Over the years, structures get modified for continuing growth. Here you will find the help to encourage life long learning.
Articles are updated frequently.
These sections are organized by age level, but the information is not confined to just these ages. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.
Articles are updated frequently.
These sections are organized by age level, but the information is not confined to just these ages. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.
Give of Yourself -- No Wrapping Necessary
Teens usually do not have the money to spend on gifts for members of their family but they can still have presents for others. Giving of themselves to help at this busy time of year is one of the best presents. Helping to shop or wrap gifts. Making cookies to give to family and friends and personalizing them to wrap in plastic wrap and put on the tree. Even young men could laugh and enjoy doing this.
Maybe sewing new Christmas stockings. How about learning to crochet a dishcloth or knit a colorful scarf? Could your young people assemble a robot for a younger member of your family? Could your older children spend time with the younger ones without complaining, but maybe letting you know good-naturedly that this is part of YOUR Christmas gift.
Anything they choose to do for others in their neighborhood or community are "feel-good" gifts to share, giving them peace and joy this season during pandemic sadness.
Reading – Book vs. Screen
The internet has brought about an explosion of reading. Maria Gilje Torheim
We all realize that reading is an important skill. Children should be read to at an early age for their success later in school and life, but is it better to read a book or on a screen?
Shared reading is beneficial for cognitive development, narrative comprehension and mental imagery. In other words, young people get the most value from reading as they think about the reading, understand what the reading is about and form pictures in their minds of the action they hear being read. Their vocabulary and pronunciation improve as they hear words read aloud. Research shows no difference in reading a book or on a device.
If a text is long, needs to be read carefully, and involves making notes, students often prefer printed material where they can go back to review or underline what they need to learn. There is better concentration and greater overview if a book is read than reading the same material on a small screen. Students may read faster on the screen but they will understand less. Children have a different mental attitude when they read on a screen.
If your older children must spend time in front of their screens whether for school or fun and connection, they risk eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. If your children are reading on their digital devices, especially on small screens such as a laptop or cell phone, their blink rate decreases and they may complain of dry eyes. If your children complain of headaches, show signs of excessive blinking, eye rubbing, or seem to be tired or cranky, maybe you should adjust the screen brightness down for indoor use. Placing your student's workstation perpendicular to windows may also help. If young people can’t see well, they struggle in their studies; be sure to get vision screenings if you notice any of the above signs of stress.
Books of all kinds can build children’s language and literacy skills, but they do so perhaps in different ways. Professor Daniela O’Neill
Work for Your Young People
Your young people may consider many ways to make their own money. Talk with them about their knowledge of the proposed "work," its requirements and the need to do it safely.
Babysitting is one of those. Many times, parents in your neighborhood ask your pre-teen or teen to care for their children occasionally. A visit to become acquainted with the children as a parent stays nearby might be a first step. Taking a course in babysitting or obtaining a certificate that states your teen knows how to do the best job will certainly be a plus. Checking out websites also gives an idea of what necessary information your young person may need from parents.
parenting.firstcry.com has an article about "Best Babysitting Games to Play With Kids" for several good ideas of what to do with the children.
Your pre-teens/teens obtain a reputation by doing a good job the first time they care for others' children which insures more work to come.
Help them to be prepared so that it will be a good experience for them.
Teens usually do not have the money to spend on gifts for members of their family but they can still have presents for others. Giving of themselves to help at this busy time of year is one of the best presents. Helping to shop or wrap gifts. Making cookies to give to family and friends and personalizing them to wrap in plastic wrap and put on the tree. Even young men could laugh and enjoy doing this.
Maybe sewing new Christmas stockings. How about learning to crochet a dishcloth or knit a colorful scarf? Could your young people assemble a robot for a younger member of your family? Could your older children spend time with the younger ones without complaining, but maybe letting you know good-naturedly that this is part of YOUR Christmas gift.
Anything they choose to do for others in their neighborhood or community are "feel-good" gifts to share, giving them peace and joy this season during pandemic sadness.
Reading – Book vs. Screen
The internet has brought about an explosion of reading. Maria Gilje Torheim
We all realize that reading is an important skill. Children should be read to at an early age for their success later in school and life, but is it better to read a book or on a screen?
Shared reading is beneficial for cognitive development, narrative comprehension and mental imagery. In other words, young people get the most value from reading as they think about the reading, understand what the reading is about and form pictures in their minds of the action they hear being read. Their vocabulary and pronunciation improve as they hear words read aloud. Research shows no difference in reading a book or on a device.
If a text is long, needs to be read carefully, and involves making notes, students often prefer printed material where they can go back to review or underline what they need to learn. There is better concentration and greater overview if a book is read than reading the same material on a small screen. Students may read faster on the screen but they will understand less. Children have a different mental attitude when they read on a screen.
If your older children must spend time in front of their screens whether for school or fun and connection, they risk eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. If your children are reading on their digital devices, especially on small screens such as a laptop or cell phone, their blink rate decreases and they may complain of dry eyes. If your children complain of headaches, show signs of excessive blinking, eye rubbing, or seem to be tired or cranky, maybe you should adjust the screen brightness down for indoor use. Placing your student's workstation perpendicular to windows may also help. If young people can’t see well, they struggle in their studies; be sure to get vision screenings if you notice any of the above signs of stress.
Books of all kinds can build children’s language and literacy skills, but they do so perhaps in different ways. Professor Daniela O’Neill
Work for Your Young People
Your young people may consider many ways to make their own money. Talk with them about their knowledge of the proposed "work," its requirements and the need to do it safely.
Babysitting is one of those. Many times, parents in your neighborhood ask your pre-teen or teen to care for their children occasionally. A visit to become acquainted with the children as a parent stays nearby might be a first step. Taking a course in babysitting or obtaining a certificate that states your teen knows how to do the best job will certainly be a plus. Checking out websites also gives an idea of what necessary information your young person may need from parents.
parenting.firstcry.com has an article about "Best Babysitting Games to Play With Kids" for several good ideas of what to do with the children.
Your pre-teens/teens obtain a reputation by doing a good job the first time they care for others' children which insures more work to come.
Help them to be prepared so that it will be a good experience for them.