preschool activities

First Grade Educational Activities: Winter Word Search Puzzles

January 13, 2018 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Helping children learn to read must be a dual effort with teachers and parents. My granddaughter is in the first grade this year, and she is learning to read. As a result, I’m constantly searching for books, printables, games and anything else I can find to help her. My grandson is an honor student, and he loves word search puzzles. I purchased books for him and developed printables so he could learn word recognition. I must admit, there were times I needed to occupy him as well. Learning always comes to mind when I need to occupy the grandchildren. There are times that I choose fun, but reading is truly fundamental so I turn to books or create printables for them.

I’ve decided to use the same method of teaching my granddaughter to read that I used with my grandson. They are attending the same elementary school, so the educational concepts are the same. I love word search puzzles because they assist children with word recognition, context clues and help with spelling. Additionally, learning Context Clues is important. For example, snow, cold, coats and gloves are associated with winter. Word search puzzles help with spelling too. So, I developed first grade educational activities to include all of the above.

So, I mentioned choosing between fun projects or educational activities for the children when I needed to occupy them or help with homework. I have learned that it’s important to make learning fun for children. If successful, children will want to learn and will stick with it. I strive for fun activities when I’m working on printables for my granddaughter. When I do, she wants to complete the goal. I also strive to keep the printables simple and not drawn out. Children ages 6 and 7, have short attention spans.

To help with Context Clues and spelling, I developed a series of first grade educational activities. The series includes winter word search puzzles. My granddaughter loves cold weather, snow, and hot chocolate.

You can download the winter word search puzzles here.

Filed Under: Printables Tagged With: early childhood education, educational activities, first grade activities

Prepping Your Kids for The World Of Preschool

September 8, 2017 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

Preschool is a major milestone not just for the child, but the entire family. If this is your first child heading to preschool, the process can be overwhelming. There’s a combination of happiness and concern. Take into consideration that your child may be feeling the same. For example, they may be concerned about being separated from the family for the first time. The good news is that now we live in a time where there are more resources and info than ever to help you make a smooth transition. Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on preparing your kid for preschool. Here are a few to keep in mind:

What Do I Need To Know?

This article assumes you have chosen a preschool that you want to visit. Be sure to do your homework and pick a place that meets the needs of your child. Also, although everything looks good on paper, there is still going to be an unfamiliarity factor with your child. As a result, visit the preschool with your child before it actually starts. Speak with the facility, and ask if it is possible for you to do a tour together. Meet the teacher and tour the playground for a bit. Some preschools do a “preview visit” where parents and children in the incoming classes can meet. These are great ways for preparing your kid for preschool.

Also, talk to your child during the preparatory process about what they are feeling. This doesn’t mean brushing aside their concerns with general statements like “don’t worry, you’ll love it.” Instead, actually hear what’s worrying them and use information to try and alleviate their concerns. Simply saying that you’re going to be there to pick them up or that their teacher will be nice is not enough. Furthermore, let them know that other children have the same feelings they have. Even adults have concerns. By verbalizing this, you can also come up with suggestions to help them avoid feelings of worry. Additionally, these feelings may be nonverbal. So, you need to be attentive to see if your child is clinging or becoming withdrawn as preschool approaches.

What Do I Need To Do

Along with talking to your child, there are also more things that nees to happen when preparing your for preschool. While there may not be a full academic curriculum for preschool the way you may expect for other school levels, there are going to be a lot of different learning experiences and stimuli for your child. As a result, one of the best things you can do to prepare them is give them an idea of what to expect. One of the best options is reading children’s books about preschool, that cover potential situations in ways they understand.

Another thing you don’t want to forget is there will be a new social dynamic. This is likely the first time that your child is going to be around a large number of other children. As a result, try to add in more children for your play dates. This may help your child to get used to this type of interaction. Also, if being away from you is a concern, consider having them sleep over at a place where they feel safe. For example, their grandparents or an aunt or uncle.

Of course, there is also the logistical piece of preparation as well. Part of going to preschool means your child having a regular routine. So, you will want to start putting the foundation together as soon as possible. This may mean getting your child ready for a bedtime earlier, practicing washing their hands before eating, addressing toileting needs, and eating at the table. As a result, set out clothes and prep breakfasts the night before. These steps will save you a headache on those busy mornings. Be sure to check with the preschool about what your child will need to bring. Discuss possibly bringing a transitional item from home to help them feel at ease if you feel they need it.

Preschool can seem like a daunting change for your entire family. However, it is a time where your child begins to take the steps that will guide them into formative years. So, the best thing you can do in preparing your kid for preschool is to stay informed. Most importantly, prepare. A good plan means less worries and more fun for everyone.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tips Tagged With: early childhood education, parenting tips, preschool activities

4 Benefits of Reading to Children

August 9, 2017 by Rhonda Gales Leave a Comment

Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on the benefits of reading to children. Reading to children during bedtime has been a staple in raising children for many parents. However, the activity goes beyond being a means to strengthen the ties between parent and child. Additionally, science has proven that kids can gain a lot of benefits from the activity.

Benefits of Reading to Your Children:

It helps them develop their vocabulary

One of the most obvious benefits of reading to children is that it helps them learn new words. According to G. Reid Lyon, at the National Institute of Child Health and Development, reading can increase brain activity. Specifically, it stimulates the auditory cortex, which is the part of the brain that handles language sounds. The more they become exposed to words, the quicker it will take them to process and learn them.

It helps stimulate their imagination

You might find it hard to believe that imagination can actually be measured by science, but that is exactly what a medical team from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center did. An article on WebMD summarized the results of their research, which revealed that reading to children helps stimulate brain activity.

The study revealed that the more time children were exposed to reading at home, the more they showed brain activity while listening to stories at the laboratory. Dr. John Hutton, who led the team, stated that this was an indication that reading to children can help fire up their imagination. Scientists believe that early reading can help develop children’s literacy later on in life.

It helps advance their skills

In 2013, the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research discovered that children aged 4-5 years old who read 3-5 times a week have the same reading skills of kids who are older than them by 6 months. The older children read less than twice a week. Furthermore, the study discovered that reading to kids 6-7 times weekly can help them become on par with those who are nearly a year older than them.

These promising results go beyond the laboratory. The author and illustrator Nadia Shireen, who, in an interview with Tootsa, revealed that as a child, she went to the library regularly. As a result, it inspired her to pursue her profession.

Reading does not just improve children’s adeptness to words. It can even improve their mathematical skills. An article on The Guardian discussed how this could be due to the fact that reading makes kids more receptive to new ideas, enabling them to pick up skills, including involving numbers, much faster.

It teaches them coping skills

Reading can also help children learn coping skills. Books can help children learn how to better handle difficult situations. Additionally, books serve as a temporary escape that they can turn to in times of stress.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tips Tagged With: early childhood education, importance of reading, preschool reading

Genius Children – The Dignity of Educated Parents

September 5, 2016 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

early childhood educatin, parenting

Have you taught your kid how to make the bed? You don’t need to wait until kids grows up to start encouraging them to develop good habits. Early childhood is the moment when the educational process starts. You start by teaching your child to make their bed in the morning and collect the toys at night. That’s not to be done with a bossy attitude, though. If you make a smart approach, the child will learn that’s the right thing to do, and they are doing it for their own good. Everything can start out as a social activity – you both make the bed and have a good laugh. With time, the child will learn how to do things without your help.

“But, it’s only making the bed,” – I hear you say. “I can easily fix it for him/her!” Of course you could do that, but what does that attitude teach your child? It’s okay to leave a mess behind, because mom and dad will take care of it. That’s not the right way to teach responsibility. When you preserve your dignity throughout the educative processes, you’ll be on your way towards raising a genius child.

From then on, the education of your children will continue, and you’ll be the main medium.

The Parent as the First Teacher

You can’t expect for teachers to teach your kids everything they need to know. You’re the one who has responsibility to discover their talents, awaken their imagination, and help them take their interests further. Before you can get in the role of an educator, you have to work on your own skills and knowledge. Sounds like pure logic, doesn’t it?

These simple tips will help you accept the role of an educator as naturally as possible:

Understand what it means to be a teacher

You shouldn’t understand education as instructing and directing. If that’s what your parents and teachers were doing back in your childhood, they were doing it wrong. Efficient education is more similar to leadership. When you’re trying to teach your children, you have to earn their trust. They should see you as an example of dignity, intellect, kindness, and fairness in a single character.

In a popular TED talk, conductor Charles Hazlewood explained how the trust between the conductor and the orchestra occurred. “There has to be, between me and my orchestra, an unshakeable bond of trust, born out of mutual respect, through which we can spin a musical narrative that we all believe in.”

Consider yourself as a conductor of your children’s educational processes. You will not punish them for the mistakes, but you will inspire them to get better and better by developing the bond of trust. Only when they see you as an example of the person they would want to become, they will trust you.

Meaningful conversations instead of lectures

“How would you like to talk about the stars today?” That’s a nice conversation starter. Your child knows nothing about the stars, so they will love hearing some explanations. However, you mustn’t forget that they have their own ideas, so get interested to find out what they are. “What do you think they are? Why do they shine?” You’ll be surprised to hear the answers that can come out of that little head with a genius mind.

Don’t expect your kids to repeat everything they hear; they are too young and that approach would suffocate their imagination. Listen to their answers, and then give your own answers, which will be educative, but not instructional.

Use online tools to boost your children’s potential

Technology has a mesmerizing power over children. That preference can go two ways:

Kids can either get glued down to the tablet screen playing games, or
They can use technology to get motivated to learn and find all answers they need.

Of course you want the second option for your kid. That’s why you need to use technology the right way, so you’ll be a great example for them to follow. Here are few tips that will help you unlock the educational potential that technology has:

Find interesting educational games for kids

Funbrain is a great website that gives you access to games suitable for different ages. You need to set some rules, though. You can’t allow a kid to spend an entire day playing games, no matter how educative they are. However, if you limit the time to one hour per day, your children will have fun while expanding their learning potential.

Use online writing tools to teach them how to write

If you’re not a great writer, you need to start from yourself. Essay writing services, such as Australian Writings, can help you on that mission. If you need assistance and instructions to understand the format of academic writing, you can set the guidelines for the paper and work together with an author to achieve great results. Then, you can transfer those skills to your children.

Set some boundaries

A parent should always maintain a friendly attitude with their children. However, you have to set some boundaries. You’re the parent, and they are the kids. You can keep those boundaries by teaching proper behavior and thinking of some consequences when your children don’t respect the limits. For example, you can decrease the period of time they spend playing games on the tablet.

A genius child will keep testing your limits. You need to forgive them for such attitude because their personality is too strong. However, you should also stay consistent with the consequences, which shouldn’t be too harsh in a way that would suffocate your child’s creative spirit.

A Genius Needs Education, Too

Genius children are not always born that way. They can educated by their parents from the moment of their early childhood. A parent has the responsibility to reveal the great potential and provide proper education, which will take their kid’s natural talents in the right direction.

Image-Jessica Freeman Jessica Freeman is passionate about teaching and journalism. She finds her calling in making others interested in topics of education, children upbringing, and academic developments. You can follow her on Facebook and Google+.

Filed Under: Education, Parenting Tips Tagged With: early childhood education, education, Parenting

Guest Post – The Importance of Early Childhood Education

August 29, 2016 by Rhonda Gales 2 Comments

First, at a young age children absorb everything from their surroundings. Every behavior model they adopt, new experiences, and every word they learn is an investment in a their future. For example, the foundation for cognitive functioning is laid during early childhood development. This includes social, self-regulation, and behavioral capacities as well as physical health. Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on early childhood education.

Next, just as important a child’s health development can be impaired during the formative years too. To reduce the factors that place children at risk, early childhood intervention programs were developed. As a result, these programs come in the form of various learning activities that affect the children directly or indirectly. Early childhood education is available to provide support for children, their parents, and the family as a whole.

Here are a few benefits of early childhood education.

#1 – Socialization

Socializing with people other than those in their safe environment is essential. It helps children gain self-confidence and overcome shyness.

#2 – Teamwork and Concept of Cooperation

We teach our children the importance of equality, listening, and having respect for others by having them participate in team environments. Children will grow to be more sociable if they learn how to work as part of a team. Especially, at an early age. Learning how to share, take turns and persevere are important lessons as well.

#3 – Concentration and Patience

The minds of young children are lively and imaginative. Early childhood educators are there to teach them to participate in group activities, follow direction, and develop their ability to listen. They also need to practice patience and learn to wait for their turn by being involved and through different social experiences, role modeling, and examples.

#4 – Value of Education and Enthusiasm for Learning

Teaching lessons in an exciting and fun way to encourage children to be effective learners. Preschool is where love for learning, reading, nature, and discovery takes root. Children are able to grasp the value of education and learning by providing actual experiences and setting an example as a role models.

#5 – Exposure to Diversity

Children can be exposed to diversity by placing them in preschools and child care centers. It is crucial to a child’s early development to value diversity and differences. Children need to understand that everyone is unique in their own way with their beliefs, culture and ethnicity.

#6 – Self-Esteem and Confidence

Young children will learn how to approach problems and situations throughout their lives through positive interactions. These interactions will promote a healthy, positive and secure view of themselves. As a result, healthy and positive interactions will provide children with self-esteem, optimism, and confidence. Additionally, having a strong sense of will encourages children to explore their interests, talents, and skills.

Last, early childhood education is important for building a strong foundation for a child’s mental, physical, social and emotional development. In this regard, early childhood educators are important as well as their peers.

Finally, having an early childhood education is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It entails more than playing, it will help children become well-rounded individuals.

Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls simply in love with interior design and DIY projects. In her free time she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.