Do you know why playing games with our kids is so important?
I am sure some of you will say, "Because they are fun and can be educational." You would be right. However, I want to share with you more details:
Games are fun and therefore motivating. Children often they forget they are learning and practicing things like math, reading, and science.
Games show how we use math is real life. Solving mathmatics problems and solutions are needed to play the games and parallels real life situations.
Games can enhance the understanding of mathmatic relationships. Often several skills are combined in games.
Some games inspire children to create their own games or variations fostering advanced logical reasoning.
Children love to play games, therefore they are more likely to take risks to practice, succeed, and learn from "mistakes made".
Games help children to accept that there are more than one answer and more than one method to solve problems.
Games help children to communicate mathmatically, in logical sequencing. Games require students to justify their thinking and rationalize their decisions.
Games help children learn sequential skills, by going around a board, moving back and forth, taking turns or even more advanced strategic planning.
Games help children to learn social - survival skills. Participants must play by the rules, learn to be a good winner and loser, take chances, make decisions, and cooperate with others.
Some games help children learn and understand Maslow's hierarchy of needs. What is needed before being able to move to the next point.
Playing games with adults is importantbecause it helps a child understand humanity and what really make an individual special. A child realizes adults are not perfect and have to work by using a persons strengths and being willing to identify and use their weaknesses as well.
Playing games is like a micro - representation of living life. Observing and playing games that encourage making mistakes, causing errors, and having doubt are really very good things!
Thomas Edison said he learn 1000 ways not to make a light bulb before he got it right. I am sure glad he kept going after 100th time!!
** Thank you Robin Follmer for your help with this blog!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Zone of Proximinal Development is a Key to a Kids's Success
Have you ever heard of "Zone of Proximal Development"?
I hadn't until I was talking with my daughter's teacher, however, I realized I had been doing it.
It is actually really cool because you can do more of it when you are aware f it.
The term "zone of proximal development" was created by a Russian child psychologist Lev Vygotsky. Is the range, or zone when a child is almost ready or just before the "light bulb is turned on". Therefore, a little adult or mentor-ship is needed for the child to be successful.
This is the exact way to identify a child's instructional level. Is your child's classroom set up to meet your child's needs and the different needs of other children?
Probably before you are able to answer that question you may need more information about how "proximal development" works.
An example of one child's zone of proximal development:
When my daughter is practicing her violin and is having difficulty learning a new part of her music piece. I give her time to practice with "trial and error". Then, if she is still having difficulty remembering the next note I may hum the tune. Usually, she will hear the note and and then coordinate what she heard with the note on her violin.
I supported her interest and helped her to build her ability.
Here are some keys to working within your child's zone of Proximal development...
1. Let your child get slightly uncomfortable with their practice.
2. Follow your child's interest. (I believe children are naturally curious. When given opportunities and resources for learning children are automatically drawn to learn).
3. Limit the steps your child needs to be successful achieving his/her goal or completion of a task.
4. When your child does get frustrated (frustration is often the result of anxiety because he/she doesn't know what to do next), you can...
a. give your child a moment to emotionally collect him/her self before moving on but, ...
b. encourage him/her to stick with the task
c. demonstrate what next to do
d. share with your child a similar situation or event to make a connection to something your child has mastered or knows how to do.
I hope this helps you to enjoy more fully the time you spend with your child and share in the curiosity and joy of learning!
** A summary of ideas from Einstein Never Used Flash Cards by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
I hadn't until I was talking with my daughter's teacher, however, I realized I had been doing it.
It is actually really cool because you can do more of it when you are aware f it.
The term "zone of proximal development" was created by a Russian child psychologist Lev Vygotsky. Is the range, or zone when a child is almost ready or just before the "light bulb is turned on". Therefore, a little adult or mentor-ship is needed for the child to be successful.
This is the exact way to identify a child's instructional level. Is your child's classroom set up to meet your child's needs and the different needs of other children?
Probably before you are able to answer that question you may need more information about how "proximal development" works.
An example of one child's zone of proximal development:
When my daughter is practicing her violin and is having difficulty learning a new part of her music piece. I give her time to practice with "trial and error". Then, if she is still having difficulty remembering the next note I may hum the tune. Usually, she will hear the note and and then coordinate what she heard with the note on her violin.
I supported her interest and helped her to build her ability.
Here are some keys to working within your child's zone of Proximal development...
1. Let your child get slightly uncomfortable with their practice.
2. Follow your child's interest. (I believe children are naturally curious. When given opportunities and resources for learning children are automatically drawn to learn).
3. Limit the steps your child needs to be successful achieving his/her goal or completion of a task.
4. When your child does get frustrated (frustration is often the result of anxiety because he/she doesn't know what to do next), you can...
a. give your child a moment to emotionally collect him/her self before moving on but, ...
b. encourage him/her to stick with the task
c. demonstrate what next to do
d. share with your child a similar situation or event to make a connection to something your child has mastered or knows how to do.
I hope this helps you to enjoy more fully the time you spend with your child and share in the curiosity and joy of learning!
** A summary of ideas from Einstein Never Used Flash Cards by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Kids' Keys Supports Keeping Your Kids Safe
I think parents need to ask themselves these online safety questions:
1. What if you could teach your child to be safer online immediately?
2. What if it took only minutes for you to access the most effective online safety tips today?
3. What if your child could learn all this on their own, too with family-friendly videos and audios?
4. What if your child could negotiate chat-rooms safely, handle cyberbullies easily and avoid downloading a harmful virus or program while staying one step ahead of the predators?
5. What if they Child Safety Experts cared enough about your child’s safety online that they are willing to give you their tips and proven methods FREE?
Keeping Kids Safe Together is doing just that.
A friend of mine, Joyce Jackson and her partner, Preston Jones are offering a special live, 50 minute Webinar and coaching session.
The best part it is FREE, Register Here:
You'll learn:
- A simple 7-step formula ensuring your child is safer in chat rooms.
- 8 instant safeguards you can teach your teen when Instant Messaging.
- How to protect your home computer from malicious programs.
- What should you do if your child was threatened by an online predator.
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
There are no gimmicks, just genuine concern and passion to protect our children.
Go here and Register Now:
Online safety is Joyce and Preston's purpose; they are so knowledgeable and gifted when it comes to training parents and kids Online safety.
Plus, there’s over $200 worth of great bonuses, ebooks and tips for you after you register too!
You will be so glad you did!
1. What if you could teach your child to be safer online immediately?
2. What if it took only minutes for you to access the most effective online safety tips today?
3. What if your child could learn all this on their own, too with family-friendly videos and audios?
4. What if your child could negotiate chat-rooms safely, handle cyberbullies easily and avoid downloading a harmful virus or program while staying one step ahead of the predators?
5. What if they Child Safety Experts cared enough about your child’s safety online that they are willing to give you their tips and proven methods FREE?
Keeping Kids Safe Together is doing just that.
A friend of mine, Joyce Jackson and her partner, Preston Jones are offering a special live, 50 minute Webinar and coaching session.
The best part it is FREE, Register Here:
You'll learn:
- A simple 7-step formula ensuring your child is safer in chat rooms.
- 8 instant safeguards you can teach your teen when Instant Messaging.
- How to protect your home computer from malicious programs.
- What should you do if your child was threatened by an online predator.
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
There are no gimmicks, just genuine concern and passion to protect our children.
Go here and Register Now:
Online safety is Joyce and Preston's purpose; they are so knowledgeable and gifted when it comes to training parents and kids Online safety.
Plus, there’s over $200 worth of great bonuses, ebooks and tips for you after you register too!
You will be so glad you did!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Keeping our Kids Safe Online Is A Kids' Key!
Did you know you can instantly improve any aspect of your child’s safety on the Internet?
No matter what they do or where they go:
- - Surfing
- - Searching
- - Texting Friends
- - Researching School Projects
- - Chat Rooms
- - Educational Sites
- - Forums
- - Game Sites
- - Emailing Friends
- - Sending Photos to Grandparents
- - Using a Cell Phone
And, even if your child is not online today, right now...
...even if you don’t allow them online.
Someday they will be.
Soon you'll be getting your emails and phone calls from your wrist watch.
Prepare your child now.
Great online safety is all about PREVENTION.
I wanted to let you know that there is a FREE web seminar about this.
You can register here.
Good safety comes from good preparation; Without FEAR, PARANOIA, and ghoulish media details.
Join us and learn in just 50 minutes you can learn how to teach your child to be the safest they can be on the Internet...
...whenever and wherever they get online.
Keeping Kids Safe Today has been doing this for over 30 years and recently has been researching and applying their techniques and knowledge with Internet Safety.
What is really cool about this offer is that the owners Joyce and Preston are so passionate about what they do they are offering over $200 worth of great bonuses, ebooks and tips for you when you register for the Webinar.
(I'll give you a hint about one of the bonuses: a glossary of the online acronyms and lingo!! That alone is outstanding!!)
They don't want money to be an issue when you are activiley trying to keep our kids safe!
How cool is that?
This is one Kids' Key that is so important to the well-being of your child!
No matter what they do or where they go:
- - Surfing
- - Searching
- - Texting Friends
- - Researching School Projects
- - Chat Rooms
- - Educational Sites
- - Forums
- - Game Sites
- - Emailing Friends
- - Sending Photos to Grandparents
- - Using a Cell Phone
And, even if your child is not online today, right now...
...even if you don’t allow them online.
Someday they will be.
Soon you'll be getting your emails and phone calls from your wrist watch.
Prepare your child now.
Great online safety is all about PREVENTION.
I wanted to let you know that there is a FREE web seminar about this.
You can register here.
Good safety comes from good preparation; Without FEAR, PARANOIA, and ghoulish media details.
Join us and learn in just 50 minutes you can learn how to teach your child to be the safest they can be on the Internet...
...whenever and wherever they get online.
Keeping Kids Safe Today has been doing this for over 30 years and recently has been researching and applying their techniques and knowledge with Internet Safety.
What is really cool about this offer is that the owners Joyce and Preston are so passionate about what they do they are offering over $200 worth of great bonuses, ebooks and tips for you when you register for the Webinar.
(I'll give you a hint about one of the bonuses: a glossary of the online acronyms and lingo!! That alone is outstanding!!)
They don't want money to be an issue when you are activiley trying to keep our kids safe!
How cool is that?
This is one Kids' Key that is so important to the well-being of your child!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Knowing Your Heritage Is a Kids' Key To Success
What is the Best Way to Preserve your memories? For a long time it has been through photos, and although photos are great there is something better!
Meet Ruth!
Kids' Keys had the awesome opportunity to interview Ruth Solberg of Songs For Your Kids,
Books Of A Lifetime, and Stories Of A Lifetime.
Ruth is an expert in recording people's heritage. Even though many people minimize their "story", Ruth is passionate about helping us embrace the value of our lives.
Ruth Solberg has many life lessons that has sculpted her enthusiasm for life and documenting it so the generations to come know where they came from and who you were.
At first, thinking about documenting and recording your life's can seem overwhelming and even arrogant; Like, "Who am I to write a biography?
But that isn't the case at all and couldn't be furthest from the truth.
Have you ever wanted to know more about your Great Aunt Mildred? Hear your mother's contagious laugh again? Document the spacial look, smile, and enthusiasm of your terminally ill child? Would you want your children to have the chance to see, hear, and come to know your dad, in his own voice even though he died 2 months before his first grandchild was born?
I know I would love to have a recording for my children about their Grandma Elaine who passed too early in her life for them to have had the blessing of knowing her quirky and fun personality.
But that opportunity is lost. I know I can tell stories about Grammy Elaine to my children but it wouldn't be the same as them seeing her, hearing her stories and her voice.
Ruth has found a way to solve this problem and she had made it fun and easy!
I have already asked my mom to do this for our Christmas gift to all of us. Initially, she balked at the idea, but admits and recognizes the value of it.
How could you not, especially if you have ever lost a loved one? The special people in our lives mean so much to us, more than we can ever write in words. When you want to share even a piece of a loved one who died with the others in your life you love, wouldn't it be great to have an actual recording of him/her in their own voice?
What an amazing gift that would be!
If you are interested in learning more about Ruth and her businesses listen to our interview.
You will be so glad you did!
Ruth Solberg
Independent consultant for
Heritage Makers
call: 715.579.5596
email: solpro2000@yahoo.com
Meet Ruth!
Kids' Keys had the awesome opportunity to interview Ruth Solberg of Songs For Your Kids,
Books Of A Lifetime, and Stories Of A Lifetime.
Ruth is an expert in recording people's heritage. Even though many people minimize their "story", Ruth is passionate about helping us embrace the value of our lives.
Ruth Solberg has many life lessons that has sculpted her enthusiasm for life and documenting it so the generations to come know where they came from and who you were.At first, thinking about documenting and recording your life's can seem overwhelming and even arrogant; Like, "Who am I to write a biography?
But that isn't the case at all and couldn't be furthest from the truth.
Have you ever wanted to know more about your Great Aunt Mildred? Hear your mother's contagious laugh again? Document the spacial look, smile, and enthusiasm of your terminally ill child? Would you want your children to have the chance to see, hear, and come to know your dad, in his own voice even though he died 2 months before his first grandchild was born?
I know I would love to have a recording for my children about their Grandma Elaine who passed too early in her life for them to have had the blessing of knowing her quirky and fun personality.
But that opportunity is lost. I know I can tell stories about Grammy Elaine to my children but it wouldn't be the same as them seeing her, hearing her stories and her voice.
Ruth has found a way to solve this problem and she had made it fun and easy!
I have already asked my mom to do this for our Christmas gift to all of us. Initially, she balked at the idea, but admits and recognizes the value of it.
How could you not, especially if you have ever lost a loved one? The special people in our lives mean so much to us, more than we can ever write in words. When you want to share even a piece of a loved one who died with the others in your life you love, wouldn't it be great to have an actual recording of him/her in their own voice?
What an amazing gift that would be!
If you are interested in learning more about Ruth and her businesses listen to our interview.
You will be so glad you did!
Ruth Solberg
Independent consultant for
Heritage Makers
call: 715.579.5596
email: solpro2000@yahoo.com
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