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A Home-Based After School Program

Jacaranda — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:09:41 +0000

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Having an extra activity after school is a good thing for any child. These kind of toddler activities are an excellent source for an extra knowledge and fun!. So, having an extracurricular activity for your child is almost a must!

What if your son’s school does not offer any extracurricular activities. You are probably be worried of depriving your child of, like I said before, all that extra knowledge and fun. What should you do?

Most of us parents think that after school activities are always thought in schools. Well, it’s not. After school extracurricular activities need not be taught in a school-like environment by professional teachers in a structured and timely manner.

There is a lot YOU can do to support your child’s academic, physical and social development. Do not be too concerned about formal programs, as many of our children are already over-scheduled.

Obviously, school is top priority for children. They need to go to school, and finish their homework. They should then do their daily reading or writing work etc. This may take about 30-60 minutes. In the course of his daily work, your child may develop certain academic preferences and interests. In that case, you can try and find a program in a college or a community center that will help him and encourage him. In the age of the
Internet, information is really not a rarity. Allow him to use the net to find more information about thing that he likes. Encouraging the child to do independent research to gain in-depth knowledge is something that no
formal program does.

The first thing that a parent will be worried about is that their child may not have the social life. If you are concerned about it, enroll him or her in a club. There are all sorts of clubs available for kids. Or they can visit public libraries or even the theater, if your child is interested. It is not necessary for your child to make
friends with children his own age. A parent-child book club is another interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded children and their parents, you may well start your own after-school program… but of course, that is a little leaning on the side of the parent and not on the child.

There are instances that there is no organized group activity. Another good place to check out is your community. Many children love to get involved in social problems. They get their first real taste of suffering, charity and community help from such experiences. Volunteering for clean-up sessions, adult education programs etc could be a real eye-opener for your child. The lessons thus learnt are invaluable.

If physical activity or the lack of it is your major concern, enroll your child for some dancing classes. If organized sports are impossible to get, try to enroll her in a gym. She may find friends there and may take to the treadmill.

Your child does not necessarily have to be a part of an organized group to benefit from after-school ctivities. There are various avenues open in front of you. Roping in the enthusiasm of your children in daily household
activities like cooking, cleaning etc can also provide them with a refreshing extracurricular experience. Moreover, it will improve family ties too.

Happiness of Being a Mother

Jacaranda — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:24:01 +0000

There is no question about it; true happiness of a woman begins when she becomes a Mother. It is when you’ll feel miracle that there is a little creature in your womb waiting for his time to see the world…magical it may seem. But once you held the baby in your arms a feeling of excitement, joy and fulfillment is there.

You look at your baby from head to toe, checking if everything is OK with him, if it is possible to count the hair on his head you would. You will check his fingers, his toes, his face and when you found out that everything’s fine tears will fall from your eyes…AT LAST! After all the pains and sufferings, you will say…IT IS ALL WORTH IT!

A Mother will always have a special bond with their child; it is a link that can never be broken. As time pass by, you will always be there to watch your child grow, from the first step, first food he eats, and when you hear the first word he utter it sounded like music, it seems like an angel whispered to your ears. And afterward it’s time to bring your child to school, 1st day of school is a nerve racking experience for a 1st time MOM, as much as possible you wanted to stay and to wait for your son, checking on him if his doing alright. You’ll guide him on his assignments, and school projects, you will review him on his 1st examination, you’ll notice your child was not that serious about it, you’ll have doubts, fears, questioning yourself did he get what I just told him…

EXAMINATION DAY arrives, the mother is the one who is so nervous about it, the child arrives home you will ask him “so what happened, was it easy?” “Did you answer everything”, but the only answer you will get from your child was a smile on his face.

End of school year is drawing near and as a Mother you would like to know what are your child’s achievements or are there any areas that needs improvement…there is always a parent-teacher meeting at school and from there they will tell you the performance of your child and once you have known that your son is a part of the TOP STUDENTS in his class… an unexplained feeling will embrace you, you wanted to cry, and at the same time you wanted to scream and tell the whole world that my son is in the Honors list. I’m a 1st time MOM myself and happiness of being a MOTHER is endless…trust me it never end.

– Annabelle

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Preschool Activities – Essential To Prepare Your Child For School!

Jacaranda — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:16:17 +0000

Going to school is the first major transition in a child’s life as this is the first time the kid is made to stay on his/ her own in a completely unfamiliar environment. Thus it is often advised that parents should get children habituated to certain prescribed activities which in turn will help them adjust with forthcoming changes. These are termed “preschool activities”.

Preschool plays a pivotal role in helping kids cultivate valuable physical, mental, and emotional skills. It provides the ambience for children to get a feel of the structure and functioning of a real school.

Preschool also prepares children to move away from the comforts of parental care and adjust themselves to a completely different learning situation. Preschool education aims at the overall development of toddlers so that they are able to face the challenges of more complicated and statutory education.

Preschool activities concentrate on encouraging a child’s cognitive growth. The preschool curriculum encompasses basic social skills of communication with adults and peers. It also fosters the elemental feelings of friendship and sharing.

Preschool activities may include:

Taking children out of the confines of the classroom is always a great way to teach basic knowledge. A visit to the zoo or local bird sanctuary can help them learn a lot about the world of birds and animals. These visits help children realize that learning can also be a fun experience.

Educational computer games and interactive activities are excellent ways to enhance a child’s hand and eye coordination. It also helps the child to get acquainted with alphabets and numbers.

Playing is a good way of developing a child’s concentration. Traditional preschool activities include playing with blocks, shapes, and colors. When children play with a particular object, their concentration levels are automatically enhanced.

Kids enjoy activities like drawing and scribbling. It gives them the scope to express their creativity. Preschool education can use this activity to develop the inherent creativity and sense of aesthetics in children.

Nursery rhymes and dancing continue to be the perennial area of interest for toddlers. Preschool curriculum encourages children to recite poems and nursery rhymes with physical gestures. This makes learning a more enjoyable and entertaining experience. Recitation also enhances the memorizing ability in preschool toddlers.

Physical development constitutes a major part of preschool education. Outdoor games and simple exercises help children develop a sense of physical fitness.

Thus, preschool education should aim at holistic child development. Preschool activities should aim at maintaining a healthy balance between education and entertainment. Knowledge and impressions picked up at a preschool level cast an indelible imprint upon the tender minds of toddlers. Preschool experience goes a long way in transforming a toddler into a confident and eager learner.

(Source:- www.educationaltechnologies.com)

From Sweet Toddlers to Aggressive Boys

Jacaranda — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:47:17 +0000

That’s right. I now have a 3 year old toddler who is very active. Active or Aggressive? That’s what I notice lately. He’s more of like aggressive now compared last year. This is more evident when he and his little, 1 year old brother are playing.

CRASH! Boom! BAM!!! “You’re dead!”

I ran across an article from the famous children website that I want to share with you here.

In their fantasy play, boys turn sticks into guns, balloons into bombs, and pencils into swords. They kill, die and get reborn in a matter of seconds, then hop right up to play some more. This is a typical game play for an active toddler, active young boy. And yet many parents worry including myself, wondering if their sons are simply normal, active boys, or turning into potentially violent men.

That PBS article quotes Michael Thompson, a co-author of the book, “Raising Cain”.

“Mothers are always saying to me, ‘Why is my son racing around, not talking, and not listening? Why is he obsessed with playing war and shooting? What’s happened to my sweet, vulnerable little boy who used to cuddle with me?’” says Michael Thompson, Ph.D. who is also a host of the documentary RAISING CAIN. “This is a valid question, because no one wants their son to grow up to be violent. But interpreting play as an early indicator of violence is a misunderstanding both of the nature of boy activity and the real journey to violence that some boys undergo.”

It is a known fact that boys are more active than little girls. That is an assumption that is considered as truth. A recent Harvard University study states that, “By school age, the average boy in a classroom is more active than the girls — even the most active girls don’t seem to express their energy in the unrestrained way characteristic of most boys.

We say that it is an assume truth since if you go ask a kindergarten teacher and you’ll likely hear that this description is true. “I’ve been teaching young boys for over 25 years and I don’t see that their activity levels have changed, but our expectations for how long they have to sit still have dramatically increased,” says teacher Jane Katch, author of Under Deadman’s Skin: Discovering the Meaning of Children’s Violent Play. “And that’s a problem for a lot of boys. Some boys in my class need to move a lot. I call them ‘high energy boys.’ These boys simply can’t sit still as long as most of the girls. They don’t have the fine motor skills girls do, so many will make big constructions like block towers, while girls will work on smaller, more delicate pictures.”

Experts say that you should try not to compare your boy to other boys and keep in mind that there are many different kinds of boys. They range from the highly physical and highly competitive at one end, to the very peaceful quiet boy, who prefers to read. “Not all boys want to compete in sports, wrestle, and shoot guns. It’s important to remember that there are quiet boys and studious and bookish boys as well, and this is perfectly normal,” adds Thompson.

6 Tips in Choosing a Good Child Day Care Center

Jacaranda — Sat, 09 May 2009 07:34:10 +0000

Every parent should take a moment and think real hard in choosing a Good Child Day Care Center for their child/children. No matter how young your child is, there the time will come that he or she will start the early schooling in their lives.

That’s why knowing the right Kindergarten or Day Care center to which you will enroll your baby is a must for every parent.

In my case, my eldest boy is 3 years old and this is the perfect time in thinking about putting him in the early education to further mold his mind and broaden his knowledge.

Here are 6 tips in choosing the best Day Care Center from Ron Michael Knight

In finding the right day care center, consider your child’s safety, how much you can afford to pay and your daily routine. Look for the following:

• Safety: check if the child care is licensed with your state and country. Find out if it is well equipped to handle emergencies and if the staff is trained in first aid. If required, get feedbacks from parents of other children attending the child care.

• Staff: the members of the staff are responsible for the care and learning of your child when you are away. Make sure your child is in good hands through the day. Watch how the staff works with the children and check if they are kind and caring. Make sure there are enough staff members to give personalized attention to the kids.

• Learning programs: Find what kind of learning programs and activities the center is offering. Check if they are on lines of your child’s interests and are apt for your child’s age. You should also consider whether the programs fit with your family values and inculcate the right spirit in your child.

• Affordable: Check your finances to see whether it fits the fee charged by the child care. Determine whether the services at the child care is worthy of the fees that you pay.

• Convenient: Think about the location of the care center, if it is convenient for you to drop and pick up the child everyday and if you can reach the place easily in case of emergency.

• Peer: the age of children at the child care center is a crucial aspect that most parents tend to ignore. Make sure your child gels well with other children at the center and are happy at the end of the day.

Bottom line, the child day care center should be a pleasant and enriching experience for your child. It should be a place where your child can learn, play and be well taken care of.