Parent Tips

6 Easy Ways for Kids to Learn

(1) Music. Kids like songs and catchy tunes. Think about how many times you've been unable to shake a song from your mind. Kids learn great lessons and ways of doing things such as learning your address, phone number, how to brush your teeth, state capitals, or even how to spell their names.

(2) Repetition. Hearing and seeing something enough times helps a child learn. It starts to stick to them like glue so having them repeat their verb conjugation of the word "to be" in Spanish or what

(3) Exposure. If your middle school kid has a science test on photosynthesis or the parts of the heart, post the photos and information they learn from class around the house. In the bathroom (they look at it while they brush their teeth), in their room where they study, in the kitchen on the wall where they can see it while they eat. Repeated exposure to educational tools is important. Think how you posted the alphabet in your toddlers room so they could see the letters everyday. The same holds true with an older child.

(4) Involvement. Nothing helps a child learn quite like an involved parent, but it doesn't mean you have to grill your child on their spelling words for hours at a time. Approach it differently, ask them to explain it to you. Such as "Pretend I don't know who Thomas Jefferson is. Tell me what you've learned about him" then simply listen. See how the child gets excited about telling you something they've learned.

(5) Routine. Having an established after school routine helps a child get their homework done without the chaos of trying to finish a forgotten assignment at midnight the night before its due. This can work even with after school activities. Have your child empty their homework at the same place everyday and ask them what's due, when and ask how you can help. The child should do their homework in the same place and put it in their backpack as soon as it's completed. Again, no scrambling for it the next morning or worse, leaving it at home. Nothing is more discouraging that doing the homework perfectly, only to leave it on your kitchen table.

(6) Environment. Make sure where the child does his homework is productive for that child's learning. Is the TV blaring, the radio on, you're cooking dinner and the child is sitting at the kitchen table stuck on problem #1? Maybe the environment is too chaotic for him. Find a quiet, simple place for the child to work by turning off the TV until all homework and chores are done. (The chores thing is really to help out parents.) That way you can offer a productive environment for the child and are able to stay involved in their progress. Limited distraction is important when learning new things or figuring out problems.

6 Easy Ways for Kids to Learn

(1) Music. Kids like songs and catchy tunes. Think about how many times you've been unable to shake a song from your mind. Kids learn great lessons and ways of doing things such as learning your address, phone number, how to brush your teeth, state capitals, or even how to spell their names.

(2) Repetition. Hearing and seeing something enough times helps a child learn. It starts to stick to them like glue so having them repeat their verb conjugation of the word "to be" in Spanish or what

(3) Exposure. If your middle school kid has a science test on photosynthesis or the parts of the heart, post the photos and information they learn from class around the house. In the bathroom (they look at it while they brush their teeth), in their room where they study, in the kitchen on the wall where they can see it while they eat. Repeated exposure to educational tools is important. Think how you posted the alphabet in your toddlers room so they could see the letters everyday. The same holds true with an older child.

(4) Involvement. Nothing helps a child learn quite like an involved parent, but it doesn't mean you have to grill your child on their spelling words for hours at a time. Approach it differently, ask them to explain it to you. Such as "Pretend I don't know who Thomas Jefferson is. Tell me what you've learned about him" then simply listen. See how the child gets excited about telling you something they've learned.

(5) Routine. Having an established after school routine helps a child get their homework done without the chaos of trying to finish a forgotten assignment at midnight the night before its due. This can work even with after school activities. Have your child empty their homework at the same place everyday and ask them what's due, when and ask how you can help. The child should do their homework in the same place and put it in their backpack as soon as it's completed. Again, no scrambling for it the next morning or worse, leaving it at home. Nothing is more discouraging that doing the homework perfectly, only to leave it on your kitchen table.

(6) Environment. Make sure where the child does his homework is productive for that child's learning. Is the TV blaring, the radio on, you're cooking dinner and the child is sitting at the kitchen table stuck on problem #1? Maybe the environment is too chaotic for him. Find a quiet, simple place for the child to work by turning off the TV until all homework and chores are done. (The chores thing is really to help out parents.) That way you can offer a productive environment for the child and are able to stay involved in their progress. Limited distraction is important when learning new things or figuring out problems.

Time's Tickin' Away

Sorry for the Stevie Ray Vaughn reference, but it's applicable for this.

It seems like last week, I started seeing multiple advertisements for Camp Rock 2. My daughters were ending their school year and we were looking forward to a summer of great fun and adventure.

"Why in the world would they start advertising four months ahead of time for a Disney Channel show?" I thought. I know it's all marketing, but none the less, four months? Seemed like a huge amount of time.

Now, last night I sat here, minutes before Debi, Joe, Kevin and Nick took over my television for the next two hours.

Where did the time go?

Did we even have a summer? Are my children growing too fast or is time escaping me?

Early on as a mother, I found myself saying things like, "Boy I can't wait until you're old enough to walk so I don't have to carry you," or "I'm going to be thrilled when you are eating solid foods" or "I'll be so glad when you're potty trained"--okay that last one, I really did want for a long, long time. But I realized the more I pushed for them to be older, the more time I had been missing. So what they aren't old enough for scuba diving or rock climbing? They will be soon enough.

When I get frustrated because they want to climb into bed with me in the moring, 10 minutes before my alarm goes off, I tell myself they won't want to do that forever so enjoy it while they do. Time ticks by fast enough, don't push it forward. Try your best to enjoy every moment with your kids. I know there will be enough moments for you to want to forget, but believe me when I say the time with your children is far too valuable to rush through.

Getting Rid of Preschool Guilt

Almost there....yep preschool starts in a few days and I'm excited and sad at the same time.

Let me qualify--I love my children, I would kill for them and hide the body, but there are times when I know being with their friends and mommy having quiet time is a good thing, for both of us.

It's taken me until this year (my daughter's last year in preschool) to allow myself not to feel guilty for sending her. What are they teaching in preschool that I can't teach her? I've got two degrees and love to learn so could we go without it? Yes.

Would I be mental and would she mental?

Yes.

The beauty of accepting them attending preschool is they are learning and then they get to come back and tell you about it. They learn that they are very capable of learning and absorbing more knowledge while you're not there, a big deal for a preschooler.

They get to learn with others and then come back home to tell you all about how they know the difference between a triangle and a square, how they held their pencil correctly, how little Bobby Taylor taught her the diarrhea song (Diarrhea, Cha-Cha-Cha).

Good with the bad, I suppose, but the lesson here is when kids go off to school, any school, it's a good thing and we as moms and dads should breathe easier that someone else is going to teach them for a bit so we can keep our sanity and brains in tact. I mean, how many times can you watch Letter Factory or the Wiggles sing about colors without wanting to start doing tequila shots?

As we all enter into a new school year, embrace your quiet time when the kids are away, without feeling guilty. Read a book, eat some chocolate, eat chocolate while reading a book about eating chocolate. Workout without worrying about having them in the kids camp. Take a nap, go see a movie, have coffee with friends, sit in the quiet, but embrace it all without the guilt.

Good Handwashing keeps the doctor away

I know it's been said time after time, but washing your hands will keep you out of the doctor's office.

With the kids returning to school and sharing pencils, pens, food, drink, and coughing/sneezing on each other illnesses such as strep throat, pink eye, stomach flu, and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Kids missing school can certainly throw a wrench in the day when there are plenty of things to keep stay-at-home-parents busy. Plus, miserable, sick kids don't make the happiest of homes.

The best method I've found is for the kids to wet their hands under warm water and add the soap. Turn off the water because they tend to immediately wash off the soap. Have them scrub their hands (don't forget the thumbs) for a good 20 seconds. We usually sing a song like Happy Birthday or Row, Row, Row Your Boat (twice) or the first verse and chorus of a popular song before turning the water back on and rinsing.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), good handwashing can reduce bacteria and virus that cause illness.

Handwashing should be practiced before and after eating, after using the bathroom, and after sneezing or coughing into your hands. For more information on hand washing or to watch the video, go to http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/.

If hand washing is not immediately available, anti-bacterial wipes are a substitute, but hand washing is the better choice.