22Sep2018
Kids Development, Parenting Tips
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September 22, 2018

via Livestrong.com: In general, babies less than 1 year old should avoid chocolate, particularly, dark and milk chocolate. These contain caffeine-like substances. Caffeine is unsuitable for very small children because of its stimulating effect. As children reach a year old, they can tolerate small amounts of white chocolate, which contains less caffeine. However, even in this case, the high sugar content makes it far from ideal as a baby snack.

Digestion
Babies are designed to take in breast milk or formula for the first four to six months of life. A baby’s digestive system can’t handle solid foods, including chocolate, for up to six months. You may find that even after that, it takes several months to wean your baby onto mashed solids. Babies generally start out on wet cereal and move to pureed vegetables and eventually to pureed meats and mashed foods. This process may last another six months and more. Chocolate doesn’t feature as a recommended stage in introducing your baby to solid foods.

Caffeine
Though no evidence appears to link moderate caffeine consumption in children with serious long-term complications, you should avoid giving caffeine products to babies. At less than 1 year old, their systems are still very sensitive. A small amount of caffeine to an adult can be a large dose for a baby. This amount can stimulate a baby and make him feel alert and uncomfortable. It might even throw off sleeping and feeding routines. A teaspoon of milk chocolate contains around 1 milligram of caffeine. A teaspoon of dark chocolate contains around 4 milligrams on average. Children less than 2 years old should ideally avoid all caffeine.

Tooth Decay
Though babies less than 1 year old have only small developing teeth, these are vulnerable to tooth decay. Sugar rapidly speeds up tooth decay because it provides a food source for acid-producing mouth bacteria. Cleaning your baby’s teeth may be difficult, so sometime the acids build up around teeth. Chocolate usually contains a lot of sugar. Giving your infant chocolate may result in some tooth problems or poor oral health.

Considerations
Chocolate contains many calories for little nutritional benefit. Getting your baby used to high-sugar foods can lead to problems such as obesity later in life. Some babies even show allergic reactions to chocolate, according to the USDA’s Nutrition Assistance Program. If you notice excessive sickness or light diarrhea after giving your child chocolate, avoid offering her any more. If she develops a fever, rash or severe symptoms, take her to a doctor immediately.

16Sep2018
Kids Craft, Kids Development
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September 16, 2018

via familyeducation: Everyone seems to have a favorite playdough recipe, and many old favorites have been included here. Some require cooking and some don’t; some are meant to be eaten and some are not. Choose the recipe that best suits your needs and the ingredients you have on hand. Store playdough in a covered container or Ziploc bag. If it sweats a little, just add more flour. For sensory variety, use playdough warm or cool as well as at room temperature.

Colored Playdough

Materials

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • Food coloring
  • Saucepan
  • 1 cup flour

Directions

  1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
  2. Remove from heat and add flour.
  3. Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don’t have it on hand.
  4. Store this dough in an airtight container or a Ziploc freezer bag.
14Sep2018
Kids Development
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September 14, 2018

via vetstreet: The relationship between a cat and a child can be a celebratory union that leads to a deep lifetime friendship. On the flip side, the interaction between a feline and young human can be fraught with complication and even physical struggle. Children often fail to read signals from the cat asking for space, and the result can be scratches and bites, with both cat and child upset and frightened. It’s not only falling toddlers or overly friendly 4-year-olds who can have poor interactions with cats; it happens with children of all ages, into the teen years. The stakes of how an interaction goes are high for the physical safety and emotional well-being of both the child and the cat.

To help your child or cat — or both — have better reactions to the other species, it’s important to put boundaries in place for all interactions. Here are seven essential rules that promote peaceful relationships and positive experiences for both human and feline.

Pay attention to your cat’s body language.

Help your child learn to recognize when your cat is relaxed and when she is not. A cat who is enjoying being petted will rub against your child’s hands or clothing or lean toward him. She may also hold her tail high and twitch the end, and she may purr. Signs that petting should stop include a swishing tail, a tail fluffed out, or a tail lowered to the ground or tucked underneath the . An anxious cat may also move her ears back, growl or extend her claws.

Supervise every interaction.

Even well-meaning children can accidentally frighten a by pulling her tail, grabbing her paws or attempting to restrain her. You will need to be present for every interaction your child has with your cat. If he acts in a manner that may frighten the feline, redirect his behavior to something more positive — and be sure to praise and reinforce proper treatment of the cat.

Teach your child the right way to pet the cat.

Show your child how to use an open hand and a soft, gentle stroke when he pets the cat. Pay special attention to babies and toddlers, who often poke and pat a cat or grab and hold her fur and skin. If needed, hold your baby or toddler’s hand to be sure he keeps an open palm while petting. Teach your child to pet the cat only on her back, shoulder, neck and top of the head; most cats will tolerate petting on those areas better than on the face, paws, tail or belly.

Teach your child how to hold a cat.

When children reach for, , they often meet with fearful reactions. Even cats who are comfortable being held by adults may not have the same reaction when being picked up by a child. Children are less able to keep a steady hold on a cat, as they have less strength and move around more and faster than adults, with less predictable movements. Children may attempt to grab and hold on to a fearful or resistant cat as well as overlook signals that a restrained cat wants to be put down. Because felines may perceive that their physical safety is in danger, they may struggle, scratch or even bite when being picked up or held by children.

To help your cat relax while still allowing close physical contact, there are strategies for holding cats that can lower potential stress. For younger children, teach them to sit on the floor or couch and invite the cat onto their lap. It’s important they don’t force, but rather lure the cat there using a toy or treats and continue to reward the animal while she’s on the child’s lap with petting, toys, treats or simply warm body contact. If the cat desires to move away, the child must be taught to always let the cat leave when she wants. For older children who are physically capable and calm enough to hold a cat, teach the child to lift the cat’s weight evenly with one hand under the chest and the other supporting the rear legs and to gently hold the cat against the torso for added balance and security. It’s important the child learns to heed signs of the cat wanting down, such as the cat scanning the floor for a place to jump, ears moving backward or tail twitching. The child should then lower the cat to the floor or find an elevated structure with stable footing nearby, like a cat tree, where the cat can walk off without needing to jump down.

Keep indoor play calm and gentle.

Cats are sensitive to movement and noise. Normal children’s play, such as shouting, jumping and running, may upset and frighten your cat, even when your child is not playing with her. That type of play should be done outside or in a playroom where the cat is not allowed. When your child does play with your cat, teach him . Play with hands teaches a cat that it’s OK to use claws and teeth on hands. That can cause problems, including escalated predatory play that can frighten or inadvertently hurt a child. Teach your child to focus play on a toy rather than on his hands.

Allow your cat to hide.

When your cat is hiding underneath something or up on something high, your child should never try to pull her out or try to squeeze in next to her. Your cat hides because she wants to be alone; cornering her or pulling her out can cause her to scratch or bite. Teach your child to allow the cat to come out on her own or to entice her out with non-stressful tactics, like luring her with a catnip toy or a row of treats.

Give your cat some alone time.

Your cat should have ample areas in your home to have private time, such as cat trees, high shelving and hiding spaces. Teach your child to leave the alone when she is in one of these private areas. It is also a good idea to have a room for your cat that is off-limits to your child; you can put her there when she needs a break or when you are unable to supervise her interactions with your child.

13Sep2018
Kids And Technology, Kids Development
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September 13, 2018

via raisesmartkid: Parents and teachers are aware of the many benefits of coding or programming for kids and students. Among other benefits, kids learn computational thinking, problem solving, and prepares them for skills needed in a world that is increasingly dependent on technology ran by computer programs behind the scenes.

For kids, coding does not have to be tedious and difficult. There are currently several ways to make coding as fun and engaging as playing. Creating something new that works is exciting and gives kids a sense of accomplishment.

Kids as young as 7 can begin learning the principles of how to program and how programming works by using games, apps, interactive websites that teach coding, classes and boot camps with lessons catering to kids. Even younger kids can learn the principles of coding from playing with educational toys and board games strategically designed to teach coding. Indeed, there is no shortage of engaging educational resources.

The only question is where the best place is to start.

The answer will depend on the age, aptitude and interest of the child.

Best Ways for Kids to Learn Programming

Younger kids, around 7 to 11 can begin learning the principles of programming by learning block programming. Block programming have a visual interface and consists of dragging and dropping blocks of instructions to be executed in order. It is a great way to build a logical thinking foundation such as creating sequence, conditional statements, loops, functions, and debugging. The kids are able to create programs or instructions to the computer without learning the syntax of a computer language.

Older kids 11 and up, or younger kids with strong interest to program can learn the more advanced text-based programming, where they create computer instructions in actual code or text using actual computer language.

Keep in mind though that every child is different. Some kids take a larger amount of time to learn the concepts while others who are naturally inclined to computational thinking breeze through learning even at a young age.

Although kids can use many of the existing resources without parental help, the important thing is not to put pressure on kids to learn programming, as it will defeat the fun factor of these resources, and programming will become a chore.

Here are the best resources that teaches your child how to code:

Learn from Block Programming – Kids 7 to 11 (or younger)

Websites

  • Scratch – Developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for kids aged 7+, Scratch is a simple visual programming language where kids drag and drop chunky blocks that simulates the structure of computer program. The program then runs with a click of a button. It is easy to learn for beginners. Kids do not need to learn computer language or to program through text inputs. What makes it engaging and fun for kids is that colorful cartoon characters are controlled by the program to create animation, complete with a variety of images and sounds. With Scratch, kids are able to create games and stories. Note: To make the experience more fun for kids, you can combine it with “The Super Scratch Programming Adventure”

  • Alice – Alice is another excellent tool to introduce kids to programming. Similar to Scratch, Alice also uses chunky blocks of instructions that kids can drag and drop for them to create a program. It effectively teaches kids the concepts of object-oriented programming without getting too heavy on code. The difference is that kids can use 3D graphics to create animations, stories and games that they can share on the web. If your child finds a 3D environment more appealing, then Alice is a better choice as his introduction to coding.

  • Tynker – Tynker is similar to Scratch and Alice in that kids visually work with blocks of codes to create fun animations, and play a suite of games. It differs from the other two sites in that Tynker guides the child through courses. It is, however, a commercial product and is aimed at selling these courses. Also, Tynker is not only web-based, but can be used with tablets and smartphones.

  • Blockly – This is another visual block-based programming tool, but is more of a visual editor, and will work best for older kids, 10 and up. When kids create programs using blocks, they will see it translated to programming language of their choice in the right panel – including Javascript, Python and PHP. This is a great transition from block programming to text programming, as it shows kids how blocks are translated into actual programming syntax.
    GameSalad (Mac OS, Windows) – For kids who want to create games for Android, iOS and the web, GameSalad is a paid platform that also uses a visual editor to teach programming concepts, game design and digital media creation with help of online support.

Games & Apps

These are top-rated games and apps that teaches your child how the basic principles of programming by visually drag and dropping blocks. It’s all about engagement, and there’s no need yet to learn an actual programming language:

  • ScratchJr (Android, iOS, 5 -7) – ScratchJr differs from Scratch in that ScratchJr does not require kids to have basic reading skills to be introduced to coding. It is a much-simplified way to learn coding at a younger age, but it still enables them to create their own interactive stories and games. Like in Scratch, children snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. Children can modify characters in the paint editor, add their own voices and sounds, even insert photos of themselves — then use the programming blocks to make their characters come to life.
  • Hopscotch (iOS, 7 – 10) – Also a simplified version of Scratch that teaches young kids to code to create games.
    Move the Turtle (iOs, Ages 10+) – This iPhone game teaches basic computational thinking using a colorful, graphic cartoon environment featuring a cute turtle. Kids read the instruction and try to complete tasks by moving the turtle on the screen.
  • Lightbot Programming Puzzles (iOS, Android, Age 9+) – This is a programming puzzle game that teaches concepts like planning, testing, debugging, procedures and loops while having fun getting a robot to light up everything in one turn. The game introduces children to concepts like loops and if-then statements by asking them to solve puzzles.
  • Kodable (iOS, Ages 5 to 8) This game for the iPad introduces kids to programming concepts like conditions, loops, functions and debugging while solving mazes. Everything is visual, and can be played by kids who does not know how to read yet. The object of the game is to drag and drop commands into an instruction set to guide a fuzz through a maze on the planet Smeeborg.
  • Roboozle Droid (Web, iOS, Android, Ages 6+) – Puzzle games have a lot in common with programming. Roboozle Droid teaches fundamental programming skills by making kids guide a robot through a series of maze using arrows and colored tiles. The functions that kids program start off as simple, but becomes more complex with the use of loops, stacks and recursion.
  • Machineers – (Android, iOS, 8 – 14). In this puzzle adventure game, players fixes broken machines using coding principles, teaches logical thinking and programming skills through using the mechanical parts as metaphors for programming concepts.
  • Coding Games For Kids – Learn To Code With Play (Android, 5-8) – This app consists of 11 coding games for kids such as Little Firefighter and Ice Cream Time that will teach them sequencing, loops and functions. It has colorful, cartoon animation that younger kids will find engaging.
  • App Inventor (Android, 10+) – In this app that was originally created by Google, but now maintained by MIT, newcomers learn to create software applications for Android in smartphones using drag and drop graphical interface similar to Scratch.

Learn from Text-Based Programming – Kids 11 or older (or younger with high aptitude)

Websites

  • CodeCombat (Web) – Kids learn coding lessons by playing a fun role-playing game (RPG) where they play as wizards using code to cast a spell on heroes as well as enemies. Kids learn Python or JavaScript as they defeat ogres, solve mazes, and level up. It includes single player and multi-player components.
  • CodeMonkey (Web) – teaches real world programming language by playing a fun online game by programming an adorable monkey to get all its bananas back from the bad gorilla who stole them. Kids learn coding by solving a variety of puzzles that becomes progressively challenging, and provide the right guidance at the right time.
  • Codeacademy (Web) On this site, kids can have a choice on what coding language to learn for free, but with paid option that gives user access to a personalized learning plan, quizzes, realistic projects and help from advisors. This interactive platform is a good next step for kids ready to write real programs, and they can choose perfect beginner programming language like Python, HTML and Javascript.
  • Khan Academy (Web) – A free site full of great, engaging tutorials for kids to learn how to code. From the Computer Programming page ( ) kids get introduced to “What is Programming” and then learn JavaScript and SQL concepts.

 

Other Programming Sites (for All Ages)

  • Code.org (Web) – A great programming learning resource from a non-profit site whose goal is to expand access to computer science in schools and increase participation of women and underrepresented minorities. It contains a variety of coding lessons and tutorials that appeal to young kids and beginners, including Hour of Code Activities where students are introduced to coding in just one hour. It also encourages coders to collaborate and share. It is free and supported by donors.
  • Made With Code (Web) – This project from Google aims to encourage girls to pursue careers in computer science. The site introduces kids to computer science concepts by dragging and dropping graphical objects. Although the site contains mainly beginner projects, it links to other resources where learners could create more advanced projects.

Games & Apps

  • SpriteBox Coding (iOS, Android) – Kids play with an adventure game that gets them to code. It starts with icon coding, and then slowly advance to using real Java syntax.
  • Codemancer (Windows, iOS) – In this fantasy game, players code their way through a fantasy world full of rival sorcerers and minions. It has a female protagonist, and thus might be able to entice girls more. It teaches variables, conditionals, and functions.
  • Pygame (Windows and other platforms) – Kids use the Python programming language to create games. Python is a relatively easy programming language, and is a great first language for the beginner programmer. It is also very useful in the real world. Many of the concepts involved in learning Python are very similar for learning many other languages. Pygame makes learning Python interesting for young learners.

Board Games

The principle of coding can be introduced to kids in a variety of ways where they find the most fun. In addition to digital screens and online resources, kids can learn computational and logical thinking by playing specially designed board games. Kids are unaware that while they are playing, they are learning the fundamentals of programming. These appeal to kids who would like to enjoy games that are played socially, since playing with board games enables friends and family to join the fun. It also provides a great opportunity for bonding. Below is a list of highly rated board games that trains kids’ brains for programming:

  • Robot Wars – Players create instructions to robots to win a war. The robot executes the code through sequential logic. Java code is blended into English commands so all English-speaking players can play the game. Read more details here.
  • Robot Turtles – This game, inspired by the Logo programming language, can be played by kids 4 and up. Kids learn to write programs by dictating the movements of their Robot Turtle tokens on a game board by playing Code Cards: Forward, Left and Right. When a player’s Robot Turtle reaches a jewel they win! Kids use limited syntax, sequence instructions and debug.
  • Code Master Programming Logic Game – Kids travel to an exotic world in search of power Crystals. They use Action Tokens to create a program that will lead their Avatar to collect all the Crystals on the map and land at the Portal. The fun adventure game builds planning, sequential reasoning, problem solving skills and advanced coding concepts.

Books

Though less fun than games and apps, reading and being guided by books is one of the most effective way to learn programming. Books can provide a deeper, more comprehensive knowledge than even most online resources. Learning through books works best though for learners who are very motivated, and are inclined to self-study.

Here are some of the best books that introduces programming to kids:

  • Hello World!: Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners – a popular and well- reviewed programming book that “a 12-year-old” can follow. It is a great introduction to what programming is and does, with amusing illustrations, and uses Python as an introductory programming language.

Devices

Kids who are inclined to work with devices and electronics can enhance their learning by using programmable circuit boards to work on projects that can control objects in the physical and digital worlds. It is a great introduction to the world of computer engineering, electronics, and robotics.

  • Arduino – This little device consists of a programmable circuit board and software. It uses the computer to write and upload computer code to the physical board. The Arduino device allows lets you easily control physical components with code. Kids can experiment with coding and see how it affects the physical world. You can introduce your child to working with Arduino with an official starter kit. There are several books and websites that introduces young people to creating Arduino projects. Here’s a video of someone who built and programed a simple robot.
  • Raspberry Pi – This is a credit card-sized affordable computer that can be used to create fun, practical projects, and at the same time teach basic computer science. Like actual computers, the Raspberry Pi can perform many things that desktop PC does. Like the Arduino, there are plenty of books and websites that teaches Raspberry Pi projects (Video: What can you do with a Raspberry Pi)
  • Lego Mindstorms – This is also a hardware and software platforms that make kids build programmable robots using the classic building block toys we all know and love. This is a great approach for kids interested in Robotics. It uses the EV3 programming language to manipulate kids’ Lego Mindstorm robot creations.

Classes and Boot Camps

There are always classes and bootcamps that teaches coding for beginners and kids. Consult your local newpaper and make a Google search for “coding bootcamps for kids” to see what is locally available.

Best Programs to Start

After your child is trained on logical and computational thinking from dabbling with visual programming by manipulating coding blocks and playing games using simple text coding, the next step is to learn real world computer languages. To decide which program to learn next, consider what your child’s interest is, his aptitude, as well as the language’s popularity so that it will benefit them in the future.

Here are programming languages that are not only relatively easy to learn, but are also practical and popular in the real world:

Python – a logical next step to learning Scratch. It is a relatively simple language, as it is very similar to English, but powerful and versatile enough for your child to do cool things. It is a great entry point to learn artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. If your child is using Pygame, he is already familiar with Python.

HTML and Javascript. HTML is the basic script for designing web pages, and JavaScript is the language to make web pages interactive and do cool things. It is a great way to learn programming fundamentals, and a subset of Javascript is easy enough to understand. Because everyone uses the web, Javascript is one of the most popular programming language.

Java – has nothing to do with Javascript. It is a more advanced language and kids with intermediate skills can learn Java as their next step. Most big companies use Java, and it is a language that is the basis for game programming, Android mobile apps and much more.

Other programs your kids might want to consider are:

C# is similar to Java, and is used for creating Windows apps.

Smalltalk is a fun language, and designed to teach programming to young people. It is the best way to learn object-oriented language.

Some Tips to Inspire Kids to Start Programming & Be Inspired

Keep it fun – Let them enjoy creating games and other fun stuff using visual blocks before they advance to more serious text coding. Give them projects where they can be creative, and where they feel rewarded by visible results.

Start with logic building – This is more important to learn than syntax or the language of programming.

Let your child think think – Don’t help him by providing answers.

Let him make mistakes – Programming is sometimes learned by trial and error.

12Sep2018
Kids Development
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September 12, 2018

via CBS News: Children who play video games for up to an hour a day are less hyperactive, more social and happier than those who don’t play at all, according to an Oxford University study.

The results contradict widespread concerns that video game use by kids is harmful.

The study, appearing in the journal Pediatrics, looked at boys and girls between 10 and 15 years old and found that playing for as much as an hour a day could actually be beneficial.

The study focused on almost 5,000 kids and compared those who didn’t play at all with those who indulged in console games such as Nintendo Wii and Sony Play Stations, or computer-based games.

“Young people who indulged in a little video game-playing were associated with being better adjusted than those who had never played or those who were on video games for three hours or more,” the study concluded.

“Those who played video games for less than an hour … were associated with the highest levels of sociability and were most likely to say they were satisfied with their lives. They also appeared to have fewer friendship and emotional problems, and reported less hyperactivity than the other groups.”

Those who played such games for up to three hours a day seemed to show no effects, positive or negative.

But those who played for more than three hours a day did see some harmful effects.

“Games provide a wide range of novel cognitive challenges, opportunities for exploration, relaxation and socialization with peers,” the reseachers observed. “Like non-digitally mediated forms of child play, games may encourage child well-being and healthy social adjustment.”

11Sep2018
Kids Development, Music and Children's Development
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September 11, 2018

via flowkey: Did you know that when you’re learning to play the piano you are actually improving several skills that will help you be more successful in other areas such as university or work? In fact, multiple studies link the study of music to increased success in other fields, as this article from the New York Times points out.

So what is it that makes musicians more successful in life? Here is a list of six essential skills that you will master by practicing the piano:

1. Playing the piano sharpens your concentration

When you’re playing the piano, you have to focus on the rhythm, pitch, tempo, note duration, and several other things. Even though your’re doing something you acutally enjoy, this is really a multi-level concentration exercise.

In fact, studies have shown that every time a musicians picks up his or her instrument, there are fireworks going on in his or her brain (for more information, see this Ted Lesson). Playing an musical instrument is perhaps the only activity during which almost all brain areas are simultaneously activated.

2. Playing the piano teaches you perseverance

Learning new songs on the piano takes time and effort. Until you can actually play a song fluently by heart, you’ll probably spend several weeks practicing it. As you look forward to being able to play the song, you stay motivated, learn patience, and increase your perseverance. These skills will always help you when you are confronted with difficult tasks at school, university, or at work.

3. Playing the piano teaches you discipline

Playing the piano can be quite challenging. However, practicing frequently and working hard will not only teach you perseverance, but also discipline. Consider the parts of the song you will have to practice over and over again. There is one “magic key” to successfully playing the piano (and yes, I will share it with you, just like that): practice, practice, practice.

Practicing regularly requires discipline. Maybe at the beginning it will be harder for you. Maybe you have to come up with some little treats to get yourself there. However, slowly but surely, you’ll get used to it and being disciplined about your practice time won’t be hard at all

4. Playing piano improves your time management skills

Many of us have quite busy schedules. Unfortunately, scientists haven’t found a way to make one day last more than 24 hours yet. So to get all your activities and duties done, you need to organize them. When you get used to practicing regularly, you also learn how to use your time efficiently and how you can use a 20-minute time slot for a quick piano lesson.

5. Playing the piano improves your emotional intelligence

Playing the piano enhances your listening skills. These are also very important when you interact with other people. Emotions are not only expressed by facial expressions and body language, but also by the tone of voice, the speed of speech, and the melody of speech. People who play an instrument are better listeners, and it is not surprising that studies have actually revealed that musicians are more perceptive in interpreting the emotions of others.

6. Playing the piano increases your memory capacity

Playing the piano stimulates your brain. While you learn and play songs, the stimulated areas of your brain become larger and therefore more active. The areas that are responsible for the storage of audio information, particularly, are more developed in musicians then in non-musicians.

So when you play the piano, your ability to memorize audio information increases. The chance of saying something like: “I’m sorry! Maybe you told me, but I really don’t remember…” most likely will occur less often.

Isn’t it amazing what playing the piano can do for you? If you’ve always been looking for an excuse to pick up that tricky piano, well, here — now you’ve got more than one. 🙂

11Sep2018
Kids Development, Reading To Kids
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September 11, 2018

via Reading Rewards: 1. Start with a mini reading habit that is almost effortless

If you ask a child to read for an hour every day, when she’s used to doing something she loves with that time, it will feel like a major sacrifice. Instead, follow the wise advice of Stephen Guise, author of “Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results”, who suggests you begin with a reading habit that is “too small to fail”.

Want to be able to do push-ups every day? Guise suggests you start with a single daily push-up. Then, after you’ve cemented the habit, gradually increase the number you do. Why not apply the same logic to reading? Get your child to read even five to ten minutes every day. In time, if you can find books your child will love, the daily reading time may naturally creep past your daily quota.

2. Increase your reading habit in small steps

Once you’ve established a mini reading habit, gradually aim to increase the time the child spends reading in each sitting. If, at first, your child finds it difficult to stay focused on reading for extended periods, try breaking his daily reading into multiple reading sessions.

3. Trigger the reading habit

Triggers can be a very helpful tool in the creation of a reading habit. For example, piggy-backing on another well-established habit can help keep children on track. If you establish that after dinner is reading time, after a few weeks your children won’t need reminding. The child will automatically think of reading after dinner.

4. Make reading enjoyable

It will be a lot easier to make reading a habit if your children take pleasure in their reading time. Do what you can to make their reading experience enjoyable, by setting up an inviting and comfortable environment with minimal distractions. You can also provide fun snacks to munch on, and turn reading into something you all do together as a family.

5. Make reading social

Another way to cultivate a reading habit is to make it social. Start a book club for kids, so your child is encouraged to read regularly and is rewarded with fun gatherings to discuss the book.

6. Be prepared

To nurture your child’s reading habit, it’s a good idea to remove the unnecessary friction of indecision. You can do that by maintaining a list of great book recommendations, so that your child is never without a stimulating book to read.

It’s also smart to keep the book your child is reading on hand for lost times during the week – like when you’re waiting in line at the passport office or waiting to be seen for a doctor’s checkup. Producing a good book as an antidote to boredom can help create a positive association to reading.

7. Create a reward

In his book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg describes the habit loop as consisting of three steps: a cue, a routine, and a reward. The cue triggers a specific routine in order to earn a reward.

At Reading Rewards, we believe that the ultimate reward for reading…. is the reading itself. And many kids agree. But other, more reluctant readers, need a little extra encouragement to get started on the path to reading success. That’s why we built into our reading program the ability to define custom rewards. Here are some creative and affordable reading incentive ideas to help you make reading a habit.

8. Don’t break the chain

In the early days of Jerry Seinfeld’s success, he cultivated a writing habit by using a yearly wall calendar and a red marker, to put an ‘X’ on every day that he managed to write. His motivation to maintain his habit came from not wanting to ‘break the chain’.
Use the same philosophy to cultivate your child’s reading habit. Have her log her reading every day and urge her not to ‘break the chain’. Before long, her log will become a source of pride.

9. When you slip, get back on track quickly

As much as we want to encourage your children to maintain a daily habit, it’s important to focus on consistency, rather than perfection. Your child’s routine will inevitably be disrupted at some point. What matters is not the disruption, but the commitment to get right back on track as soon as possible.

10. Set a long term goal

Finally, another way to nurture a reading habit is to set a long-term goal. Challenge your kids to read a set number of minutes or books over the next month. And consider throwing in an extra incentive, like a reward that your child can earn when the goal is met.

Over To You

We hope we’ve given you at least a few tips to help you cultivate a reading habit in your child. We’d love to hear if they’ve worked for you, or if you have any tips of your own that you’d like to share.

10Sep2018
Kids Development
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September 10, 2018

via Melina Mallos: Children openly and eagerly enjoy sharing insights and observations with adults. It is important to start building a good rapport from a young age. Here are three ways you can encourage children to share their personal stories, whether it’s at home or in your classroom.

1. Tell a story about your own childhood

Remember that children are accustomed to seeing you as a grown-up. They have no concept of you as a child; just the same way that they often think their teacher’s first name is “Miss” or “Mister.” Open up a bit about yourself as a child. Try sharing some photos, toys, or other remnants of the past and tell them about what it was like growing up. Talk about family life, the kinds of foods you ate, and the kinds of activities you did in your free time. Introduce them to old customs and traditions that they may not be familiar with, and encourage them to think about others’ experiences of growing up in a different country.

Not only will this serve as an example of how to share a personal story, it will also help your child relate to you on a different level. You can even expand this exercise by encouraging your child to share an object or story that sums up their own childhood.

2. Get kids to write a letter to their future selves

This is a great, fun exercise that will help you explore the idea of growing up and people and places changing over time.

Get your kids to write a letter to their future selves – say at 16 – and describe what their lives are like now. Encourage them to think about how they would like to remember their childhood when they are grown up, and suggest they include a mixture of fond, happy, and even sad memories.

This is the perfect low-stress way for children to begin thinking about who they are, where they belong, and where they came from, as well as spending some time reflecting on their life.

3. Read with them

Of course, reading a relatable story to your child always helps to break the ice and give them some ideas to explore. My book Catch that Cat! is a great learning tool to help children connect, share, and create meaning inspired by their favourite places, people and pets.

When reading the book with your child, you can talk about your own childhood and recall memories of special places. There are free activity sheets available to accompany the book, which can be used at home or in the classroom. You can register to get your copies here. Find out more about Catch that Cat! by clickinghere! Or you can watch a short video.

I’d love to know your thoughts on this post, and please feel free to share any tips you may have!

6Sep2018
Kids Development, Reading To Kids
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September 6, 2018

via ReadingRockets: Electronic books, called e-books, are becoming more and more commonplace these days. Some readers, like the first generation Kindle and Nook devices, offer a basic digital version of a print book. Children scroll through the pages to read, and the experience is somewhat similar to reading a traditional book.

Newer, full-color, touchscreen devices such as iPads and the Nook Color have expanded what is possible to include e-books with many more features. These “enhanced” e-books offer a different reading experience. Often bought as apps through iTunes, these e-books provide lots of choice. A user can choose have the whole book read to them, or can choose to read the book themselves. E-book enhancements consist of a range of things, but often include listening to music that complements the story, playing story-related games, completing coloring pages, and more. Most children find interactive e-books fun and engaging. But do they help develop important early literacy skills such as letter names and letter sounds or more complex skills such as comprehension?

The e-book market is too young to have enough solid research on the topic to know for sure yet, but researchers have spent lots of time watching families with young children engage with e-books. These observations suggest that it’s easy for kids to get carried away with the digital nature of the e-book. Parents can help keep the focus on reading and the story by following three simple suggestions:

  • Recognize the novelty factor. The first few times your child is interacting with a new e-book, allow time for exploration of the features. Once your child has spent some time exploring, set out to read or listen to the story without too many non-story related interruptions. 
  • Enjoy the features, but don’t forget to focus on the story. See if you can help your child find a balance between having fun with the games and sticker books and really enjoying and understanding the story. As with all books, engage your reader in conversations about the story. “What do you think will happen next? What is your favorite part of the story?” 
  • Stay present with your child and the book experience. It’s tempting to let the device do the work — read the story, play a game and interact with your child. But there’s no substitute for quality parent-child conversation. Keep talking, commenting on interesting words and ideas, and sharing your love of literacy with your child.
4Sep2018
Kids Development
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September 4, 2018

via Emdoneni Lodge: Wildlife are an important aspect to our lives, even though we may not understand it completely they play an imperative role in our daily living. The most important thing to remember is that without wildlife, humans would not exist.

There is a great importance in teaching children how to respect wildlife from a young age. It is important for them to understand that wildlife seen out in the open are not the same as their dogs or pets that they may find at home.

We have identified a few considerations and aspects to assist you in giving your children the knowledge they need when it comes to wildlife.

  • Wildlife means wild
  • Look don’t touch
  • Utilise everyday routines to teach children about wildlife

The first and most important thing to remember is that wildlife refers to WILD animals, meaning their behaviour is extremely unpredictable.

It is imperative that children are aware of this as often enough they will question why they are not able to hold and interact with a wild animal but the game ranger at a game reserve can, it is vital that they understand that there are trained professionals who are skilled at handling and facilitating wildlife and that it does not mean they are allowed to do the same.

Animals act and react on instances we will not always understand as we aren’t able to speak to them about how they are feeling as we would with a fellow human being.

Animals communicate through their body language and their instincts and it is important to be aware of this and remind children to act with caution when around wild animals.

A great way for children to see and understand unpredictable behaviour In wild animals is to encourage them to watch shows and documentaries focusing on wild life (It is important for parents to monitor what shows are watched as some may be a bit scary depending on the age of your child.)

These shows are perfect in showcasing animals in their natural habitats and will be perfect for exposing children to the habits, lifestyles and behaviours of wild life as well as to certain characteristics pertaining to specific wildlife that they can then learn from and remember should they come across and animal of the same sorts. If this is not something that you as a parent would allow due to the age of your kids then a simple trip to a nearby Zoo or animal reserve would be the perfect place for your children to see first-hand how wild life behave and why it is so important to respect them.

When animal parks, reserves or lodges constantly remind you and your children not to touch or feed the animals, they are doing this for a very important reason. Wildlife behaviours are unpredictable and they may feel threatened by your child or as though the child is invading their territory. Teaching children to respect these guidelines and respect the lifestyles of the wild animals can start at home by teaching your children the difference between household animals such as dogs, cats and hamsters in comparison to the wildlife found not only in animal reserves or sanctuaries but also out and about in public.

A great way for children to better understand the respect that is needed when it comes to wildlife, is to substitute normal reading books for fun, educational books regarding animals or picture books. This is a great way for parents to point out the differences between wildlife animals such as Cheetahs or Eagles and household pets such as cats or budgies and educate children on how to respect and understand their differences.

Alongside this, sitting outside in your garden with your children and pointing out different wildlife and talking with them regarding the food that is around your garden for these animals to eat or shelter to protect themselves with. Not only is this a great way for children to observe different wildlife but it also builds their knowledge on wildlife that people may not focus on.

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