The Star Spangled Banner talks about the “rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air.” Thankfully, the only rockets and bombs that can be found on the Fourth of July are fireworks and patriotic decorations. If your child wants rockets this July 4th, let them make their own that they can enjoy for child education after the holiday has passed.
The 4th of July is a wonderful time to allow your children to make patriotic crafts. One of the easiest they can try, even if they are very young, is making paper rockets. They’re a quick and easy craft they can make with minimal adult supervision.
These are the items you’ll need to have available for your children to make 4th of July rockets:
* Empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes, depending upon how large they want their rocket to be
* Pre-cut colored paper - construction paper, colored printer paper, and patriotic wrapping paper will all work
* Cellophane tape or a glue stick
* Markers and stickers
* Gift wrap ribbon
If you’re using solid colored paper, your child will definitely want to decorate the paper before constructing their rocket. Be sure they know which part of the design is covered up when the paper is glued or taped. When the decorations are complete, wrap the paper around the tube and tape it in place.
Draw a 3-inch circle on sheet of paper and cut it out. Carefully cut from one edge to the center. Pull one side of the circle behind the other creating a cone shape. Tape this to hold its shape and then attach it to the end of the tube using two or three pieces of tape.
Cut triangles out to use as fins. Tape three of these onto the end without the cone. If the cone and fins are level, the finished rocket will be able to stand. Fins that extend past the end of the rocket will look cool, but they probably won’t allow the rocket to stand. They can be used, however, if your child intends to hang it from the ceiling.
To give the illusion that the rocket is blazing through the sky, your child could tape pieces of red, orange, or white ribbon to the open end of the rocket. They can hang the rocket from the ceiling using loops of fishing line.
Using glow-in-the-dark stickers on their rocket would help them see their rocket in the dark. Your child may find making 4th of July rockets may be so much fun they’ll want to create more than one. Before you know it, they may have rockets hanging all over the ceiling. Of course, as long as there aren’t actual explosions, you should be fine.
One thing new parents worry about as their child enters toddlerhood is what is normal, what is acceptable, and what is not. They may wonder if their toddler sleeping in the same bed with them is healthy. Here are some child care guidelines you may want to consider.
Think about your toddler’s routine. Changing your evening routine a little bit could make things easier on you and your little one. This can be especially true if your toddler’s climbing into bed with you is keeping you or your partner from sleeping. Evening routines including quiet playtime and a soothing bath are the best ways to calm a toddler before lights-out.
Avoid over-stimulation. If you want your child to go to sleep and stay in their own bed, you want them to be tired, but not overly simulated. Set the stage for bedtime with lowered voices, bathing, brushing their teeth and then a story. Once your toddler learns your new routine, everyone will find sleeping in their own bed easier to do.
Don’t be surprised if your toddler cries or whines while they’re learning to remain in their own bed. Sometimes the crying can pull at your heartstrings, but try not to let them get the better of you. You may even hear the pitter-patter of little feet coming to your room to try and climb in bed with you. What do you do now?
Well, that depends on what you and your partner decide on ahead of time. If the two of you don’t mind at first, let your toddler in to snuggle up and go back to sleep. After your toddler has fallen asleep, your toddler can be taken back to their own bed.
If, however, you’ve decided it’s time to stop them from sleeping with you, one of you needs to get up and take them back to bed. No fussing is necessary. Calmly carry or walk them back and tuck them back into bed. Don’t forget their favorite teddy bear. Turn on a very dim nightlight and say goodnight very quietly. Next, despite their cries, turn and leave the room.
While there’s nothing inherently dangerous in allowing a toddler to sleep with you, it can put a kink in your relationship with your spouse. Many people, however, advocate a family bed. Ultimately the choice is up to you and your family.
Remember, however, you don’t have to be strict about never allowing your toddler back in bed with you. There’s nothing quite like early morning snuggles with your little one. If your child is sick, you may also want to bend the rules. Let them know that you expect them to stay in their own bed unless given permission to join you.
Finally, consider whether or not your child is ready to sleep in their own bed. When you ask yourself whether or not your child should sleep with you, remember that it’s a huge step for them. Do what you can to make the transition an easier one and you’ll all be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
The Minnetonka Public School District in Minnetonka, Minn., is using an online virtual world to build young students’ mathematics skills. The district implemented Planet Turtle, McGraw-Hill Education’s fully digital interactive classroom solution, in Grades K-3 at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. Available in English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, the program is used in both the regular classroom and Minnetonka’s Spanish and Chinese immersion classrooms.
Planet Turtle is a virtual world where children can interact with their peers in a protected Web environment by developing online animal-based character avatars and completing learning “challenges” that progress as their skills improve. The program allows teachers to instantly assess the proficiency level of a particular student - giving teachers actionable data that allows them to differentiate their instruction based on the individual needs of each student.
Dave Eisenmann, director of instructional technology and media services for Minnetonka Public Schools, said approximately 2,000 elementary students are using Planet Turtle to learn early math skills in classrooms this school year.
“Since we’ve implemented this program, we’ve seen an incredible amount of excitement,” said Eisenmann. “I have witnessed kids begging their teachers to let them take part in Planet Turtle and heard cheering from classes that are told they will get to use the program. Teachers are also excited about the program and its easy interface for management of individual student learning.”
“Recent evidence shows that kids are learning in different ways more than ever before,” said Randall Reina, senior vice president of McGraw-Hill Education’s Center for Digital Innovation, which developed the program. “McGraw-Hill Education’s Planet Turtle and the other digital resources from the Center for Digital Innovation use popular social media and cutting-edge technology, allowing today’s digital natives to learn in the classroom using the same tools they use for fun.”
In fact, a recent study conducted by Education Development Center Inc. and SRI International commissioned by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, showed that children were better prepared for success in kindergarten when their preschool teachers incorporated educational video and games from public media.
With Planet Turtle, students can customize their own turtle avatar, explore and socialize together, participate in two-player games for a fun learning experience, and learn community values by working together toward common goals. Game types range from strategy-based to racing the clock, and players earn rewards of new features and an ever-expanding world. Planet Turtle and other programs from the Center for Digital Innovation help teach 21st century learning skills by cultivating high-level critical thinking and Internet-based problem-solving.
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Source McGraw-Hill Center for Digital Innovation
Child Care Education Institute (CCEI), a distance training institution dedicated exclusively to the child care industry, is proud to announce the launch of a new Head Start Training website.
The new site, www.headstarttrainingonline.com, directly serves the needs of the Head Start community. The design and streamlined navigation makes finding enrollment requirements, program descriptions, scholarship opportunities, and Head Start training requirements effortless for Head Start staff and directors. The site is also available in Spanish, at the click of a button.
The current and relevant content provides Head Start staff with valuable information whether they want to register for professional development courses, determine the requirements they must meet or conduct research to determine which certificate program is right for them. The constantly updated testimonial page is evidence of the success CCEI Head Start graduates have and is testament to CCEI’s position as the leader in online child care training.
“CCEI has been providing Head Start programs, teachers, and directors with online professional development that addresses their varying staff development needs. This website matches the professional development options with the specific Head Start regulation that they fulfill, making it quicker and easier for the Head Start community to locate appropriate training to meet their needs,” said Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO.
Child education is one important opportunity for the child. Total preparation needs to be initiated by the parents to ensure a good beginning for the school life of the child. A lot of the stress and anxiety (child and parental) can be avoided and even decreased if parents prepare themselves and their children for the upcoming new school year. The most important thing is to find out what is expected of your child and what the specific new challenges will be. Knowing challenges your child will be facing and discussing them before hand is a great preparation. All because the more prepared a child, the less surprises there will be.
Some of the challenges or issues include:
# A new school
# First time going to school
# First time on a school bus
# What will the first few days ask of the child?
# What is the schools philosophy?
Parents of children with learning problems or other school related difficulties should meet the teacher(s) and/or principal in advance in order to:
# Describe and discuss the problems and any anticipated difficulties
# Agree to a joint plan on how to address the problems or difficulties
# Make arrangements on how often the school will give you regular feedback on the child’s progress
Settle on how the school to home communication occurs logistically; phone call? Or even a home/school notebook
It is best to have these plans worked out before school starts or very early on in the new school year.
Getting enough sleep and eating a proper breakfast
It is important to ensure that children are well rested and have had a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast before starting school. Tired children tend to be more anxious, impatient and more easily upset and frustrated.
Medical check ups and chronic medical conditions
It is important that your child receives a medical check up before school starts. During the evaluation a hearing and vision screening should be done. The necessary immunizations or booster shots, if needed, may also be given by that time. If a child has a chronic medical condition requiring special attention at school, make sure that a medical certificate from the doctor must be ensured so that the school is informed what is expected regarding the child’s medical needs, limitations and condition.
All those total preparations to be initiated by the parents will help ensure a good start for the school life experience of the child.
With cut-backs in education budgets, one of the areas to suffer is allowing children to have recess during the school day. You know how being physically active can help you feel better, look better, concentrate more, and be healthier than leading a sedentary life. The same is true for your children. Use hula hoops and jump ropes as a fun way to inspire children activities.
Unstructured recess may be a thing of the past at your school, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your children unstructured play at home. Purchasing play equipment like hula hoops, jump ropes, and balls can make active play something your children look forward to each day. Science has proven that having this type of equipment available may help your children be more active and play for longer periods of time.
You know increased activity can help stave off obesity in your children, so why not do what you can to help improve their health? Is there a better way to encourage them to get moving than by providing them with fun activities they can do? And, while you’re at it, why don’t you join in the fun with them?
What can you do with a hula hoop? Actually, you might be surprised. Obviously, you can use the hula hoop as it was intended. You swing your hips in a circular movement and try to keep the hoop moving. Did you know that using one of these hoops, especially if it has been weighted, is a great abdominal exercise? They can also be used as a prop in rhythmic dancing or gymnastics. You can also use them at different points on the body, so you can concentrate on separate areas and give them a great workout.
Jump ropes are also wonderful pieces of exercise equipment. Of course, if more than one person chooses to use it at once, you will probably want to get one for everyone in the family. Again, you can use these as intended, jumping rope, but you can also incorporate them into gymnastics or rhythmic dancing. If you’re not sure what you can do with a jump rope, take a look at double Dutch jump roping. You’ll be amazed at the way some athletes use a simple pair of ropes.
Find hula hoops and jump ropes at local department stores. If you don’t think those will stand up to use, you may want to look at school supply stores. If there aren’t any school supply stores nearby, you can always look online to find them. You may find other pieces of exercise equipment that you’ll be interested in, too.
Remember that the goal is to encourage your child to get active rather than sitting in front of a computer or television. Give them a couple of pieces of exercise equipment and they’re more likely to use them. If you really want to encourage them, let them see you use the equipment, too. There’s nothing like exercise to get you and your whole family healthier and quite possibly happier.
In years past, many parenting experts were concerned that the moral fabric of children were starting to regress because of consistent exposure to violence and other not so positive factors. However, a survey by BabyCenter offers hope because a vast majority of parents still believe that good manners and right conduct are still important values for their children.
Out of 1,021 respondents, 81% of the interviewed parents (let’s hope the other 19% catch up) believes that good manners such as treating adults respectfully (40%), saying please and thank you (20%), and not talking with one’s mouth full (19%) are still n style.
Linda Murray, editor in chief of BabyCenter, notes that the results are consistent with other signs that the youngest batch of parents “is actively taking control again.”
“We are coming out of an era of child-led parenting,” Murray says. It was no longer about the mindset of feeding them when they’re hungry, making them sleep when they shows signs of being tired, and letting then call adults by their first names.”
Murray believes that the average readership age of BabyCenter is 27 and that these are a new generation of parents. “They came up at a time when the world was more of a freewheeling place, and they see it as their job to give kids more of a grounding,” says Murray.
Although regulation and laws about homeschooling vary from one state to another, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states of the U.S. There are varying interpretations of these laws in different school districts. Homeschooling policies may also change every year.
Such changes and variety may prove to be confusing especially for first time homeschoolers. That is why it’s recommended to go to the National Home Education network to inquire on existing homeschooling regulations and to get updated on future changes. Since policies vary from state to state, it is important to concentrate on reading and understanding the laws pertaining to the state you’re in. Some even seek the help of lawyers to interpret the laws for them. To save on legal costs, you can seek the help of a local support group who may have legal representatives who can attend to your questions for free, if not for a lower fee. Many state education departments also have websites which can help you interpret the state’s requirements on setting up and maintaining a legal homeschool.
Once you and your child start on homeschooling, it’s best to be able to keep focused on both of your roles—your child as a student and you as a teacher. An unnecessary legal glitch in the future may break your mindset and have negative effects on the levels of your interest. Additionally, if you need to move to another state, don’t forget to check if there are any examinations your child is required to take.
Record-keeping is almost always brought up in homeschooling meetings. No matter how fluid the system of homeschooling is, record-keeping should still be done to keep track of your child’s development. In some states, it’s even required. Interest-driven homeschooling operators will most-likely put genuine effort in preparing topics and conducting classes. With the usually unformatted nature of homeschooling, it can prove to be challenging to prepare quarterly reports for the school district’s evaluation.
Above complying with regulations, record keeping is important in monitoring not just your child’s progress but also as an effective checking tool you can make use of to improve your own performance as a teacher. It is also fun to document the whole process as you will be encouraged to become even more observant. You will start to notice even the little points that make big impacts. If most of the learning is done through play and there is an even more indistinct identification of the topics involved, it will be recommended for you to keep a log to keep track of the child’s advancement.
Record keeping can be just like keeping a journal or a diary. Just like in conducting your classes, you can also be creative in your way of documentation by using different media like videos, audio and pictures. If you’re part of a group, you may have some set of forms as requirement.
To help you start on track, here are some basic record-keeping methods used by various homeschools:
Daily planner:
This works almost the same as a normal teacher’s planning notebook. You can prepare a daily table and tick on the items that have been covered. Maintain a separate area where you can record changes that can’t simply be concluded in checklists. This may include journals on field trips, media viewing, etc. Miscellaneous topics that have been discussed can also be written in this area. Make a summary report every month then every quarter.
Journal:
This can be maintained by the teacher, student or even both. This aims to keep a more personalized record on what has been learned or taught. Memorable events during the course of classes can be written, as well, just like how one would do it in a diary.
Portfolios:
Portfolios are a presentation that can be made of different materials and varied media. It will contain all the child’s achievement. This method gives a structure to the fluid nature of homeschooling. A drawing portfolio can consist of sketches, paintings or any visually communicative medium. A language portfolio, on the other hand, is almost like a journal that makes use of different writing techniques such as essays, stories, spelling samples, letters, quiz samples, etc. Progress in almost all subjects can be recorded through this method. Most of all, a tangible record of a child’s achievement is like a trophy. It will inspire the child to do even better.
Apart from the methods mentioned above, there are also ready-to-be-used checklists that are commercially available. Some can even be personalized, especially those that come in the form of softwares.
Record keeping, in whichever method you perceive it to suit you and your child’s needs most, is always as important. In the end, your child’s homeschooling records are not just a well-kept memorabilia your family can treasure alongside your family vacation albums. It could be your child’s future well-kept and well-prepared for.
One of the major concerns in homeschooling is maintaining the discipline of the child in studying even if his classes are held probably just a few feet away from the remote control or the video game console. It’s easy for a child to misinterpret homeschooling as a very long vacation especially if Mom or Dad has not explained to him properly what homeschooling is.
Indeed, homeschooling gives you and your child flexibility, not just on how to conduct your classes but also on how you can arrange your schedule. All these decisions has to be made in the beginning so you can explain to your child even during the earlier stages what all these ‘new activities’ are all about. If your child is too young to participate in the decision-making, try to prepare a certain schedule you can both follow and stick to it until the child adapts to at as a natural part of his regular activities. Once he’s old enough to make decisions, you can start asking him what he wants to learn and when he wants to learn.
Just like in normal schools, homeschoolers have to have homeworks, too. It will teach him to be responsible even after classes are over. After each lesson, some part of the course must be done by the child alone to somehow test how much he’s learned.
You will need to make sure that your child does his homework not because he feels he’s required to. He has to have a fair level of interest in completing his assignments.
Lasting values of a child are mostly developed at home. Molding the child’s character—teaching him about respect, punctuality, manners and other aspects of good character— shouldn’t be a far-fetched goal in homeschooling. The child should be taught to behave properly not just with family members but with other people, as well. His attention has to be called if his deeds are unsatisfactory.
It is advisable to allot a special room at home for homeschooling classes. The child should be expected to be at his desk on time, in proper attire and with all the requirements for class. It is easy for a child to forget that he’s still, afterall, a student if these simple details are neglected. As a teacher, principal, supervisor, janitor and guidance councilor all rolled into one, you should have the fair balance of professionalism and compassion as a parent.
Without patience and genuine interest to make it work, homeschooling will fail. Due to the environment and set-up, it’s very easy for a child to be too familiar and too comfortable. During those times, he may lose focus and not be able to listen attentively. When such situation happens, try talking about another topic or starting on a different activity. If all else fails, take a break. You may both need to.
Homeschooling is not as easy as most people may think. It’s never easy. The fact of homeschooling being an alternative form of education is confusing enough for most people. The key is to establish rules and relationships at the earlier stages and not when it’s already too late for you and your child to adjust.
Homeschooling is just as the name suggests. It’s studying at home. For most people who are more exposed to the format of public education, wherein everyday, there is an inevitable interaction with other children, homeschooling seems to suggest alienation. As the saying goes, no man is an island. Many critics believe in the essential role socialization plays in developing the skills of a child. In homeschooling where such opportunity to socialize seems limited, some critics perceive homeschooling as detrimental to the growth and development of a child. But studies have proven such generalization to be wrong.
Children who are forced to perform in a competitive school environment often lack the confidence to hold a conversation. Children who are not able to overcome such environment end up with little genuine interest in communicating themselves to other people, especially those coming from different age groups like their elders.
Children who are taught in the comforts of their home and with customized methods of teaching that effectively gets the information through their understanding become more aware of why they have to learn. So in time, they don’t just learn to digest information as simply additional components in their memory but as valuable information they themselves have learned to appreciate. They will start to have the initiative to ask more questions and seek answers by accurate observation. Children learn by imitation. Homeschooled children can learn by good example from their parents. At the same time, they are protected from the detrimental influences of the outside world.
Homeschooled children then become equipped with tools necessary for them to function effectively once they step out to explore the world. The positive encouragement that they get from their family as opposed to being embarrassed or left out in fierce unnecessary competition in a normal school environment strengthens not just their self-esteem but their interest and value for learning. Children grow up to be more balanced and well-rounded optimistic adults.
As shocking as it is to most people, the answer is as simple as that and probably, that’s the same reason why it’s often missed. But if you go back to the basics of homeschooling, it does make sense. It is essentially that simple reason that attracts parents to this alternative method of educating their children. Flexibility is the key. It is not about sacrificing your summer vacation or taking the autumn leave just because everybody does. For professional unschoolers, even a specific curriculum is not necessary for the method itself makes use of daily life as part of learning. Beginners, however, need to have some getting-used-to by first charting out their activities until they can form a comfortable pattern.
Some important issues must be considered in structuring your classes. Again, a lot of questions will start to pop up. What method of home schooling will you choose? What will be your teaching style and your child’s learning style? How do you balance the work and play schedules? How about your vacation plans? Some families prefer a one-time-big-time vacation that can last even more than a month. Some prefer dividing vacations into shorter periods spread over the whole year.
Following the traditional summer vacation schedule has some advantages. You can prevent your child from being totally disconnected from his own social life. By following the traditional schedule, you child’s break will coincide with that of his peers’. He can have the chance to join summer camps and classes with his school-going friends. A longer summer break will give both parents and their children a refreshing break from their lesson. This can also be unfavorable, though, since it might pose problems getting back on track once lessons begin again. Vacation-lags can prove to be difficult to shake-off especially that the environment does not change significantly in homeschooling.
Numerous shorter breaks have some perks, too. The constantly changing schedule prevents children from getting bored since they are given time to explore their different interests. It’ll also help families to choose alternative dates for vacation instead of being stuck in peak seasons when almost everybody’s rushing to vacation hot spots. It’ll help in saving time and money. Unfortunately, since the schedule is irregular, it also means that your child might not have enough adjustment period. It means that even before he gets in perfect focus to fully digest the current lessons, there might already be another set of schedules and lessons he has to get acquainted with.
Homeschooling puts the whole family in charge. It should work as closely as possible to the schedule that suits everybody. However, don’t forget the most important role of homeschooling which is to give your child the most custom-tailored education that fits his learning patterns. So try to stick to what you think would be best for your child. The structure may change periodically as you get to learn more about his studying behaviors and limitations through periodic evaluations. The key factor is not to push too hard and to leave your child and yourself enough breathing space to enjoy learning new things together.
The term “unschooling”, by itself, sounds very unappealing especially to most parents. It usually sounds like a total deviation from learning. In some ways, it could be deviating but not to learning itself but to the conventional way of learning and teaching.
Unschooling is actually a type of homeschooling wherein practically no curriculum or bounderies are applied. Of course, even with its technical definition, parents are still very apprehensive, mostly concerned how education can happen in such fluidity of process or the lack of it. But even unschooling has some guidelines that may prove the whole method to be an effective way of homeschooling.
It’s best to play by your child’s interest. If he is interested to learn about the solar system, then teach him about the different planets, the characteristics of each planet, the satellites of the planet, etc. But as much as possible, let him decide how much he wants to learn. The process of learning may take a day, a week, a month—it really depends on the child. The most important thing is that you are informed of the child’s level of interest and his limitations and capabilities in learning. By knowing your child, you would be able to decide which method or timeframe works best for him.
Nurture your child’s interest by using various media of teaching. Introduce him to videos, books, magazines and to on-field learning. Bring him to museums, parks, places that teach him more about his interests. It’s also an effective way to learn new things yourself. The more you learn, the more knowledge you can pass on to your eager child.
Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and teach him new things. If you’re in the kitchen, try to point out the nutrients and vitamins people can get from eating different vegetables and fruits. Why are apples red or sometimes green? Why are tomatoes considered as fruits and not vegetables? Don’t worry if you don’t know the answer. You can always take the initiative to research then later on, share to your child. Lastly, don’t worry if the process seems slow. Kids learn in different ways and in different speed. The most important thing is that you’re working with a pace most suitable and comfortable for your child. All he needs is the most encouraging, patient and loving teacher—and that’s you!
Walking through the toy department of your favorite store can give you sensory overload. There are bright colors, all sorts of shapes and textures and lots of toys that light up and make noise. If you have a child or children with you, they might find every toy that makes noise and turn them all on at the same time.
Scenes like that might make you long for the days when toys were simpler. While kids tend to pick up the most noisy or flashy toy when given a choice, simpler toys are good for them as well. Giving your child toys that require more of them than just pushing buttons gives them an opportunity to learn and develop physical skills.
Non-Electronic Toys Require Imagination
One of the drawbacks of electronic toys is that they require little imagination. While they may help teach your child the alphabet, numbers or shapes, they do little to encourage him to think creatively. There are toys that can accomplish both objectives.
Alphabet blocks, for example, have been around for many years. They introduce children to colors, numbers and the letters of the alphabet while allowing them to build things. They teach hand-eye coordination. Your child can use them to experiment with cause and effect relationships, filling and dumping and more. The more your child uses his imagination, the more fun toys such as blocks are.
Non-Electronic Toys Encourage Interaction
Electronic toys are usually best suited to individual play. While it’s good for kids to be able to entertain themselves, they also need to interact with others to learn social skills. Non-electronic toys lend themselves to interaction.
Going back to the block example, you or another child could help your child build something with the blocks. He can share the blocks with others. You can ask your child which block is which color, or which one has a certain number or letter on it. All of these activities teach your child how to cooperate and get along with others.
Non-Electronic Toys Encourage Physical Activity
Playing with electronic toys usually requires very little movement. But there are plenty of non-electronic toys that encourage children to be physically active. This is just as important as educational value and most toys designed to promote physical activity can also be used for learning with a little creativity.
Non-Electronic Toys Last Longer
Electronic toys tend to have shorter lives than their non-electronic counterparts. Many non-electronic toys are also appropriate for a wide range of ages. The blocks and balls that your child played with as a toddler can still provide him with hours of fun after he starts to school. Electronic toys, on the other hand, are often designed with a specific age group in mind. Once your child has mastered the toy and is ready to move on, it often goes to the bottom of the toy box.
Electronic toys often have educational value, but your child needs a variety of toys that stimulate his imagination and encourage the development of necessary skills as well. The types of simple toys that were around when we were growing up are often just as much fun for our kids as they were for us and they allow kids to learn while having fun.
Finding the right educational toys for your child can be tricky. Most toys have an age range on them, but that range usually refers to the ages that the toy is safe for, not the ages that it’s learning level is appropriate for. Even toys that are designed for a specific age range may not be on the level of some kids in that age range.
The best way to determine which toys are right for your child is on a case-by-case basis. Different children learn at different rates. Some may be behind the average child of the same age, while others may be ahead. In order to determine what is appropriate for your child, you will need to assess how he is doing with the things he already plays with.
If your child appears to have mastered all of the games and puzzles he currently has, he needs something more challenging. That doesn’t mean that you have to get rid of his favorite toys. It just means that he needs things that are not so easy for him in addition to the things he is comfortable with. Children need challenges in order to learn and not providing those challenges will result in boredom.
If your child is struggling with toys and games designed for kids his age, it might be time to back up a little. It could be that he didn’t quite master skills that he needed earlier in life and those skills are a prerequisite to the things kids his age are doing. The toys he had when he was younger may not have even covered those skills. Either way, there is no shame in going back and teaching those skills to your child. You can put the things he is struggling with away until he is ready for them.
What If My Child Needs To Learn Certain Skills For School?
If your child has fallen behind and is not ready for school, you may need to hold off on putting him in school. But if he is just lacking a couple of important things then you can work on them with him at home. Many schools offer assessments for children who will be of school age, and taking advantage of that can let you know where your child stands and what he needs to work on.
Once you have determined what your child needs to work on, you can quiz him on it at home. If he has educational toys that will help him with it, get them out and play with them together. If he doesn’t, see if you can find any. Making learning the new skill fun will help him keep a positive attitude and prevent frustration.
Forcing your child to advance to the next level too soon will only do harm. Not challenging him will leave him bored and inhibit his natural learning processes. By assessing what your child can do well and what he is having trouble with, you can ensure that he learns on the level that is right for him.
Does your child have a full toy box but only play with a select few? Toys that only do a small, limited number of things often get tossed aside. They are fun for awhile but pretty soon they become too predictable. That results in boredom and kids don’t like to be bored. So they find something else to play with and the boring toys end up in the bottom of the toy box.
The best toys are those that require imagination and can be used in a variety of ways. Here are ten toys that are good for keeping your child’s attention.
1. Blocks - Blocks are a staple for kids and they never seem to outgrow them. They are one of the simplest types of toys around, yet their possibilities are limited only by the child’s imagination. Younger children can also use them for such learning activities as counting games and experimenting with basic addition and subtraction. Blocks provide numerous learning opportunities and keep kids busy.
2. Dolls and Stuffed Animals - Children love to pretend that their dolls, action figures and stuffed animals are real people or animals. This can provide them with hours of entertainment. They may even play with two or more at a time, making different voices for each one. That’s not only fun for them, it’s fun for you to watch too.
3. Play-Doh - You probably played with Play-Doh when you were a kid. Chances are that if you did, you have fond memories of it. Similar to blocks, Play-Doh allows children to make anything they can imagine. The factories and tool sets you can buy to go with it are nice but they are not a necessity.
4. Wagons - A wagon can be used in numerous ways. Kids can use it to transport their toys from one place to another but that’s only the beginning. It can serve as a vehicle for their stuffed animals or dolls, a pull-along “tray” when they’re playing restaurant or even as transportation for the child himself with you pulling it.
5. Art Supplies - Budding Picassos can spend hours making new masterpieces. Art is a great way to keep kids occupied because it fosters creativity and self-esteem. And you get the added bonus of new refrigerator decorations.
6. Musical Instruments - Most children love music. The only thing better than listening to it is making it themselves. If real musical instruments are not an option, there are toy drum sets, xylophones, kazoos and more that kids can play with. They could even get other kids together and form a band.
7. Housekeeping or Gardening Tools - Kids love to imitate adults. A kitchen set, toy vacuum cleaner or a set of gardening tools can help them do so more accurately. You could enlist them to help you when you’re doing housework or yard work. They will stay occupied and feel a sense of accomplishment.
8. Sandboxes - A sandbox full of toys provides a wealth of opportunities. Kids can learn a lot by playing in sand. They can use sticks to make designs, add water and make sandcastles, or make trails with their toy cars.
9. Dress-Up Clothes - Playing dress-up lets kids put together outfits and pretend to be anyone or anything. You don’t have to buy a dress-up set. Just get out all of the old clothes you can find and let their imaginations run free!
10. Balls - Balls not only keep a child busy, they also encourage physical activity. There are numerous ways that children can play with them, so they never get boring.
Years ago, children did not have electronic toys and video games to play with. All they had were things like dolls and dollhouses, toy cars and jump ropes. No matter what toys they played with, they had to use their imagination to a certain extent.
Today, kids have all sorts of electronic toys to choose from. Even many books talk and allow children to interact with them. While there are benefits to these types of toys, it is still important to let a kid’s imagination flourish. Here are some toys that encourage imagination and creativity, providing learning opportunities that many modern toys do not.
* Play-Doh - It has been around for decades, but Play-Doh has withstood the test of time. It can get messy, but letting your kids play with it can bring forth imagination like few other things can. Your child will make all sorts of things with it and you can help by providing tools that make interesting shapes and textures.
* Dress-Up Clothes - Playing dress-up is a great activity for kids. Providing a variety of costume pieces for boys and girls lets them design their own outfit. That can lead to pretending to be any number of people or things, and imagination is a prerequisite for pretending.
* Blocks - Blocks come in many shapes and sizes these days. Any of them are good for encouraging imagination. Old-fashioned wooden blocks have the added benefit of teaching kids how balancing works. Soft blocks are safe for smaller children. Legos interlock to allow children to move their creations from place to place. All of these allow children to build virtually anything they want with a little creativity.
* Dolls and Action Figures - Dolls and action figures that do not talk make it necessary for a child to put words into their mouths. That requires plenty of imagination. Your child can make up stories and scenarios featuring them and she might ask you or a sibling or friend to play the part of another doll or figure. If it is possible to change their clothing or use props with them, that’s even better.
Imagination is not only a fun way to learn, it is also effective. While children may learn such things as letters, numbers and even phonics from electronic toys, they are no substitute for learning by doing. Imaginative play often leads children to figure things out for themselves and things learned that way are not soon forgotten.
Imaginative play also often results in a child asking questions that she might not have thought of otherwise. This gives the parent or caregiver a unique opportunity to teach her about things that she is specifically interested in. And it’s no secret that children who are interested in learning learn better.
Children love to play with toys that are fun. They sometimes entertain themselves for hours with a favorite toy. Wouldn’t it be great if they spent that time learning instead of just playing?
Educational toys allow children to play and learn at the same time. Finding toys that your child enjoys playing with and learns from might take some trial and error, but it is well worth it. The right toys can help your child learn skills that she will need in school, and those same skills will carry over into adulthood. Here are some fun and educational toys that many children love to play with.
Bead Mazes
Toddlers love those bead maze toys that are found in many pediatricians’ waiting rooms. Smaller versions are available that they can play with at home. These allow children to practice grasping small objects, and you don’t have to worry about them swallowing anything. They also promote problem-solving skills and they’re usually brightly colored to provide visual stimulation.
Play-Doh
Have you ever met a kid who didn’t love Play-Doh? It’s great for a wide range of ages, and it helps kids develop fine motor skills and learn their colors. Best of all, it requires them to stretch their imaginations and be creative.
Building Toys
Building toys come in many forms, shapes and sizes. Blocks are the most common type of building toy, and kids can think of a seemingly endless number of ways to use them. They can build houses, towers, animals and more. Groups of children can work together to build something, making blocks great for learning social skills. Alphabet blocks have the added benefit of introducing letters, numbers and colors.
Art and Music Toys
Kids love to draw, paint and make music. Art supplies and musical instrument can provide hours upon hours of entertainment. They encourage abstract thinking, creativity and imagination. A group of kids with musical instruments can also play music together, developing social skills such as teamwork and conflict resolution along the way.
Electronic Games
Electronic games are designed to teach such things as shapes, alphabet, numbers, phonics and math. Some such games are quite entertaining. They make sounds and light up when kids get something right, providing both visual stimulation and positive reinforcement.
It is important, however, that electronic toys are not the only ones that kids play with. Most such toys do not encourage creativity like simpler ones do, and if electronic toys are all that a child plays with, he will miss out on more creative learning opportunities.
Toys that are educational allow kids to learn and have fun at the same time. When both things go hand in hand, kids enjoy learning and retain the things they learn better.
Toys are among a child’s first possessions. They entertain kids, but they also help them learn about the world around them. Early experiences with toys can have lasting effects on a child.
There has been much debate about which toys are the best for children. Some argue that high-tech toys provide the best educational opportunities, while others say that simpler toys that require imagination and creativity teach a child to think for himself. But most children end up with a mixture of both types of toys and perhaps that approach gives them the best of both worlds.
Electronic Toys vs. Non-Electronic Toys
Electronic toys keep a child entertained with lights, sounds, and pictures. Small children can learn about cause and effect from them. When they push a button, they get a specified response from the toy. When they push a different button, they get a different response.
Electronic toys often reward a child with a funny sound or other response when they do something correctly. This built-in positive reinforcement is good, but it should also be accompanied by positive reinforcement from parents. Often it is not and that is one of the reasons that some experts prefer non-electronic toys.
Non-electronic toys are often more flexible than electronic ones. They can be used in a variety of ways. Take Play-Doh or alphabet blocks, for example. They require imagination and creativity, but they can be used to make almost anything the child wants to make. They also have added benefits of refining fine motor skills and providing opportunities to learn colors, letters, and numbers.
Toys That Encourage “Grown-Up” Behavior
Kids love to do what Mom and Dad do. Whether it’s cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, or working on the car, they are often eager to help. Things like toy kitchens, tool sets, and toy vacuum cleaners let kids “work” with their parents. These kinds of toys are great because they encourage responsibility and build self-esteem while also building motor skills.
Violent Toys
Most parents won’t allow their children to watch violent shows on television. These shows could scare the children and they promote behavior that is not acceptable. But many do not realize that war toys can have similar effects.
Most experts say that children should not be allowed to play with guns or other toys that promote violence. There is the potential for many negative effects. These toys send the message that violence is acceptable and conflicts should be resolved by fighting.
It may not be readily apparent, but the toys that a child plays with can have profound effects on them. Providing a child with toys that encourage learning in a healthy way can be a huge asset to your child’s development. Children who learn at home develop skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.
Most children have little trouble expressing their creativity. Just ask any mother who has had to clean crayons and markers off of a freshly painted wall. Providing toys that allow your child to get creative encourage imagination and allow her to learn by doing.
Creativity isn’t just about artwork. It can be expressed in a number of ways. Here are some of the best toys for encouraging creativity in your child.
Building Toys
Blocks of any kind are great for kids of all ages. They can be used to build almost anything your child can imagine. Legos allow kids to make more durable masterpieces, but it’s important to get the big ones for children who still like to put things in their mouths.
There are also other types of building toys, such as the magnetic K’nex, that allow greater flexibility and different ways to build. There are even kits that allow older kids to build their own remote control cars.
Art Toys
Drawing is a favorite activity for many children. You can encourage your budding artist by giving her toys that make it easy to express herself. Washable markers make messes more bearable. Magnetic drawing boards, Etch-a-Sketches, and other toys that allow drawing without using crayons or markers eliminate the mess altogether and are great for travel.
Finger paint is a favorite of young artists, but it can be messy. Letting your kids indulge in it once in a while is good for them, and with some preparation you can avoid any permanent damage. Smocks and lots of newspaper will protect their clothes and your table.
Musical Toys
Music is a wonderful learning tool for children, and it’s even better when they make it themselves. You can find durable toy instruments for even the youngest budding musician. Babies love plastic tambourines, maracas and xylophones. Toddlers and preschoolers can play a kazoo or recorder. If your child expresses great interest in the piano, beginner piano lessons might be a good investment.
Children who love to sing might enjoy a karaoke machine. There are also microphones that do special effects so your little singer can sound like a pro. And there are lots of sing-a-long CDs, DVDs, and toys available.
Craft Kits
There are all sorts of crafts that kids can do. Kits that come with everything needed for a specific craft project make crafting easy. You could buy individual craft items and let your kids’ imaginations take over.
Creativity comes naturally for kids. Giving them toys that help them express themselves is a great way to encourage them to do so. Kids who are allowed to be creative often have a greater interest in learning and as a result they are more likely to do their best in school and life.
First time parents know how hard it is to pick out an age appropriate toy for a child. Even those who have several children often find it difficult. There is much more to choosing the right toy for your child’s age than meets the eye. Here are a few tips to help you decide which toy best suits your little one.
* The age on the box is not always a good indicator of how appropriate a toy is for your child. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore it completely, because it usually represents the ages that the toy has been deemed safe for. But a toy that is safe for a certain age group is not necessarily appropriate for it’s educational level.
* A toy that is good for one child may not be the best choice for another child of the same age. Children learn at different rates, and while many toys are made for the average child of a certain age range, your child could be ahead or behind. Rather than relying solely on numbers, take cues from what your child is comfortable with.
* Babies need toys that are safe and stimulating. Bright, contrasting colors, unusual textures and interesting sounds are good things to look for. Toys that make noise or light up in response to the baby’s actions provide an opportunity to learn about cause and effect.
* Toddler toys should allow the child to develop his motor skills or learn about shapes, colors, animals and other basic things. Those that incorporate both motor skills and intellectual development are even better. Social skills are also beginning to develop at this stage, and items that your toddler can share with other children are a good way to encourage this. But it’s important to remember that young toddlers often prefer to play alongside other children rather than with them.
* Preschoolers are ready to learn about letters and numbers. There are all kinds of toys that can help with this, from alphabet blocks to talking books. Finding something that your child enjoys playing with that teaches these things will be a great asset to him.
* Some toys are good for a wide range of ages. Building blocks and simple wooden puzzles with large pieces, for example, can grow with a child. He could learn different things from them as a baby, toddler and preschooler. Some electronic toys are designed to teach children different things at different ages as well.
Finding the right toy for your child’s age is not as difficult as it sounds. The trick is to be less concerned about numbers and more concerned about your child’s developmental level. As long as a toy is safe for your child, if he is having fun and learning from it, that is always a good thing.
In order for children to learn, they need to stretch their minds. That means that they need to be challenged. Reviewing things they already know helps them remember them but in order to go forward they must learn to grasp new concepts. Challenge also keeps a child interested.
While challenge is a very good thing it is important not to go overboard with it. Doing so will just cause the child to become frustrated. He might give up on the task at hand and even develop distaste for the entire subject.
So how do you know how much challenge is too much? Sometimes it is difficult. It is important to keep activities attainable while still making sure that the child is in fact learning new things. Here are some ways to do that.
* Electronic educational toys often allow parents and children to choose a skill level. Make sure that your child is working on a level that is appropriate for him. If you’re not sure, watch while your child goes through the levels starting with the lowest. Determine the highest level he has mastered and have him work on the next one.
* Most computer learning games automatically go to the next level when a child has mastered the previous one. If there is an option to save the game at each level, try to make sure that he does so. Then, instead of going back through things he already knows each time he plays, he can start out on a level that is a challenge for him.
* An older child’s schoolwork might be a good indicator of what he has mastered and what he needs to work on. If there is an area he has trouble in you could expand on it at home. If he appears to have mastered everything you may want to talk to his teacher about giving him more advanced work to do at school or at home.
* If your child has educational toys that he doesn’t play with try to determine why. He will probably just tell you that he doesn’t like them, but it could be that they are either above or below his individual level. If you can get him to try them while you supervise, it could provide some valuable insight and help you make better selections in the future.
Working on a level that is comfortable for your child yet provides a challenge is crucial to his educational success. Too little challenge will cause your child to become bored and too much could cause frustration and low self-esteem. Always remember what is good for one child might be very different from what is good for another child of the same age. Taking cues from your child will help you decide what level is the best for him.
Kids love toys. If you have any doubts about that, just take a child into a toy store. She will probably find a number of things that she feels she just can’t live without.
Toys are more than just fun and games for kids. Most toys provide at least some opportunity for children to learn. The best toys engage a child’s senses, spark their imaginations and encourage them to interact with others.
Babies and Toys
Babies are eager to learn about the world around them, and they have much to learn. Every new shape, color, texture, taste and sound is a learning experience for them. Giving your baby toys that are safe and stimulating will help him discover his senses.
Rattles and toys that make music are favorites of infants. Toys with contrasting colors are fascinating to babies and stimulate their developing vision. As they grow, infants can use toys to explore object permanence and cause and effect relationships. They also need objects such as blocks to help them build motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Toys for Toddlers
Toddlers can play with a wider variety of toys than they did when they were smaller. They might still enjoy some of the toys they played with as babies, and that’s fine. The same blocks they played with a year or two ago can provide them with new and different educational opportunities as their knowledge expands. But they also need toys that are designed with kids their age in mind.
Shape sorters are great for toddlers. They teach them how to match similar items and provide parents the opportunity to teach them the names of the shapes. Lego blocks provide an opportunity to learn more about colors and symmetry while they develop their motor skills.
Toys for Preschool and School-Aged Children
When children reach preschool age, it’s time to start learning about letters, numbers and language skills. There are lots of toys that encourage this type of learning, from simple alphabet puzzles to high-tech electronic gadgets. These can give your child a head start by introducing her to the things she will be learning in school.
Kids who are in school can supplement their learning with fun and educational toys. Giving them the opportunity to have fun while practicing the things they are learning in school will increase their retention of those things. And when your child finds an educational toy she really likes, she will be more likely to play with it, reinforcing the things she has learned.
Children can learn a lot from playing. When you give your child educational toys and play with them with her, it gives her a chance to bond with you, learn, and have fun at the same time. And making education enjoyable will help your child retain the things she learns and develop a positive attitude toward learning.
Kids love video games, but most such games have little or no educational value and many even glorify violence. So it’s no surprise that parents often put severe limits on the types of games their kids can play and how often and long they can play them.
That’s not to say that all video games are bad. Many educational toy makers and children’s book publishers have used the popularity of video games to their advantage and created educational computer games. Kids find these fun and entertaining and adults like them because they teach kids new things and reinforce what they are learning in school.
Computer Games for Preschoolers
In this the “Information Age”, it is becoming increasingly important for children to become comfortable with computers when they are young. Computer games are available for kids as young as preschool age. While your child probably won’t be able to do much typing at that age, you can help her learn how to use a mouse. And that is all that most games aimed at young children require.
Preschoolers can play games that help them learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes and colors. Some games help a child learn to match objects or develop early phonics skills. These games serve a dual purpose of educating your child about the subject at hand and getting her comfortable with the computer.
Computer Games for Grade Schoolers
Once your child starts school, computer games can help her grasp concepts that she is having trouble with in school in a fun and pressure-free way. Finding educational games that feature her favorite cartoon characters will keep her interested, and she may not even realize just how much she is learning. If you find a game that allows two players to compete, you or a brother or sister could play along with her to provide some lighthearted competition.
Those who are having trouble with reading or math often find computer games particularly useful. Games that introduce phonics, addition and subtraction are plentiful. The key is to find a game that will keep your child’s attention while focusing on the specific things she is having trouble with.
How Much Is Too Much?
Although educational computer games are good for children they should still be used in moderation. Sitting in front of a computer playing the same game for hours on end will not benefit your child. She needs to participate in physical activity and non-electronic educational activities as well.
Opinions vary, but a half hour to an hour a day is a good rule of thumb for video game limits. There’s no point in pushing your child to play every day, either. If she doesn’t want to play, then requiring her to do so may cause her to dislike the game and defeat the purpose of it.
Computer games are a fun way to help your child learn new things and do better in school. When used in moderation, they can supplement other teaching methods nicely. Providing appropriate games and letting your child decide when to play while setting time limits will maximize the benefits of these great educational resources.
Puzzles come in many forms. There are the traditional jigsaw puzzles, 3-D puzzles, sliding block puzzles and matching puzzles. They can have anywhere from a few pieces to thousands of them.
Puzzles that are appropriate for a child’s age and developmental level provide a fun yet challenging learning experience. Puzzles for toddlers are very different from puzzles for school children. Here are some things to look for in puzzles for every age.
Babies and Toddlers
Babies and toddlers can learn a lot from the right kind of puzzle. Shape stackers are a good type of puzzle for babies because the pieces are easy for small hands to grasp. The wooden puzzles that have a board with pictures of the corresponding pieces allow a toddler to learn how to match objects. The pieces fit loosely, so they’re not too hard for small hands to put together. Foam jigsaw-type puzzles are also good for babies and toddlers.
Hand-eye coordination is another important thing that puzzles teach. It can be tricky for a little one to get the pieces where they belong at first, but after a few tries she will be delighted to see that she can do it.
Another benefit of toddler puzzles is that they can help teach the names of colors and shapes. You can help by pointing out the colors or shapes of the pieces that your child is matching. Some puzzles have pieces with letters, numbers or animals on them, and you can use those in the same way.
Preschoolers
Puzzles for preschoolers may be a little more advanced. Jigsaw puzzles with a few large pieces are good for this age group. They are still developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, so they are probably not ready for puzzles with small pieces yet.
At this age children can benefit tremendously from working together to solve puzzles. They might share strategies such as sorting pieces by color or searching for patterns. This aids in social development and communication skills as well as intellectual development.
Schoolchildren
Elementary schoolers can move on to more advanced jigsaw puzzles. The pieces can be smaller and the designs more complex. Children of this age can still benefit from the teamwork lessons learned by solving puzzles together.
Once she has become adept at putting together flat puzzles, your child might enjoy working on three-dimensional ones. These add new challenges and make nice bedroom décor when they’re finished. Many of them do not even require glue to stay together.
Puzzles are a fun way to learn important skills. They also provide a great opportunity for your child to work with you or other children toward a common goal. The educational benefits of puzzles are greater than those of many more complex and higher priced toys and they can be reinforced with each new puzzle your child completes.
Blocks are one of the most basic toys you can find. It may seem they don’t really do anything and in their simplest form they’re just little wooden cubes. But to a child, they represent a world of possibilities.
Blocks are great toys for children of all ages. Infants love soft blocks to look at, squeeze, chew on and drop. Toddlers like to put blocks in boxes and pour them out or pile them on the floor. Preschoolers can build towers, houses, animals and more with blocks.
Blocks are a great way to keep your child occupied, but they also have lots of educational benefits. Here are some ways that children learn from blocks.
Social Development
Blocks are fun for one child, but two or more make them much more interesting. Young children enjoy playing with blocks in groups. It is a great way to encourage children to learn to share and cooperate with others. As your child grows, she and her playmates may learn to work together to build things.
Physical Development
Small children can gain hand strength from blocks. They are also one of the best toys for developing hand-eye coordination. Babies like to drop or throw them. Toddlers will attempt to arrange and stack them and eventually learning to balance them.
Intellectual Development
Alphabet blocks are one of the best educational toys money can buy. Most of them are brightly colored and feature letters of the alphabet and numbers. Young children can begin to sort them by color and eventually they will learn the names of the colors. Then they can begin to learn the letters and numbers. Once your child has mastered his letters, the blocks are great for quizzing him on which letter makes which sound.
Blocks are also excellent for introducing math. They can put the numbers in order to practice counting, and they can count the blocks themselves to learn how to count objects. Eventually they can use them to experiment with addition and subtraction.
Creativity
Building is quite the creative process for children. It’s a great feeling when they learn to balance several blocks on top of each other. From there they will begin to build simple structures. Then they will move on to elaborate houses, schools and even castles.
Lego blocks provide more flexibility in building. They also allow kids to move their creations to other locations. While regular building blocks are better for smaller children, Lego blocks are a good replacement when they seem to have outgrown them.
Kids can learn a number of things from blocks. Because they are learning through participation, they will retain the knowledge more readily. What more could you ask for out of an educational toy?
Most children already have an idea of the basic things they’ll be expecting once they start formal schooling. Basically, it starts with one patient member of the family taking the initiative to prepare the child for formal school. Homeschooling is then a natural part of a child’s educational progression. So it’s not surprising why more and more parents settle for this alternative platform. They opt to teach their children, prepare their curriculum and let their kids enjoy a more personalized approach to learning.
Homeschooling, however, isn’t as simple as it sounds. It entails a lot of preparation. It’ll be helpful to meet with more experienced parents of homeschoolers to get a gist of the advantages and disadvantages. After having an idea of what to expect, you can begin to ask yourself if this is really what you want for your children and if this is something you’re prepared to commit to.
Budget is also something to consider. It may cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand every year. It may not be a huge amount off the family budget but opting to be your child’s teacher also entails that one of the parents has to stop working. A home-based work or business, if possible, will be a good alternative to bridge the budget gap.
Aside from emotionally and financially preparing yourself, always remember that it’s in this kind of set-up where your child’s academic future will depend on you the most. Are you qualified to be their teacher? Have you gotten your knowledge bank filled with information you’ll need to give them quality learning? Nowadays, information sources are overflowing and within reach especially with the advent of the internet. Try researching about various homeschooling methods and the pros and cons of each. In the long run, you can even create your own style by customizing existing methods based on your child’s needs. Most importantly, try to get your child’s feelings and opinions about starting on homeschooling.
In different states, there are also differences in homeschooling regulations. For example, in North Carolina, a ‘Notice of Intent’ for homeschooling must be filed first before starting one. It should be clear whether you are starting a ‘private church school’ or a ‘qualified non-public school’. There is also a minimum educational requirement for the person conducting the homeschooling. The home teacher has to be at least a highschool graduate. There should be a formal record of the child’s attendance and disease immunization. To keep track of the child’s development, an annual standardized test is required and each student going unto 11th grade has to take the national qualifying exam just like students going to normal public schools. These are just some requirements in North Carolina but hopefully, they can give you a pretty good idea of how homeschooling is.
From the outside, it is quite easy for some parents to expect homeschooling to be an effective way of flexing the family budget. As for some children, they might be thrilled by the wrong idea that homeschooling is as simple as doing their assignments in front of their favourite TV show. However, homeschooling is a lot of added work and responsibility. It requires long-term commitment from both parents and children. But if done successfully, it’s like shooting two birds with one stone. Children and even parents can grow together in learning and in love for each other.
