Many kids do poorly in school because they have a hard time remembering the many different kinds of facts required for academic success. Here are some techniques you can encourage your child to use to help him develop a better memory for all the information he has to digest during the school day: • Suggest […]
Over half a million children in the United States are estimated to be currently taking the drug Ritalin for hyperactivity. While many experts claim the drug helps children succeed in school by calming them down and reducing their distractibility, there are growing concerns that the disadvantages of using Ritalin may far outweigh its advantages in
Geometry seems like a complicated subject for a preschooler to be learning about, but it doesn’t have to remain a subject that only older kids get to study. You can help your child begin to appreciate geometry by focusing her awareness on the shapes around her. • After showing her two or three basic shapes
Kids are natural scientists; they’re always wondering about things, testing their ideas about the world, and asking questions about natural events. You can help your child make use of his inquiring mind by providing experiences around the home that involve scientific principles. • The bathroom is a great place to begin. Fill the bathtub with
While many conflicting philosophies and techniques exist for helping children draw, there are several general suggestions any parent can follow in providing a nurturing environment for the budding artist. • First, show an interest in your child’s work. Get involved by creating pictures together, or you might draw something on a piece of paper, have
Many kids love to draw and want to learn how to draw better. What kind of help should a parent provide? There are currently many different kinds of drawing techniques available for children, ranging from highly structured to completely free form. • On the very structured side, there is Ed Emberly’s Drawing Book series. These
Many parents are confused about what kind of preschool or kindergarten to choose for their child. They hear about academic versus developmental programs and sometimes don’t really know what these schools actually provide. • Academic programs are paper and pencil oriented, with lots of emphasis on getting kids started with reading, writing, and math. These
Our culture seems to be in such a hurry. We live in a world of fast cars and fast food and, unfortunately, seem to want our children to speed along as well. However, not all kids are willing or able to learn according to our timelines. Many perfectly normal children seem to need more time
Many parents complain that they can’t help their kids with homework without it becoming a disaster for all concerned. Yet homework can actually be one of the best times to cement a positive learning bond between you and your child. Here are some suggestions for making homework a mutually satisfying experience. • First, let your
A growing number of parents around the country are taking their children out of both public and private schools and teaching them at home. There are several advantages to such an action. • First, children have the opportunity to learn at their own pace without feeling pressure to keep in step with the school’s timetables.
