Does studying come naturally to your child or does he or she need a little encouragement when it comes to academics? Studying may come easy to kids who love school, but not every child can is into it. Sitting around reading books and reviewing notes quietly for an extended period of time can get boring. If given the choice between studying and spending time on the internet, most children would be inclined to pick the latter any day. This is where it can be helpful to find creative ways and interesting activities to make study-time more appealing. Just like the saying “Out with the old, in with the new”, when it comes to matters of studying, breaking out of the old routine may give you the answers you need. Help your child look forward to studying by making it a fun activity that he or she will enjoy. One powerful trick parents and teachers use to encourage their children to study more is by mixing things up. Here are a few ways to get you started.

Get out of the routine

It can be difficult to combat a child’s fleeting attention span. One way to help sustain attention is to let your child get up and take a break every 15 to 20 minutes, depending on his or her attention span during tasks. Aside from letting them take care of their usual business of going to the toilet or drinking water, make study time more fun for kids by planning activities that they can engage in during those quick breaks. Singing action songs or dancing to get them out of their seats can help your kids relax and refocus for the next session.

Incorporate games during study time

Incorporating games during study time can take any form. Alternatively, this can also work the other way around by incorporating learning during play time. Encourage learning by letting your child play some digital-based interactive learning games on a phone or tablet in their free time. You may also consider bringing your kids outside. If they are playing with other kids, have them take turns by answering questions relevant to the topic they are studying. Trivia games can also be a fun way to test your child’s knowledge. Just be prepared with a reward if they do well! Reward systems can be quite effective when encouraging kids to study.

 

 

Illustrate important points with visuals

Visual aids can vastly improve a child’s learning experience because most children are wired to process information visually. They are more inclined to read when text is accompanied by a photo or picture, as it helps to give them context. Colors will also help to capture your child’s attention. There’s a reason why children’s toys are always colorful, as children tend to pay more attention to bold and bright colors.The more colorful visual aids you use, the more engaged in the lesson a child will be.

Another visual learning tool you can use is drawing. Drawing doesn’t have to be treated as a pastime. It can be helpful to illustrate some important points when studying, especially when it comes to concepts that are difficult for children to grasp. Take visual learning a step further and make studying fun for kids by asking them to draw what they understood from the lesson. You can test their comprehension this way, while keeping them busy with this fun activity.

Incorporate role-play into reading

Sitting silently while reading non-illustrated text can be boring for some kids. Most children who are not used to reading long texts may have difficulty staying on track as their attention can drift.Encourage your child to enjoy reading more by asking them to read the text out loud. Ask your child to them play around with his or her delivery, intonation and voice inflection. Have children pay attention to the rise and fall of their speech while reading instead of reading in monotone. Not only does this help keep your child focused on reading the text, but it also enhances their long-term speaking skills.

Have your child take practice tests

Tests and exams can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for kids. This can be because they haven’t studied and are cramming for the big day, or because they feel pressure to get a high score. Help your child avoid staying up all night cramming for the exam day by taking each lesson bit by bit. Help your child out by making study aids or practice tests to measure their understanding of the subject area. This can be an effective method to ease your child’s anxiety. It also provides a great opportunity to point out areas where your child needs improvement as he or she prepares for the real exam.

Studying may take a bit of getting used to and can be a challenge to incorporate into a child’s life. Being a supportive parent and involving your kids in fun activities during study time can be significantly helpful to inspire good study habits. Help your child gain a better taste for learning by using these 5 simple strategies.

Preparing for your child’s early education in the Colorado Springs area? Young Scholars Academy’s preschool programs create an engaging learning environment with fun activities and unique scenarios that create lasting memories for young kids. Our family takes care of your family with the best child care! Please feel free to call 719-522-9099 to schedule your tour of the classrooms or visit https://www.youngscholarsacademycolorado.com for more details.

So, in the past I was totally that mom who went all out, whether it was Christmas parties, decorations, even presents. I wanted to give my kids everything they asked for. Now when it came down to it not a very realistic plan on my part. Would always spend way too much on things that would be played with or worn for about five minutes. When it comes to presents you have to ask yourself, do they really need it? Are they going to use it? Are they going to clean it up or will that be the billionth Lego you’ve stepped on in?

This is where the mindset comes in, if the answer is yes, to any of those then chances are they probably don’t need it. This Christmas we are going simple all the way, no more crazy toys that interest them for five minutes then just get thrown into the toy box. We are taking on the “snowman” approach. With this kept in mind everyone will get the same items and it will be stuff that they need and will use. Bottom half of his body is ONE big present of choice, toy, bike, whatever you choose. Middle half is going to be clothes, lets be real they always need clothes. The head is snacks and Christmas treats, and a card that can be hung around the neck will hold either money or a gift card of choice.

Going off of the snowman mindset, we are also setting a budget per child to kind of help us stay on track as well. This is about giving to them but also about keeping us on track as far as our budget goes. Go with what works for you, I have set a limit of $100 per child. Now that doesn’t mean I will spend the full amount; however, it leaves options open. We are looking to make memories this year instead of counting gifts.

When all else fails with gift giving, just remember to try and get them something they to want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, something to share, something for hair, something sweet and something for their feet.

You could choose to go all out, but I promise it’s the little things that matter always. So, when it comes down to it, don’t think so hard about giving presents. Just be present!

-Ms. Brittani
Lead Preschool Teacher
Wellness Coordinator

I know there are lots of women out there like me who do not have the means (or the want) to stay home for long periods of time with their new baby. It’s not to say that your baby isn’t your world, but you still want an identity outside of being “mom” 24/7. You have a career that you love and that is okay!

Now the question is where will your little prized possession be going while you are at work? You decide that a childcare setting will be best for your family, so now you must find the right fit.

So, you found the place and you have your list of questions and you have toured infant rooms. How comfortable are you feeling at this point? Even though your logical brain is telling you that this is a safe environment, your heart may still be having loud whispers of “NO”. It doesn’t mean that the place is bad at all. But since you have become a mom all your spidey-senses are tingling all the time, and about things you never thought twice about before. I personally have become more of a germaphobe. I get the “stranger germ danger” feelings when we are outside of our own home. For me cleanliness was at the top of my list besides safety for finding the right childcare.

I work in childcare, and I am comfortable with how things are run in our building and what to expect in each classroom. Now as a parent I have that “uggghh” feeling of leaving my baby in the care of others (and I know these women, and I know most of them pretty well). I can only imagine how strangers off the street feel about leaving their new baby. It’s less about a trust issue for me, and more about my baby just not being in MY arms. I even get this overwhelming feeling to take my daughter out of family members hands if they have been holding her for too long in my opinion. I just want to be touching her and be able to smell her good baby smell. Having a baby really brings out your primal instincts that you did not know you had.

Over the last few months you and your baby have created a routine with one another from scratch. Because in the beginning neither one of you had a clue what you were doing. Now you have come to expect certain things and giving up that power to others is going to be an adjustment for the both of you. No one is going to do things the way that you do it. And it is going to drive you crazy in the beginning; giving up that control.

I personally was having anxiety over just coming back to work myself and how things were going to never be the same as before. And the fact that since my daughter was born, I had never been away from her for more than like an hour at a time. We have basically been fused together since conception until now. Getting ready for work is a whole new ball game. I am someone who has always favored sleep over getting up early. I now have no choice; I have to get another human being ready for “work” too. Again, changing my routines permanently.

The first day my daughter came to work with me I thought I would feel better having her so close. In all I honesty I ended up feeling more anxious because she was now so close, but I couldn’t go see her whenever I wanted. Everyone else was spending time with her and giving me updates. I know they had good intentions, but it stings a mommy’s heart a little. If you are not as fortunate to work where your baby will be, then you’re going to have to have some tough skin to keep going.

You’re never going to love giving your baby up to others each day, but it does get easier. With each day you and baby are learning another new routine, and it works out. Finding the right childcare setting for you is the most important, or you are not going to stay. You have to be willing to get to know the teachers and let the teachers get to know your family. With a baby it is more than a drop off. More information needs to be shared more frequently. So, find the best fit for you and everything else will fall into place.

-Ms. Brooke
New Mama
Curriculum & Literacy Coordinator
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Kindness is the greatest gift any parent can teach their child(ren). One way to teach kindness is by volunteering. It is hard to find ways for kids volunteer because many places require background checks or work that is hard for a child to participate. Below are some ways in which your family can get involved.

In light of the holiday season, donating toys to children in need is a wonderful way for children to learn about charity. Toys for Tots is a Christmas project dedicated to making sure every child in our community receives a toy on Christmas morning. Last year alone over 18,000 children in the Pikes Peak Region were served. Explain to your child about the need then take them shopping so they can experience the joy of picking out a toy for someone less fortunate. If you know of a family in need you can request a toy a toy through their website. Toys can be donated at one of many donation sites. For a list of donation sites or to apply to become an official donation site, please visit https://colorado-springs-co.toysfortots.org/…/lco-sites/def….

There are many people in our city without homes. The homeless need food and goods all year round, not just during the holidays. Many food pantries and shelters collect non-perishable goods such as canned goods (tuna, salmon, chicken, vegetables, fruit), boxed /bagged goods (potatoes, rice, pasta, oatmeal, cream of wheat), and seasonings, hygiene products (razors, tooth brushes, toothpaste, pads, tampons, deodorant), blankets, clothing, and so much more. Food and monetary donations, while always accepted, are not the only ways to give back. You can volunteer your time by sorting/organizing, preparing, or serving food. For a comprehensive list of food assistance programs and how you and your family can get involved, please visit https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/co-colorado\_springs

Did you know that the children’s hospital accepts donations of books, toys, crafts, games, and electronics? They are always in need of items, especially for adolescents, toddlers, and infants. Due to risk of infection, the hospital only accepts new products in original packaging. They also cannot accept plants, latex balloons, and food products including candy. Your family can organize a drive to collect items in which to donate. The link provided gives a complete wishlist and most needed items for four Colorado Springs Children’s Hospital locations. https://www.childrenscolorado.org/…/donate-vo…/wish-list.pdf

Your family can also give back to your friends. A fun and exciting way is to host a slumber party or game night for your child’s friends. The kids get a night of fun while their parents receive a much needed date night. While it is not the same as volunteering/donating to local charities, it is still a great way to give back.

Another way that your family can give back to the community is by picking up trash. Take an hour or two on a weekend once a month, or more often depending on your family’s schedule to clean as a family. This is some quality time with the kids as well as a way to help keep our beautiful city clean. Please take precautions though. Wear gloves, weather appropriate attire, sunscreen, and keep your kids at a safe distance from you.

While there are many more ways for you and your family to give back to your community, these are some great ways to spend time as a family. Enjoy your time together.

-Ms. Blair
Wellness Coordinator
Lead Preschool Teacher