After we got home from school and work and day care today, my older kids asked for their InnoTabs to play with. After about 20 minutes, they were finished and moved on to Lego's and Barbecue Party. I'm always glad to see them using their own imagination to entertain themselves (and each other, since my baby doll was helping the super baby play Barbecue Party). I have seen so many children who don't know how to entertain themselves without a battery operated toy/computer/tablet/television, and it breaks my heart to know that they have become so dependent on something that really isn't giving them the benefits that are advertised.
Some years ago, when the little man was still a baby, I saw an ad for an infant video game system in one of the magazines I subscribed to at the time. The Husband was all about the video games at the time and thought we should get one for little man. His side: It teaches shapes, colors, and numbers. My side: It teaches him how to push a button. Our finances didn't allow for us to do more than discuss it, but it really demonstrated the different ends of the technology spectrum to me.
I grew up in a household that had one TV for the longest time. We finally got a little one in the kitchen, but it was mainly used when we would "sneak" downstairs on Saturday mornings for cartoons. (The kitchen was further from the parent's bedroom, the light and sound didn't reach in there... Home free, right?) My brothers got game systems, but not until they were working and able to purchase them for themselves. And, you know, that was okay. We played with dolls and blocks and our imaginations. We had the run of the woods behind the house, and we built the most amazing villages out there where we could bring the dogs and ponies that were around for us to enjoy. We rode our bikes in the yard and on the driveway. We read books, and drew, and had a great time together. At the time, every now and again, we would be bummed that we didn't have what 'everyone' else had. But looking back on it, maybe we had it better.
Fast forward about 15 years, and here I am with my own little ones. Reading and hearing about all the research about how too much screen time is not good for little ones. Being frustrated at all the advertisements that touted the newest product to teach your infant to read or speak or learn best from using that product. When did it become a business to replace that precious time with parents? To teach your child to read from watching TV instead of snuggling up with books? To teach your child shapes and colors on the screen instead of busting out the paper and crayons?
Having all this thrown at me made me want to do it differently. To not take what felt, to me, like the easy way out. So, here I am, with a cabinet full of books to rival the library available at the center where I work, with another cabinet full of art and sensory supplies, to SPEND TIME with my children, learning with and from them. And, you know what? That 20 minutes, a couple times a week with the InnoTab, plus the 2-3 times they watch a show or movie is just enough screen time for us. We have so much more time to create and hang out playing games, and the husband and I get to feel the pride in their learning.
This isn't to say that any amount of screen time is terrible for children. We are just looking to encourage depending on it less, and looking for alternatives to spending so much time glued to the screen.
Last spring, I broached the subject of cancelling our cable subscription with the husband. As there was quite the list of DVR'd shows always available on the box, it wasn't the easiest sell. But we gave it a shot, and switched to Netflix and Hulu. It definitely cuts down on the TV watching the kids and I do, because I don't usually feel like waiting to fire up the TV and Wii to get to the shows. (And I sure liked the cost difference- that extra $50 not going out for cable isn't bothering me a bit.)
So, what does one do instead of fixating on the screen? Well, I'm so glad you asked!
Art- Keep a bin of crayons, markers, pencils, pads of paper, stickers, ink pads and stamps, paints and brushes, scissors, and glue handy. Haul it out and create away.
Playdough- Sensory, only slightly messy, fun. Need I say more?
Sensory bins- Beans, rice, sand, pasta, water, cloud dough (2 parts flour to 1 part oil), easter grass and small plastic toys, snow, ice, aquarium rocks, water beads, marbles... Go wild! (Just make sure that your young ones are closely supervised... Guess that means you get to play too!)
Have a dance party- Put on some music and be silly. Just think of all the endorphins you can give yourself!
READ! Reading to your child is one of the absolute best ways to teach your child. Reading stories gives you snuggle up time, it encourages conversations you may not have had otherwise, it brings up vocabulary that you wouldn't usually use.
Cook- Involve your child in making your meals. Have them pull up a chair or stool, and wash the fruits and veggies at the sink, or measure out the pasta into a bowl, or spread bread with butter or jam. Encourage them to set out silverware and napkins, or choose the fruit that will be served.
Go outside. This, by far, has to be one of my favorite alternatives to do with my children. I was lucky enough to be able to spend so much of my childhood outside, and I need to make up for not having the kind of backyard that I wanted for them the first few years of the older two's lives. We are gonna be spending every spare minute out there (as soon as it is warm enough), and make all the memories we can.
There is so much to do and experience! Go do it! It'll be the best daymaking experience your child can have....
Showing posts with label listening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label listening. Show all posts
Monday, March 17, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
When Baby Talk Isn't the Best Talk
Thank goodness for another Friday. Don't get me wrong- I love what I do, and can't imagine spending my days doing anything else. But I so look forward to each and every weekend to spend time with my own little munchkins. This is the weekend that my baby doll goes in for her Early Childhood Screening. She is really excited about it, and I think that she will do well. Hopefully, she doesn't go shy as soon as we get there.
Recently, I completed a class for work that discussed assessment strategies and how we as teachers use these tools to help us plan for the children we care for. Many may think that there is little to assess when the children are the young infants that I spend my days with, but there is so much more than even I realized before I began working exclusively with infants. People, there is A LOT! Children learn so much in the first five years of life. And if you think of a child going from a helpless newborn to a walking, talking, doing 12 month old in just that 12 months.... It boggles the mind.
One area in particular that I have been putting some thought into is the development of speech in infants. I am a huge fan of Infant Sign Language, and don't know where teachers were before the connection to teach hearing children signing was made. Incidentally, ISL provides an unintended benefit in giving children a visual cue to go with a spoken word- allowing them to connect the word with meaning much sooner. :) While I was in college, I took a class in Speech and Language Phonology and Audiology. To make that mouthful simpler, it was basically a look at how speech is acquired, and the physical structures of our vocal folds that allow for speech. I had a great professor for this class, and several things that he mentioned still stick with me now.
\According to this professor (and, unfortunately, I am unable to recall his name), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the International Children's Education Department there are patterns to how children learn language in the first several years of their lives. The DHHS site has a list of common speech and communication milestones, while iCHED outlines the patterns in which phonemes (the smallest sounds in speech) are acquired. Most of these have goals for fluency in the toddler years, with several moving into the preschool and early elementary years. Also, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has some good information here and a speech development milestone chart here (linked to ldonline.org). There are steps that children go through to learn language, and teaching them to hear or respond to the incorrect sounds can set them up for future difficulties.
As an infant teacher, this information motivates me to encourage and insist that the staff with me enunciate to our infants as clearly as possible. Infancy is one of the building blocks for future learning, and not offering words children will need to know for future learning correctly only creates frustration for those children who hear incorrect speech so often that they don't understand when they hear correctly articulated speech.
I knew a child who wouldn't look around for us (the caregivers) unless we deliberately mispronounced her name, because she heard the mispronunciation more than her actual name. I know that there are children out there whose parents use a nickname more than their child's given name, but when the name is one that the child will need to know as they grow, it really isn't doing them any favors to hear their name wrong all the time. It also doesn't encourage children to learn correct enunciation of language if what they are hearing is consistently incorrect.
That said, there are many things that you can do to help your child learn speech. Begin by looking at your child and responding to their coos. Read, read, read! You can never read too much to your child. Begin with things that interest you to be reading. Your newborn won't care if you are reading the stock market report, they just want to hear your voice. As they grow older, you can offer choices and they can choose books they enjoy. Point out speech and words in the environment and community around you. Street signs, bill boards, advertisements tacked up at the grocery store. All of these is an opportunity to talk to your child and encourage their understanding of words and their uses.
Speak clearly to your child. They will hear the sounds of speech they need to learn to be able to speak for themselves better if they are hearing you enunciate clearly. Don't mush up your sounds or encourage baby talk (NOT the same thing as babbling with your child) Again, this encourages your child to distinguish mispronunciations as the correct speech to learn. Do encourage and participate in babbling with your child. When they can make sounds like, "mamama", "dododo", "bebebe"- talk back to them. This gives them practice with that sound, even as it shows them that they are able to carry on a conversation with you.
It all begins with you. What your child hears from you, they are going to want to imitate. You are your child's first and best teacher. :)
Recently, I completed a class for work that discussed assessment strategies and how we as teachers use these tools to help us plan for the children we care for. Many may think that there is little to assess when the children are the young infants that I spend my days with, but there is so much more than even I realized before I began working exclusively with infants. People, there is A LOT! Children learn so much in the first five years of life. And if you think of a child going from a helpless newborn to a walking, talking, doing 12 month old in just that 12 months.... It boggles the mind.
One area in particular that I have been putting some thought into is the development of speech in infants. I am a huge fan of Infant Sign Language, and don't know where teachers were before the connection to teach hearing children signing was made. Incidentally, ISL provides an unintended benefit in giving children a visual cue to go with a spoken word- allowing them to connect the word with meaning much sooner. :) While I was in college, I took a class in Speech and Language Phonology and Audiology. To make that mouthful simpler, it was basically a look at how speech is acquired, and the physical structures of our vocal folds that allow for speech. I had a great professor for this class, and several things that he mentioned still stick with me now.
\According to this professor (and, unfortunately, I am unable to recall his name), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the International Children's Education Department there are patterns to how children learn language in the first several years of their lives. The DHHS site has a list of common speech and communication milestones, while iCHED outlines the patterns in which phonemes (the smallest sounds in speech) are acquired. Most of these have goals for fluency in the toddler years, with several moving into the preschool and early elementary years. Also, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has some good information here and a speech development milestone chart here (linked to ldonline.org). There are steps that children go through to learn language, and teaching them to hear or respond to the incorrect sounds can set them up for future difficulties.
As an infant teacher, this information motivates me to encourage and insist that the staff with me enunciate to our infants as clearly as possible. Infancy is one of the building blocks for future learning, and not offering words children will need to know for future learning correctly only creates frustration for those children who hear incorrect speech so often that they don't understand when they hear correctly articulated speech.
I knew a child who wouldn't look around for us (the caregivers) unless we deliberately mispronounced her name, because she heard the mispronunciation more than her actual name. I know that there are children out there whose parents use a nickname more than their child's given name, but when the name is one that the child will need to know as they grow, it really isn't doing them any favors to hear their name wrong all the time. It also doesn't encourage children to learn correct enunciation of language if what they are hearing is consistently incorrect.
That said, there are many things that you can do to help your child learn speech. Begin by looking at your child and responding to their coos. Read, read, read! You can never read too much to your child. Begin with things that interest you to be reading. Your newborn won't care if you are reading the stock market report, they just want to hear your voice. As they grow older, you can offer choices and they can choose books they enjoy. Point out speech and words in the environment and community around you. Street signs, bill boards, advertisements tacked up at the grocery store. All of these is an opportunity to talk to your child and encourage their understanding of words and their uses.
Speak clearly to your child. They will hear the sounds of speech they need to learn to be able to speak for themselves better if they are hearing you enunciate clearly. Don't mush up your sounds or encourage baby talk (NOT the same thing as babbling with your child) Again, this encourages your child to distinguish mispronunciations as the correct speech to learn. Do encourage and participate in babbling with your child. When they can make sounds like, "mamama", "dododo", "bebebe"- talk back to them. This gives them practice with that sound, even as it shows them that they are able to carry on a conversation with you.
It all begins with you. What your child hears from you, they are going to want to imitate. You are your child's first and best teacher. :)
Monday, March 10, 2014
Become the Science Kids!
I always took science classes for granted when I was in school myself, and didn't think about it much after I graduated. It took having children myself, and working with all the wonderful children that I've been able to hang out with for the last several years to really understand the significance of encouraging science exploration for children.
Encouraging science exploration in children is a great way to spark their curiosity, and teach them about learning. I know it may seem like a silly thing, to have to teach a child about learning. But it is a process that needs practice for children to become proficient at. And science is a great way to do so. :)
Science can be as simple as exploration bottles. I have several bottles at home for my kiddos, with rice and some small objects for them to find as they roll the bottles. I took pictures of each of the objects before putting them in the bottles, and putting them on a sheet for them to use as an I Spy for the bottles. I make them for the children at work as well. One has water and a cut up plastic bag that looks like an octopus, another has baby oil and ribbons and sequins in it, and another water with sand and sea shells. The options are only limited by what you can fit into the bottle. Pinterest has TONS of great ideas! (Have I mentioned how much I like Pinterest?)
Plants are another great science tool. Planting seeds in bags to stick in the window, in cups with children's faces taped to the outside, creating any type of garden that children are encouraged to explore and experience. I love having my children around our garden. I have started my tomatoes, peppers, and several herbs in pots in the house, and I love watching my kids get excited about watching the plants sprout and grow. Before we had our house, we joined a community garden so that the kids could have the experience of a garden (and me too!) when we just didn't have the space or ability to have a garden at home.
My kids love to use water to learn and explore. Measuring, scooping, and pouring are great activities for children to learn. You can also include snow and ice in water play. Adding food coloring to spray bottles of water for children to 'paint' the snow. Freezing small plastic toys in large blocks of ice, and letting children pour warm water on it to get the toys out.
One big thing all of these have in common is that they are activities that require hands on participation by the children. All of them encourage the children to interact with the materials provided, to have power over what happens. If you don't shake the sensory bottle, the materials inside just sit there. They don't shift, move, or mix. If you don't plant the seeds, they won't grow or develop produce that can be harvested and eaten. If they don't touch the water, it will just sit there. And evaporation takes too long for the quantity in a water table to be very interesting for children. :)
Science is all around us. Teaching children to notice and enjoy it encourages so many skills that will help them be as successful as possible as they grow. It can be as simple as asking the right question in the moment or as complex as planning out a long term science project with your child. The main thing is, again, to be involved yourself. Anything you are interested in and doing is going to spark your child's interest. They want to be just like you, to do what you do. And when you are interested in what they are doing, it makes things so much cooler and more interesting to your child.
Some ideas:
Pinterest Science
Encouraging science exploration in children is a great way to spark their curiosity, and teach them about learning. I know it may seem like a silly thing, to have to teach a child about learning. But it is a process that needs practice for children to become proficient at. And science is a great way to do so. :)
Science can be as simple as exploration bottles. I have several bottles at home for my kiddos, with rice and some small objects for them to find as they roll the bottles. I took pictures of each of the objects before putting them in the bottles, and putting them on a sheet for them to use as an I Spy for the bottles. I make them for the children at work as well. One has water and a cut up plastic bag that looks like an octopus, another has baby oil and ribbons and sequins in it, and another water with sand and sea shells. The options are only limited by what you can fit into the bottle. Pinterest has TONS of great ideas! (Have I mentioned how much I like Pinterest?)
Plants are another great science tool. Planting seeds in bags to stick in the window, in cups with children's faces taped to the outside, creating any type of garden that children are encouraged to explore and experience. I love having my children around our garden. I have started my tomatoes, peppers, and several herbs in pots in the house, and I love watching my kids get excited about watching the plants sprout and grow. Before we had our house, we joined a community garden so that the kids could have the experience of a garden (and me too!) when we just didn't have the space or ability to have a garden at home.
My kids love to use water to learn and explore. Measuring, scooping, and pouring are great activities for children to learn. You can also include snow and ice in water play. Adding food coloring to spray bottles of water for children to 'paint' the snow. Freezing small plastic toys in large blocks of ice, and letting children pour warm water on it to get the toys out.
One big thing all of these have in common is that they are activities that require hands on participation by the children. All of them encourage the children to interact with the materials provided, to have power over what happens. If you don't shake the sensory bottle, the materials inside just sit there. They don't shift, move, or mix. If you don't plant the seeds, they won't grow or develop produce that can be harvested and eaten. If they don't touch the water, it will just sit there. And evaporation takes too long for the quantity in a water table to be very interesting for children. :)
Science is all around us. Teaching children to notice and enjoy it encourages so many skills that will help them be as successful as possible as they grow. It can be as simple as asking the right question in the moment or as complex as planning out a long term science project with your child. The main thing is, again, to be involved yourself. Anything you are interested in and doing is going to spark your child's interest. They want to be just like you, to do what you do. And when you are interested in what they are doing, it makes things so much cooler and more interesting to your child.
Some ideas:
Pinterest Science
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Treasure the Small Moments with Family
What a wonderful week it was. The little man had the week off from school for spring break even though we haven't really moved into spring yet. There's still so much snow, I think it's going to take until June to clear up! The others had a great time learning about the circus at daycare, and putting on a circus on Friday.
Today, we took the munchkins swimming at one of the local hotels. There are a couple around here that allow open swim for a reasonable price. Since it was my momma's birthday a couple days ago, and I love any excuse to hang out with my parents and siblings, the text went out (along with a phone call to my parents who haven't figured out the joys of texting yet), and the date was set up. We had a wonderful hour and a half or so swimming with about half of my side of the family, followed by a crock pot lunch at our house after. As we hadn't been able to visit with my mom on her birthday, the munchkin troop and I headed to Target this morning to pick up some birthday decor.
Even though the doll baby spilled the beans about the birthday decorations and balloons that we had waiting, my momma was one happy lady when she walked in and saw it. And the kids sure had a blast having a party for her. Much fun and relaxing were had by all.
These are the moments that I sure live for. The moments when you are surrounded by the ones you love, the ones who just get you and all your weirdness. The moments when you can put a smile on someone's face, and make their day just that much brighter. I love it! And I sure love how my babies are figuring out how to do the same kinds of things already. :)
There are two good reasons to become a facilitator of moments like this....
1.. You never know when this day could be your last chance to create memories of or with someone. I recently was able to be a listener for a coworker, explaining how the 4 year old daughter of a neighbor, a child who had played frequently with her own children, had died in a tragic accident the night before. Things can happen so fast, so you need to make sure that you are taking each and every opportunity to store up memories of the people you love and enjoy being with.
2. You also never know when your kindness and the time you offer could mean the world to another person. I love reading the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one particular story that still stands out is of a middle school boy who befriended another, after the second had his stack of books knocked out of his arms. They became good friends, and it was only at their high school graduation that it came out that the second had planned to commit suicide that weekend. The actions of the first boy convinced him that there were more reasons to go on and find the help he needed.
I was given the opportunity to read Life as a Daymaker, by David Wagner a couple years ago. This is truly an amazing book! The philosophy of creating moments of conscious giving to others is so simple, yet so profound that it can change lives with a single act of thoughtful kindness. I strive to utilize the ideas that I read in this book to be the best parent, spouse, employee, co-worker, child, and friend that I can be. And the rewards that I get are truly priceless.
I recently purchased the book Bucket Filling from A to Z through the book order program at my younger children's day care. We haven't had a chance to read it together- yet- but after flipping through it, I am glad that it is now a part of our library. There are so many ways to give, to make someone else's day, and this will be another way that we teach our children the power of giving back.
One last bit before I go tonight....
Today, we took the munchkins swimming at one of the local hotels. There are a couple around here that allow open swim for a reasonable price. Since it was my momma's birthday a couple days ago, and I love any excuse to hang out with my parents and siblings, the text went out (along with a phone call to my parents who haven't figured out the joys of texting yet), and the date was set up. We had a wonderful hour and a half or so swimming with about half of my side of the family, followed by a crock pot lunch at our house after. As we hadn't been able to visit with my mom on her birthday, the munchkin troop and I headed to Target this morning to pick up some birthday decor.
Even though the doll baby spilled the beans about the birthday decorations and balloons that we had waiting, my momma was one happy lady when she walked in and saw it. And the kids sure had a blast having a party for her. Much fun and relaxing were had by all.
These are the moments that I sure live for. The moments when you are surrounded by the ones you love, the ones who just get you and all your weirdness. The moments when you can put a smile on someone's face, and make their day just that much brighter. I love it! And I sure love how my babies are figuring out how to do the same kinds of things already. :)
There are two good reasons to become a facilitator of moments like this....
1.. You never know when this day could be your last chance to create memories of or with someone. I recently was able to be a listener for a coworker, explaining how the 4 year old daughter of a neighbor, a child who had played frequently with her own children, had died in a tragic accident the night before. Things can happen so fast, so you need to make sure that you are taking each and every opportunity to store up memories of the people you love and enjoy being with.
2. You also never know when your kindness and the time you offer could mean the world to another person. I love reading the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one particular story that still stands out is of a middle school boy who befriended another, after the second had his stack of books knocked out of his arms. They became good friends, and it was only at their high school graduation that it came out that the second had planned to commit suicide that weekend. The actions of the first boy convinced him that there were more reasons to go on and find the help he needed.
I was given the opportunity to read Life as a Daymaker, by David Wagner a couple years ago. This is truly an amazing book! The philosophy of creating moments of conscious giving to others is so simple, yet so profound that it can change lives with a single act of thoughtful kindness. I strive to utilize the ideas that I read in this book to be the best parent, spouse, employee, co-worker, child, and friend that I can be. And the rewards that I get are truly priceless.
 |
| Life as a Daymaker |
I recently purchased the book Bucket Filling from A to Z through the book order program at my younger children's day care. We haven't had a chance to read it together- yet- but after flipping through it, I am glad that it is now a part of our library. There are so many ways to give, to make someone else's day, and this will be another way that we teach our children the power of giving back.
 |
| Bucket Filling from A to Z |
One last bit before I go tonight....
They truly are what matter most.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
The Power in Your Speech
What a wonderful week this has been, thus far! The kidlets, husband, and I got to go out for a walk this afternoon (finally!), and the curtain of snow that has been blocking my windows at work is finally beginning to melt. Slowly, to be sure, but we got to have more sunshine coming in today than we have had all week. I sure have missed it!
This article popped up on my Facebook news feed, shared by at least three friends..... What Really Happens When You Use the R-Word. It gives a great look at how the use of a specific word as a negative and demeaning insult truly diminishes whole groups of people who, as the article states, just don't have the necessary skills to be able to defend themselves against the attack.
Reading this got me thinking about how the things we say, and the ways we say them, truly affect others in our lives as well as people we have never met.
Looking at the power of our words over others, and especially children, from a this perspective, we truly need to use caution when we are talking to our children. We need to preview their media- from books and magazines, to television and video games. Children need to be taught how to use their words nicely. They aren't born knowing how to build someone up or tear them down with what they say- they are taught by the examples that are in front of them daily.
I have no idea where this particular poem originated, and I would love to be able to give the author credit. My mom found a copy of it in the newspaper (I think), and cut it out and kept it on the refrigerator for the longest time:
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
This truly sums up why we need to make sure that our children are hearing and learning the best they can from us- their parents and families and friends and caregivers.... Everything they need to learn to be able to be the best they can be starts with us.
This article popped up on my Facebook news feed, shared by at least three friends..... What Really Happens When You Use the R-Word. It gives a great look at how the use of a specific word as a negative and demeaning insult truly diminishes whole groups of people who, as the article states, just don't have the necessary skills to be able to defend themselves against the attack.
Reading this got me thinking about how the things we say, and the ways we say them, truly affect others in our lives as well as people we have never met.
Looking at the power of our words over others, and especially children, from a this perspective, we truly need to use caution when we are talking to our children. We need to preview their media- from books and magazines, to television and video games. Children need to be taught how to use their words nicely. They aren't born knowing how to build someone up or tear them down with what they say- they are taught by the examples that are in front of them daily.
I have no idea where this particular poem originated, and I would love to be able to give the author credit. My mom found a copy of it in the newspaper (I think), and cut it out and kept it on the refrigerator for the longest time:
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
This truly sums up why we need to make sure that our children are hearing and learning the best they can from us- their parents and families and friends and caregivers.... Everything they need to learn to be able to be the best they can be starts with us.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Learning to Read
I don't remember learning to read. Which, when I think about it, is a little weird because I vividly remember the first book I could read all by myself. It was a great farm- counting book, and the first page had a horse on it. As my parents own a farm, with horses, cows, pigs, and (at the time) sheep, this book was awesome to me. I wish I could find it now to read with my own children. The other book that stands out as an early favorite for me was actually my older sister's book. It is called Honeyphants and Elebees, in which and elephant and bee decide that the other has the perfect life and find a way to switch. Kinda Freaky Friday-ish. But a cute book.
Now, as a mom myself, with a kindergartner who is doing a great job learning to read, and a preschooler who is racing to catch up with him, I am loving the opportunity of seeing how I probably did learn to read. The school where Little Man goes has a program where the children are allowed to check out three level-appropriate books each week, and the parents/adults are supposed to read those books with their child every day. I will admit that we do cheat with that a little, as I have LOTS of books for the kids, and I will let him choose other books to read.
I do miss the days of us cuddling up while I read to them, but it is great to listen to them. Since Little Man is getting the books from school, Baby Doll wants to 'read' them, too. I know that she can't really read all the words yet, but she only needs a few run- throughs to be able to have about 90% of it memorized and can recite it back to you. And she totally has the tone/inflection for storytelling. (Maybe a future in speech? Guess we will see!) And the Super Baby can't be left out; he will 'read' by repeating the short sentences in a board book as I read through it for him. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, anyone?
All this practice is teaching all three of my children the parts of books and reading: The covers and title page, that there is often an author and illustrator, and what those words mean, that there is a correct way to hold the book and turn the pages. In addition to the literacy practice they get, there is also the fine motor skills of turning the pages, and the large motor skills of lifting the books to and from the shelf. An all around great and healthy activity!
And, as much as I love the time that I get with my children by reading with them, what I love even more is the benefits it gives them. Just one source, Wishing Well, has this list of benefits of reading to children:
Now, as a mom myself, with a kindergartner who is doing a great job learning to read, and a preschooler who is racing to catch up with him, I am loving the opportunity of seeing how I probably did learn to read. The school where Little Man goes has a program where the children are allowed to check out three level-appropriate books each week, and the parents/adults are supposed to read those books with their child every day. I will admit that we do cheat with that a little, as I have LOTS of books for the kids, and I will let him choose other books to read.
I do miss the days of us cuddling up while I read to them, but it is great to listen to them. Since Little Man is getting the books from school, Baby Doll wants to 'read' them, too. I know that she can't really read all the words yet, but she only needs a few run- throughs to be able to have about 90% of it memorized and can recite it back to you. And she totally has the tone/inflection for storytelling. (Maybe a future in speech? Guess we will see!) And the Super Baby can't be left out; he will 'read' by repeating the short sentences in a board book as I read through it for him. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, anyone?
All this practice is teaching all three of my children the parts of books and reading: The covers and title page, that there is often an author and illustrator, and what those words mean, that there is a correct way to hold the book and turn the pages. In addition to the literacy practice they get, there is also the fine motor skills of turning the pages, and the large motor skills of lifting the books to and from the shelf. An all around great and healthy activity!
And, as much as I love the time that I get with my children by reading with them, what I love even more is the benefits it gives them. Just one source, Wishing Well, has this list of benefits of reading to children:
1. School Preparation: Reading aloud is the easiest and most effective way to prepare a child for school. And it’s never too early to start preparing them. Kids who are read to when they are young are more likely to do well in school overall. When you read to children, you are stimulating language and literacy skills, as well as building motivation, curiosity and memory. Ever try to skip a page in a small child’s favorite book? They catch you every time.
2. Vocabulary Development: Almost 80 percent of a child’s brain develops before age 5. Kids are sponges when they are little. Say a word in front of them and they repeat it. Read to them, and they hear words that they don’t normally encounter in daily conversation. Books build their vocabulary and give them a mastery of language.
3. Education Advancement: The more children’s books in the home, the farther the child goes in school. Doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what your parents do; research shows that the more age-appropriate books in children’s homes, the more schooling they will finish. Period. So get as many books as you can for your children, and watch them learn and grow.
4. Passion for Books: Reading to children builds family relationships, and children learn to love books and reading. Ever want a child to settle down? Break out a book and start reading aloud. Then watch. That child will stop, come over, probably sit in your lap and cuddle while you read to her. Then she will want another book, and another. Look at her! Now she’s learning self-discipline while enjoying a special time with you. All from a book.
5. Stress Management: Children learn how to handle stress and new experiences from books. Stories are a great way to help children transition from one milestone to another (starting school, moving), or to handle a stressful situation (losing a pet, gaining a new sibling). There are relevant children’s books for almost every situation, and they can really help explain things to children on their level.
Sheryl Rogers, the article's author, goes on to state that this is only a partial list of the benefits of reading to your child. There is so much to be gained, and I love that I am able to make such an impact on my children's learning and development. Research suggests that as little as 20 minutes per day can have a noticeable impact on your child's learning and development. I know that I am seeing this right before my eyes.
Read, read, read! It really is one of the best things you can do for, and give to, your child!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Science Behind Listening
It's interesting how children listen to you... Or don't, as the case may be. As I mentioned, I have a 2 year old, a 4 year old, and a 6 year old. And their listening skills are so highly developed, it makes me wonder where I lost some of mine.
For example, I can be in the same room as Little Man, and tell him that he needs to do something. Or stop jumping on or off the couch. Or to walk in the house so he doesn't plow the Super Baby over. And he can't hear me! See how developed that is? He can tune directions right out when they are spoken at a normal, indoor tone, not 10 feet from him. And as I can admit to being a frustrated momma at times, there are times I've raised my voice... OK, even yelled when he (or one of the others) was doing something that he'd been told not to several times, and I was concerned about safety. Or just wanted him to stop. And he still can't hear me. But, when I get up, in preparation for getting within arms reach to physically stop him, he heard it all, and stops. Magical, huh?
And the other two are the same way.
My other favorite (ha, ha) example of listening is the repeated questioning. As a professional, I know that children learn by asking questions, and that they may honestly not be able to remember the answer you give for long. And that many children will repeat the same question to make sure that you give the same answer every time. Unfortunately, as I and many other parents know, this can become frustrating for the adults in the situation. We may begin thinking, "Does this child even hear what I am saying? I just answered this question 2 minutes ago!"
Both of these situations can lead to stress and frustration for parents, children, and care givers. And that is just no fun for any one. No one wants to spend their day getting after their child for climbing the furniture, or being a human snow plow, or just being in your face to the point that neither of you is having fun any more.
Fortunately, there is a multitude of information on parenting and communicating with your child. Unfortunately, there is so much information out there that it can be overwhelming. Add in the caring and well meaning advice of friends and family, and it can be downright scary to try anything.
One of the first books I read, which actually also became one of my go-to methods, was 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for 2-12, by Dr. Thomas Phalen (1). The most basic premise of this method is that you (the parent or caregiver) outline what behaviors you want to stop, and decide what the consequence will be if your child continues the behavior. You don't argue or escalate, you simply count. Say "That's one" with the first notice of the behavior, "That's two" if it continues or becomes a second negative (such as arguing about stopping the behavior), and "That's three, [insert consequence here.]" On the flip side of that is also deciding behaviors you want to encourage, and deciding on a support system for those. For example, I want my children to have a routine at home. I have a sticker chart schedule that outlines several things I need them to do during the day- like getting ready in the morning, taking a nap or rest, and getting ready for bed. They can earn stickers or draw smiling faces when they are able to accomplish their tasks, and if they get the previously decided number of stickers, they get a pre-drawn reward. We keep an assortment of wide craft sticks that list rewards like a movie night, art supplies, play dough party and so on. At the beginning of the week, one is drawn and displayed to remind the children what they are working toward.
There are many, many more books out there on helping children listen, but I haven't had a chance to check them all out. If you have suggestions, feel free to share in the comments! I am always looking for more to learn.
My other stand-by for repetitive questioning is to reply with, "Already answered." When Baby Doll asks again what is for supper, and I have already responded once or twice, I will say, "Already answered." And usually, she can tell me what is for supper. Or if she can have Lego's out. Or if we can watch a movie. Or pretty much anything. "Already answered." What a great idea. Unfortunately, I can't find the article where I read about this idea, so I can't give it's author credit now. But when I find it again, I will make sure to link it to share.
Listening and discipline go hand in hand. Helping children learn to listen is such a critical skill. I can't wait for the day when my own children listen the first time I say something, every time. But I guess when that happens, I'll wake up from the dream. Oh, well... Understanding that this exceptional listening is a part of a child's development keeps me from going too crazy when it seems to be going around a lot. Hopefully, it helps out others, too.
For example, I can be in the same room as Little Man, and tell him that he needs to do something. Or stop jumping on or off the couch. Or to walk in the house so he doesn't plow the Super Baby over. And he can't hear me! See how developed that is? He can tune directions right out when they are spoken at a normal, indoor tone, not 10 feet from him. And as I can admit to being a frustrated momma at times, there are times I've raised my voice... OK, even yelled when he (or one of the others) was doing something that he'd been told not to several times, and I was concerned about safety. Or just wanted him to stop. And he still can't hear me. But, when I get up, in preparation for getting within arms reach to physically stop him, he heard it all, and stops. Magical, huh?
And the other two are the same way.
My other favorite (ha, ha) example of listening is the repeated questioning. As a professional, I know that children learn by asking questions, and that they may honestly not be able to remember the answer you give for long. And that many children will repeat the same question to make sure that you give the same answer every time. Unfortunately, as I and many other parents know, this can become frustrating for the adults in the situation. We may begin thinking, "Does this child even hear what I am saying? I just answered this question 2 minutes ago!"
Both of these situations can lead to stress and frustration for parents, children, and care givers. And that is just no fun for any one. No one wants to spend their day getting after their child for climbing the furniture, or being a human snow plow, or just being in your face to the point that neither of you is having fun any more.
Fortunately, there is a multitude of information on parenting and communicating with your child. Unfortunately, there is so much information out there that it can be overwhelming. Add in the caring and well meaning advice of friends and family, and it can be downright scary to try anything.
One of the first books I read, which actually also became one of my go-to methods, was 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for 2-12, by Dr. Thomas Phalen (1). The most basic premise of this method is that you (the parent or caregiver) outline what behaviors you want to stop, and decide what the consequence will be if your child continues the behavior. You don't argue or escalate, you simply count. Say "That's one" with the first notice of the behavior, "That's two" if it continues or becomes a second negative (such as arguing about stopping the behavior), and "That's three, [insert consequence here.]" On the flip side of that is also deciding behaviors you want to encourage, and deciding on a support system for those. For example, I want my children to have a routine at home. I have a sticker chart schedule that outlines several things I need them to do during the day- like getting ready in the morning, taking a nap or rest, and getting ready for bed. They can earn stickers or draw smiling faces when they are able to accomplish their tasks, and if they get the previously decided number of stickers, they get a pre-drawn reward. We keep an assortment of wide craft sticks that list rewards like a movie night, art supplies, play dough party and so on. At the beginning of the week, one is drawn and displayed to remind the children what they are working toward.
There are many, many more books out there on helping children listen, but I haven't had a chance to check them all out. If you have suggestions, feel free to share in the comments! I am always looking for more to learn.
My other stand-by for repetitive questioning is to reply with, "Already answered." When Baby Doll asks again what is for supper, and I have already responded once or twice, I will say, "Already answered." And usually, she can tell me what is for supper. Or if she can have Lego's out. Or if we can watch a movie. Or pretty much anything. "Already answered." What a great idea. Unfortunately, I can't find the article where I read about this idea, so I can't give it's author credit now. But when I find it again, I will make sure to link it to share.
Listening and discipline go hand in hand. Helping children learn to listen is such a critical skill. I can't wait for the day when my own children listen the first time I say something, every time. But I guess when that happens, I'll wake up from the dream. Oh, well... Understanding that this exceptional listening is a part of a child's development keeps me from going too crazy when it seems to be going around a lot. Hopefully, it helps out others, too.
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