Do you have a big open wall that is just asking for a brightly colored educational wall hanging? Maybe a play room or your child’s bedroom where there is something missing. Let me propose a map! Maps are a staple in our play room. As of now, I think there are four of them up, ranging from maps of the world to maps of the United States. There has been a frightening turn in the education of children recently. So many kids do not know even basic geography. Quite a few kids that I know, and adults for that matter, for some reason, have no idea how to read a map. Could this be because GPS’s have made them obsolete? I certainly hope not. There are studies released semi-regularly showing how poor our map skills are. But the scariest ‘study’ is to ask your kids, do they know what state they live [Read more…]
Helping Your Kids Prepare for Exams
Since you always stress how important education is to your kids, when they have to face a major exam you’ve got to step in and lend a hand. Sure, you always hope that your child would just become so enamored with the learning process that tests great or small would be a breeze and a pleasure. But the reality is probably not far off from your own exam experiences if you take the time to remember back. That means no matter how prepared they are they probably don’t feel it, and stress is the word of the day. Helping them navigate through the process is something you can contribute even if you can’t remember algebra, chemistry or the principals of engineering to save your life. Here are a few simple ways you can help your kids prepare for their exams that should be painless for all of you.
First of all, make sure they’ve got the groundwork in place for success. That really starts with a proper night of sleep. If you’ve ever pulled an all-nighter for an exam, you know that you barely retain any of the information through the class itself, let alone for a month or a year after. While your kid probably doesn’t care whether he retains one single math problem or grammatical law after he walks out of the test, you’ve got his bigger [Read more…]
Skills That Can Help Your Kids Succeed in School and in Life
As parents, we try our best to prepare our children to go out into the world and succeed. Of course this can be very difficult. Along with the usual stresses of raising children, parents all over the world are struggling to prepare their children for a world that is more competitive than ever. In schools as well as in the real world job market, there is an unprecedented level of competition for the best positions. Your children are going to need to develop some important skills in order to be able to survive and thrive in this world.
Time management is one of the most beneficial skills to develop, and it helps tremendously to start building this skill at an early age. You may have noticed that some people seem to be supernaturally gifted in managing their time, but they weren’t born that way. The ability to effectively utilize time is a skill that is developed over years. Start by getting your children on a schedule from an early age. Set aside a designated homework time every day and hold to it regularly. A structured schedule is one of the best ways to instill time management skills, and later in life it will allow your [Read more…]
Little Pim- Language Fun and Culture For Kids #GiftGuide @LittlePim
Little Pim is just about the cutest Panda I have ever seen. Well, maybe baby pandas are cuter, but only by a little bit. But he is definitely the cutest multilingual panda I have ever seen. Little Pim teaches children a new language (or brushes up skills) through the usage of DVD’s CD’s, toys, books and games, with perhaps the most well known being the DVD’s. The way Pim DVD’s teach is through examples in short segments, each being 5 minutes long, which are part of a much larger theme, IE Spanish Disc 3 is Playtime. Throughout the disc children are shown 60 words and phrases which work with the playing theme. This way of educating is called Entertaining Immersion Method. Each Pim disc is jam packed with learning by diagram, example action and most of all fun. And did you know? Pim likes to travel! (Just check out some of his pictures below.)
Little Pim and Little Man travel via train in Shortsville, NY
Not only does Pim teach Spanish, but also French, Arabic, Russian, and Japanese. We love Little Pim, and his short but sweet DVD’s, each of which clock in at 35 minutes long. Thus giving mom and dad a breather for a little bit and the little ones a little language lesson at the same time- not turning the kiddos into brain-dead zombies. (Justify it, mommies! LOL)
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
Not only does Pim do DVD’s but also music with languages in the form of CD’s. The French Bop CD has 15 well known French children songs, all of which will help your little ones further understand the language and French culture. Some of the songs are: Tap, Tap, Tap, and Les Petites Marionettes. To round out our French learning experience there are also word and phrase cards to quiz your kids with. Little Man has recently found this game to be quite fun. He might not remember the words all the time yet, but loves it when he gets the words right. With practice, [Read more…]
5 Reasons to Go to College Abroad
It’s no secret that the American educational system has seen better days. While most of us are focused on the economy, on healthcare and on our happiness or depression following the latest presidential election, our schools continue to perform well under our previously high standards. Many of the world’s other industrial countries are beating our kids’ standardized test scores, while our schools are overcrowded and underfunded. And it doesn’t always get better at the university level. But outside of all of that doom and gloom there are some amazing opportunities to continue your education abroad. More and more students are heading overseas to complete their undergraduate degree, and then returning happy and well-rounded to make their mark on the American workforce. Here are five great reasons to consider going to college abroad.
First of all, it can actually be cheaper. It sounds strange to consider living in a foreign country for college as a fiscally responsible move, but in many cases that is absolutely the truth. There are fewer and fewer grants and scholarships available to American schools, and our financial aid system leaves most kids buried under six figures of debt after graduation. Many of the most prestigious universities around the world cost around the same amount as a public school here in the U.S. for an in-state resident. So could you get an Ivy League education at state school pricing? It’s totally possible. If you are a dual citizen of the United States and the country you choose to study in, or if you have a relative who is a resident you can live with it will be even cheaper.
Of course price is just the beginning. You also get to [Read more…]
Peaceable Kingdom Games-Snug As A Bug & Race To The Treasure Review #GiftGuide
Peaceable Kingdom’s mission is to make good, do good, and be good. Which means: to create fresh, fun, award winning products that educate, inspire, and tickle funny bones, to donate to charitable organizations that support the well-being of children, to remain committed to socially-conscious manufacturing practices and sustainable and eco-friendly materials, to maintain integrity in all business relationships and to support the people who support them! The Peaceable Kingdom philosophy – come into the kingdom and join the fun!
I was lucky enough to be able to review 2 of their new Cooperative Games for Little Kids. I reviewed Snug As a Bug in a Rug, and Race to the Treasure.
The great thing about all of the games in this line is that they are Cooperative games. Which means, that you work together with all the partners against some sort of obstacles. These types of games allow kids to work together, take turns, follow directions, and of course to cooperate!
SNUG AS A BUG IN A RUG ($20)
This is a GREAT game for a variety of ages in kids!! There are 3 levels for playing this game! My daughter is only 2.5, but she had no problem playing the game [Read more…]
Top 5 Benefits of Music Education for Kids
If you’re thinking about enrolling your child into some music education classes, but you’re not sure if it will really matter one way or another if you do, then you’ve certainly come to the right article. The truth is that your child can greatly benefit from taking some music classes for a myriad of reasons. We have enclosed five of them below:
It’s good for their brain. Although oftentimes, when we think of music, we look at it from the standpoint of it being something that amuses and entertains us, there are actually many studies that support the fact that by putting your child in a music class, it does wonders for their brain. That’s because there is scientific evidence that has revealed that music tends to stimulate the part of our minds that solves math, helps to do comprehensive reading and also processes our emotions.
It’s a good social “ice breaker”. If you have a child who is naturally [Read more…]
Top 5 Tips for Raising Money-Smart Kids
Our economy is in rough shape; no one can dispute that fact. Inflation is affecting our budgets, prices are rising across the board, and it’s becoming more and more difficult for people to find high paying jobs. You want your kids to be prepared for this world, so start teaching them to be smart with money. Educate your kids using these 5 tips for a thrifty education.
- Lead by Example
The most important thing you can do to teach your kids how to be smart savers and thrifty spenders is to be a good role model. Show your kids how to be financially responsible by setting good examples for them. Be smart with your own money and your kids will pick up on these habits. You are your kids’ first and most important teacher, and the lessons they learn from you will last many years. Kids are very impressionable, so take this time to make a [Read more…]
