After a foundation is laid, you will need to add a strong structure to fortify their growth.
Enjoy the bi-weekly articles below.
These sections  are organized by age level, but the information is not restricted to that age group. Consider looking at other age ranges as well. Also, make sure to check out the Archives.

Full STEAM ahead!
Do you know what STEAM stands for in your children's learning? Do you know why this acronym is so important?  Do you know what you can do to help your children succeed in STEAM studies?
Parents can learn ways to help their children learn through STEAM.
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.  These subjects are   important because 16% of the jobs in the United States between 2014 and 2024 will need the skills taught through these subject areas (leftbraincraftbrain.com)
STEAM provides an integrated approach to learning that encourages students to think more broadly about real world problems that they will need to solve.  It is an approach involving two or more academic, scientific or artistic areas of study to help encourage and create innovation--new and original ways to look at problems in our present and future world.
This approach to learning helps students to ask questions, "connect dots," problem solve and think creatively.
 
Art has been added because it helps students create ideas through sketches or designs to
solve problems.  It focuses on a process which helps drive original ideas and teaches the
power of observation of people, their surroundings, and devices used to make something
happen.  It creates a "what if..." mentality.  It helps to sharpen spatial awareness and math concepts like geometry.
 
STEAM Kids: 50+ Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Math Hands-On Projects for Kids is a paperback book by MIT engineer Anne Carey available through Amazon that provides a year's worth of activities that will fascinate children and hopefully, prevent their boredom with education. It teaches children to "question like a scientist, design like a technologist, build like an engineer, create like an artist, and deduce like a mathematician and, most importantly, play like a kid."  Such projects as color changing play dough, circuit bugs, and candy mazes encourage children ages 4-10 to explore and become enthusiastic about learning as they participate in fascinating activities.  Motivation to want to know more keeps their interest and leads to further exploration.
 
Too often we give children the answers to remember rather than a problem to solve.    Roger Lewin
 https:leftbraincraftbrain.com is a website which provides a list of STEM/STEAM activities that helps to feed  children's senses while they  play and learn.  Pinterest also suggests many areas which challenge kids to learn through experiments, projects, and crafts. Parents can encourage children's curiosity about how things work through such activities. Children just may think up new ways to use ordinary devices and utensils to make gadgets that can be used in other ways. You may find that your child is a genius, a creative genius.  This might be a fascinating discovery for parents!
https://steamklidsbooks.com suggests inexpensive ebooks, coloring books, cards and book bundles for parents to purchase.
The multiple issues that we face in the 21st Century revolve around aspects of STEM.  These issues can only be resolved with a STEM-EDUCATED WORKFORCE.  Oregon State University Center for Research on Lifelong STEM Learning, 2013.


Setting Boundaries for Your Children
          Trying to raise a responsible, cooperative child without age-appropriate boundaries is like trying to raise a goldfish                         outside its fishbowl. Marianne Neifert,  M.D.
     Even very young children can be taught that there are certain behaviors that are ok, while others are not.  Clear directions about where and when to eat meals, bedtime on weekdays,  picking up belongings and playing with an iPad are some of the most difficult to enforce, but also the most necessary. Children have a sense of belonging if you care enough to guide their behavior.
     Rules are essential for children to grow. They need to understand what is expected of them and what will happen if they don't do what is expected of them. They need to know consequences will be enforced consistently. Some rules are just basic good manners; some are for their safety; some are for order and smooth operation of families and classrooms. Clear rules also reduce power struggles and lesson friction between siblings and classmates when children know what behavior is expected of them.
     Children will test, but if parents, grandparents and kid caregivers know the rules for children as well as having the children know, all can be on board to carry out the rules. All adults must be consistent in expectations. You as parents need to know your own values and principles so as to guide your children and so that other adults can recognize and understand your reasons for rules.
     Too many rules or too strict rules make children rebel. Less but essential are better. Children grow confident and carry out expectations responsibly if there are fewer, but enforced, rules. Too many limits squelch exploration, discourage creativity and learning, and prevent knowing new skills.
          Boundaries are to protect life, not to limit pleasures.  Edwin Louis Cole
     Try not to confuse your children by saying something is wrong one day and not the next. Adults must be consistent in their expectations of children,  but must also be flexible.  If you see your children following the rules daily and a special occasion or opportunity comes up, allow your children the chance to show their responsibility and trustworthiness and relax the rules for them to do so.  You might even give your children a say in setting rules and consequences to show you value their input.  This may also be a better incentive to follow rules.
     Peace and order can be established with you as the adult in charge.  Your children need the boundaries you provide in order to grow safely, securely and responsibly. They learn you love them and value them enough to set guidelines. Your children are not in charge.  YOU ARE!
     There are several websites to help you establish good rules, such as Debbie Pinkus at https://www.empoweringparents.com (adolescent and teen behavior), Marianne Neifert at https://parenting.com, and Mark Merrill at https://allprodad.com (10 ways to establish clear boundaries for children) are some I have found to be the most helpful. Allprodad is especially beneficial for dads.
          Don't limit emotions, limit behavior. Andy Smithson, LMSW

ASKING QUESTIONS, GETTING ANSWERS
     Soon, you will be asking your children "How was your day at school?"  They will answer "Ok."You and they will go on about your busy lives, but have either of you learned anything?  You learned nothing about the seven or eight hours your children have been away from you (unless something memorable has happened during their day) and they may sense that you do not really care.
      How do we ask questions which  invite children to share? Use open-ended questions--questions that make children think or speculate, give his or her opinion. Use "why" or "how."  Do not accept "I don't know" as an answer; this is a cop-out and does not encourage your children to trust you with their thoughts.
       Some suggestions for questions to ask your children when they come home from school that will provoke necessary conversation are provided here from www.parentsquare.com:
          What challenged you today?  What new fact did you learn today?
          What did you eat for lunch?  Did you like it?
          Who brought the best food in their lunch from home?  Did they share with you? Should I get some   
              for you to share?
         Did anyone do something super nice for you? What was the nicest thing you did for someone else?
         Who made you smile today?  What was the funniest thing that made you laugh?
         Which one of your teachers would survive a zombie apocalypse?  How?
         If school were a ride at the fair, which ride would it be?  Why do you think so?
         How would you rate your day on a scale of  1 to 10? Why?
      Some of these questions may sound silly, but even laughing together becomes a bond.  Don't let another child laugh at or put down those who answer. The thoughts expressed by another may be far from what WE think, but each thought expressed by another promotes ideas and encouragement  to learn more. You can model how to ask questions in order to get answers by asking your children questions. You as a parent enhance their learning. Too often, even we as adults, fail to ask questions and make mistakes as a result.  Parents must grow children's ability and confidence to ask questions, to help them find answers to clarify concepts learned and understand better.
      By teaching your children how to ask  questions, you may give your children a tool to challenge things they do not understand at school and even give them the courage to contest the experimental ideas of their peers.  "What happens if I do that? What are the consequences?" Asking such questions may save them harmful missteps in their future.
                  The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. Thomas Berger
      You might even encourage your children to ask you questions.  When you don't know the answer, reply
"I'm not sure. Let's find out together."  This is a good use for your iPad or computer.
     Check the website changing minds.org/techniques for more ideas.
 
Children Reading Too Slowly?
​     On the website www.understood.com, several reasons are given for your children reading too slowly to get meaning from what they read. Sometimes, children, even though they are smart and really not having trouble with reading, may be trying out new reading strategies suggested by their teachers and they are just practicing. They may want to have more time to think about what they are reading, especially children with active imaginations.
      Sometimes, children who read slowly need extra help, specially with figuring out new or difficult words--words they cannot pronounce or have never heard before. They may have trouble remembering words--holding them in their working memory.     
     Children may be reading books or passages that are too hard for them. A website www.learningally.com suggests audio books read by a human voice as a help to such children. Listening to someone reading the book to them will help them understand and gain the confidence they need to know they can read. Of course, you can read the book with them also.
     They may be perfectionists and anxious about their reading, afraid they will make a mistake and want to be sure they know what they are reading about. Perhaps, your children have trouble staying focused. They may be distracted by sights or sounds, or just daydreaming.
      Some children may have a hard time processing and understanding language. They may need extra help to become stronger readers.
     Let your children choose their own books for leisure reading, even if the books are easy for them.  You can encourage them to just read, not criticizing their choices or allowing siblings to tease them about their choices. Reading is a skill that takes practice.
     Talk to your children's teachers to see if they have noticed how slowly your children read and ask for suggestions of what you can do to help them.  With time, your patience and help, they can improve their reading.