4 Tips To Get Your Teenager To Open Up To You
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11386%22%3EDonald Saunders
</a>
Our teenagers' lives are often a closed book to us and no matter how hard we try they simply will not let us open the book and read what is inside. But how are we supposed to protect out children and help them to develop into self-sufficient and confident adults if we do not know what they are doing, where they are going, who they are hanging out with, what they are thinking and how they are feeling?
Well, here are four tips that might help to open that closed book at least enough to take a glimpse inside.
Tip 1 - Start when your kids are young. It is much easier to keep a relationship rolling along than it is to start it up in the first place and this is especially true when it comes to our kids. If we start literally from the day they are born and build a close and strong relationship then life will be fairly easy when they reach those difficult teenage years. However, if we maintain our distance from our kids, or simply do not have time to get close to them, when they are young then it is going to become increasingly difficult to do so as they get older.
Tip 2 - Look for common ground. We all have things which we like to do on our own or without our partner and one partner might enjoy playing bridge with friends while the other is out playing golf or fishing. But, it is also important for partners to share interests and to have some things, such as cooking, gardening or hiking which they enjoy doing together. This is not simply true of partners and should also extend to parents and children. So, find something, and preferably two or three things, which you and your kids can enjoy together and which gives you a common interest to talk about.
Tip 3 - Listen to what your children say and keep an open mind. The teenage years are a time when children tend to form opinions very quickly and often without an adequate understanding of the subject to hand. This in turn means that they will often come out with comments which you find concerning or which you simply do not like or agree with. Take the time however to listen to what they have to say and try not to be judgmental. There is nothing wrong with telling them that do not agree with them or do not approve of something as long as you explain why and do not turn what you are saying into an attack on them.
Tip 4 - Spend time with your children. One of the main concerns for most teenagers is that they do not get to spend enough time with their parents and this is often seen as a case of their parents simply not caring enough about what they are doing or how they are feeling. One significant result of this is that teenagers also often feel that they cannot talk to their parents when they have a problem and want some help.
Many of us lead busy lives but were we talking about a client instead of our own child you can bet your bottom dollar that we would make the time needed to spend with that client. Well, our children are far more important than any client and so it should not really be too difficult to set aside some time each day, or at the very least each week, to devote ourselves solely to each of our children for a while.
There are many ways to make sure that we are spending enough time with our kids and often it is simply a matter of organizing ourselves for efficiently. One simple way to achieve our aims is to make sure that the whole family sits down to dinner each evening and that this is a time to both eat and talk. Another way to spend time with your teen is to drive him to school each morning rather than let him ride the bus. Yet another suggestion is to play sport together once or twice a week. There are countless ways to make time for your teenagers if you put your mind to it.
Parenting4dummies.com provides information on all aspects of parenting teens including providing advice on such topics as teen sexuality
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=149331'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
Educating Teenagers About Drinking And Driving
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11386%22%3EDonald Saunders
</a>
The number one cause of death amongst youngster between the ages of 15 and 24 is drunk driving and so educating your teenagers about the dangers of drinking and driving is particularly important, not only for their own protection but for the protection of other road users and pedestrians.
The first mistake which many parents make in this area is to assume that they do not need to raise the subject until their own teenagers learn to drive. You do not need to be behind the wheel of a car to understanding the dangers of drunk driving and, like everything else you teach your children, the earlier they learn the more likely the lessons are to stick.
When it comes to the consequences of drunk driving teenagers need to fully understand just what it means to kill another person on the road and the devastating impact which this can have on their family and friends. But they also need to realize that many people are also injured as a result of drunk driving and they and their families may have to live with the consequences of severe injury for the rest of their lives. This is not always easy for a teenager to understand but it is a lesson which they need to learn.
It is also important for teenagers to fully understand the consequences of being caught behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated. So, find out about the drink driving laws in your state and clearly spell out the consequences of a drink driving conviction. Explain to them that a drink driving conviction can not only land them in jail, but can also ruin their career prospects and prevent them from getting a good job.
Now, despite your best efforts, it is still quite possible that your teenager is going to find himself in the position of having had too much to drink when he is out with the car and being caught between driving the car home when he knows he is not fit to do so, or calling you and getting yelled at for being so irresponsible. So, this too is something which you need to discuss with him before it happens.
Remember that we all do silly things when we are young and the most important thing is to stay safe, learn our lesson and live to try again to get it right next time. So, if your child is in this position he must know that he can call you no matter what condition he is in or what time of the day or night it is to come and pick him up.
This is not to say that you are condoning his actions in getting drunk or that he should not be punished for his irresponsibility. But your first job is to keep him safe and make him realize that he made the right, sensible and mature decision by calling you for help.
Finally remember that there is no better way to teach your children anything than through your own example and that means making sure that you never drink and drive yourself. If your children see you leaving your car keys at home and taking a taxi to go out to a party then they will follow suit.
Parenting4dummies.com provides information on all aspects of parenting teenagers including providing appropriate teen advice
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=149334'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
Tips for Parenting Your Teen When Talking Isn’t Enough
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/4922%22%3EMason Duchatschek
</a>
When it comes to parenting, talk isn’t cheap; it’s often expensive, particularly when it isn’t followed by action. If you’re an adult trying to raise your kid to be your “buddy” or “friend,” then you might as well stop reading now. The ideas and strategies I’m about to suggest are not for you.
When it comes to drugs, I don’t believe that talking to your teen is enough. It’s a good start, but it often won’t keep you from easily joining the list of blindsided parents who were sure that their child could do no wrong (until their teen ended up in trouble at school or with the law). Legal fees, damages, lost scholarships, and rehab costs can ruin your family’s finances, and you’ll still be the lucky one if your teen doesn’t end up dead or in jail.
Let me explain this another way. I’ve been driving automobiles for over 25 years, and I believe adult drivers understand what a speed limit sign means. We’ve all been “talked to” and educated about the dangers of driving too fast.
Police officers know that we understand the dangers of driving too fast and are responsible citizens. Do they simply trust us because we are nice people, good workers, good athletes, or volunteers at church? I contend that if education was enough, there would be no need for radar guns, ticket books, or fines for speeding.
Therefore, educating your teen about the dangers of substance abuse isn’t enough either. That is why I’m such a strong proponent of establishing clear expectations, opening channels of communication, and implementing the follow-up strategy of home drug testing.
I advocate parents talking to their teens about drug use, just like they always have, with one notable exception; I encourage them to take it one step further and tie rewards and consequences to the outcomes of randomly administered home drug tests.
Parents should explain to their kids that life is about choices. When teens make good choices, they get rewards; when they make poor choices, there are consequences. That’s how a family drug testing program works. Drug-free teens should look forward to random test dates as if they were bringing home straight-A report cards to their mom and dad!
When the home drug testing program is explained this way, teens should feel no more uncomfortable about being asked to take random drug tests at home than most of us feel when we are asked to take them at work. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at work because we have nothing to hide (hopefully) and the expectations and methods of follow-through were explained to us up front.
When the results come back indicating no signs of drug use, your child should be able to pick out a modest reward of his or her choice, such as a music CD, a DVD, or an Xbox game. If your child has made poor decisions, then existing privileges get revoked and a timetable for earning them back (based on future drug- free test results and improved behavior) is implemented.
Besides peace of mind for yourself, what other benefits are there for members of your family?
1. Parents can suggest to their kids that if the peer pressure to try drugs doesn’t go away (or gets worse) after they say “no” to drugs, then the statement “No thanks my parents test me” is a socially acceptable excuse that can stop pushy peers in their tracks. Teens I’ve spoken with seem to appreciate having the ability to remove themselves gracefully from such situations.
2. In families where such a program isn’t in place, school officials and police departments handle these problems by default, and the costs associated with learning such a valuable lesson usually are much higher.
3. In families where teens have already broken the bond of trust and used drugs, teens struggle to regain their parents’ trust and parents hesitate to give it. Now there is a way for everyone to get what they want, since teens have a way to prove to their parents that they are no longer using drugs.
Mason Duchatschek has interviewed thousands of parents, teenagers, school board members, counselors, school principals, law enforcement officers and superintendents. He is the president of TestMyTeen.com based in Fenton, Missouri. http://www.testmyteen.com/.
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=145797'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
Friday, April 22, 2011
Sports and Teenagers
Why Is Sport Such A Great Outlet for Teenagers?
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11386%22%3EDonald Saunders
</a>
Many teenagers in high school today try out for sports because they think that it will make them popular with their friends and also provide a good vehicle for getting them dates. But there are of course many other benefits to be gained from sports in school and here are just a few to show why sport is such a great outlet for teenagers.
We live at a time when all of us are taking less and less exercise and for many kids this is largely because they have home computers, video games and TVs in their rooms and are happy to spend time sitting at these rather than going out in the fresh air and getting some exercise. It is this of course which also forms one half of the equation today which is resulting in childhood obesity sweeping across the United States.
For many years now obesity has been a problem amongst adults but it is now being seen in children at younger and younger ages and there is no question that a combination of poor eating habits and a lack of sufficient exercise are fueling this epidemic. Sport at school therefore provides an excellent vehicle for getting our kids the exercise they need and also provides the motivation to keep them in shape, which is something that is simply lacking when adults try to follow an exercise program by joining a local gym.
Another very real problem with kids spending time at home on their computers or playing video games is that this is largely a solitary activity and they are missing out on the socialization which is so necessary for their development. This too is provided not only through sport itself, but because many of their fellow sportsmen and sportswomen will also become friends with whom they will socialize off the sports field.
Sports also provides parents with a great way to bond with their children by showing up to support them at games, helping them with their practices and also joining in with fundraisers. Through sports you can not only get to spend time with your kids and talk to them, but you can also get to spend time with their friends and learn a little bit about who they are hanging out with as well.
Now at this stage you may be thinking that this is all well and good but my kid is not particularly good at sports and is never going to make it into a team. Well, fortunately, there are a lot of kids in the same boat and so if this is the case then you can always look outside the school where you will find plenty of places where sport is perhaps less demanding and a little more fun than sport.
Also do not be too rigid in your definition of sports and remember that what you are really looking for is something that is going to give your kids a reasonable amount of exercise but also get them out so that they can meet other kids and develop their social skills. Just take a look around your area and you will almost certainly find many sporting activities which your kids would be happy to try if you just point them in the right direction.
Parenting4dummies.com provides information on all aspects of parenting teens including providing advice on such topics as teen sexuality
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=149330'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11386%22%3EDonald Saunders
</a>
Many teenagers in high school today try out for sports because they think that it will make them popular with their friends and also provide a good vehicle for getting them dates. But there are of course many other benefits to be gained from sports in school and here are just a few to show why sport is such a great outlet for teenagers.
We live at a time when all of us are taking less and less exercise and for many kids this is largely because they have home computers, video games and TVs in their rooms and are happy to spend time sitting at these rather than going out in the fresh air and getting some exercise. It is this of course which also forms one half of the equation today which is resulting in childhood obesity sweeping across the United States.
For many years now obesity has been a problem amongst adults but it is now being seen in children at younger and younger ages and there is no question that a combination of poor eating habits and a lack of sufficient exercise are fueling this epidemic. Sport at school therefore provides an excellent vehicle for getting our kids the exercise they need and also provides the motivation to keep them in shape, which is something that is simply lacking when adults try to follow an exercise program by joining a local gym.
Another very real problem with kids spending time at home on their computers or playing video games is that this is largely a solitary activity and they are missing out on the socialization which is so necessary for their development. This too is provided not only through sport itself, but because many of their fellow sportsmen and sportswomen will also become friends with whom they will socialize off the sports field.
Sports also provides parents with a great way to bond with their children by showing up to support them at games, helping them with their practices and also joining in with fundraisers. Through sports you can not only get to spend time with your kids and talk to them, but you can also get to spend time with their friends and learn a little bit about who they are hanging out with as well.
Now at this stage you may be thinking that this is all well and good but my kid is not particularly good at sports and is never going to make it into a team. Well, fortunately, there are a lot of kids in the same boat and so if this is the case then you can always look outside the school where you will find plenty of places where sport is perhaps less demanding and a little more fun than sport.
Also do not be too rigid in your definition of sports and remember that what you are really looking for is something that is going to give your kids a reasonable amount of exercise but also get them out so that they can meet other kids and develop their social skills. Just take a look around your area and you will almost certainly find many sporting activities which your kids would be happy to try if you just point them in the right direction.
Parenting4dummies.com provides information on all aspects of parenting teens including providing advice on such topics as teen sexuality
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=149330'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
Teens and Peer Pressure
Helping Your Teens To Cope With Peer Pressure
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11386%22%3EDonald Saunders
</a>
As parents we are very protective of our children and spend a lot of time trying to keep them from getting themselves into trouble. Amongst other things this means teaching them what we believe to be right so that they do not find themselves giving in to negative peer pressure. But, at the end of the day, kids will be kids and when they get to be teenagers in particular there are going to be times when, despite your best efforts, they are going to get into trouble. So, what can we do to get them back on the rails?
The first thing you need to do is to understand the environment in which your teens are operating and that often means thinking back to your own days as a teenager. One common practice for example is to put the blame onto someone else. We are all familiar with the "it's not my fault I only did what John told me to do and he said it was okay" routine. I do not know of many teenagers who will not use this type of excuse and the moment it appears for the first time is the moment to step in and begin teaching your teens the meaning of responsibility because, the sooner they learn that they must take responsibility for there own actions, and that they will be held accountable for their actions, the better.
This is sometimes an easy concept for teenagers to understand, but it is not always easy for them to see how to avoid getting into trouble in these circumstances and one good way around this is to sit down and role play with them. Come up with various different situations and then help them by providing ways in which they can get themselves out of a corner that they are being backed into. Perhaps most important at this stage is also to teach them that, if their friends simply will not listen to them and insist that they join in, then they can always simply walk away and, if necessary, call you to come and pick them up. You will also be surprised how often the simple act of calling a parent ostensibly to ask if something is okay will cause a friend, or group of friends, to change their mind.
Your child also needs to understand that your responsibility extends to him and not to his friends and that, regardless of what his friends do, or are allowed to do by their parents, your role in bringing him up means setting rules which you consider to be appropriate to him and which are set out of your concern for him and for his protection. Having laid this framework, you then need to set specific rules and draw boundaries within which he must operate.
Finally, remember that not all peer pressure is bad and that interacting with other teenagers is an important part of growing up and that your own teenager can learn a great deal from talking with his friends and watching the actions of those around him. Of course it does help if they have friends who follow the rules, but you cannot choose your teenagers' friends for them and will have to be prepared to cope with whatever they throw at you.
Parenting4dummies.com provides information on all aspects of parenting teenagers including providing appropriate teen advice
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=149328'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/11386%22%3EDonald Saunders
</a>
As parents we are very protective of our children and spend a lot of time trying to keep them from getting themselves into trouble. Amongst other things this means teaching them what we believe to be right so that they do not find themselves giving in to negative peer pressure. But, at the end of the day, kids will be kids and when they get to be teenagers in particular there are going to be times when, despite your best efforts, they are going to get into trouble. So, what can we do to get them back on the rails?
The first thing you need to do is to understand the environment in which your teens are operating and that often means thinking back to your own days as a teenager. One common practice for example is to put the blame onto someone else. We are all familiar with the "it's not my fault I only did what John told me to do and he said it was okay" routine. I do not know of many teenagers who will not use this type of excuse and the moment it appears for the first time is the moment to step in and begin teaching your teens the meaning of responsibility because, the sooner they learn that they must take responsibility for there own actions, and that they will be held accountable for their actions, the better.
This is sometimes an easy concept for teenagers to understand, but it is not always easy for them to see how to avoid getting into trouble in these circumstances and one good way around this is to sit down and role play with them. Come up with various different situations and then help them by providing ways in which they can get themselves out of a corner that they are being backed into. Perhaps most important at this stage is also to teach them that, if their friends simply will not listen to them and insist that they join in, then they can always simply walk away and, if necessary, call you to come and pick them up. You will also be surprised how often the simple act of calling a parent ostensibly to ask if something is okay will cause a friend, or group of friends, to change their mind.
Your child also needs to understand that your responsibility extends to him and not to his friends and that, regardless of what his friends do, or are allowed to do by their parents, your role in bringing him up means setting rules which you consider to be appropriate to him and which are set out of your concern for him and for his protection. Having laid this framework, you then need to set specific rules and draw boundaries within which he must operate.
Finally, remember that not all peer pressure is bad and that interacting with other teenagers is an important part of growing up and that your own teenager can learn a great deal from talking with his friends and watching the actions of those around him. Of course it does help if they have friends who follow the rules, but you cannot choose your teenagers' friends for them and will have to be prepared to cope with whatever they throw at you.
Parenting4dummies.com provides information on all aspects of parenting teenagers including providing appropriate teen advice
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=149328'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
Potty Training
Potty Training Adventure
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/20980%22%3ELaurie Leonard
</a>
I thought this was such an off the wall experience with my son that I would share it with you.
When my mom was up here visiting we had been working with my two year old on potty training. One time when my mom watched Logan for me she said she had just put some pants on him minus a diaper and told him let her know right away when he needed to go potty and she would help him with his potty chair, he did great, she said.
So the other day I bought some thicker underwear for Logan and figured I would try it, he was so excited about the thought of underwear and no diaper. Thus began our little adventure for the day.
I told Logan to tell mommy as soon as he had to go potty and we would go use his potty chair. He said okay mommy, I don't think he really understood at all what I meant. I am getting some papers out of the computer desk and all of a sudden I hear " Mommy I am peeing" To my horror I look over and there is a waterfall coming out of my son and of course he is standing on our bed.
I do not know what exactly the look was on my face, but my sons eyes got very big. I told him calmly honey you have to tell mommy before you go so we can make it to the bathroom, see why.
So I cleaned him up and began cleaning up the mess, realizing half way through I hadn't put a diaper on my son. Well I thought no big deal he just went more than I thought was humanly possible at his age, we are safe for the moment. OR NOT !!!!!
I go to bathroom for another rinse of my rag and I hear, from my bedroom "Mommy I just peed" I run in there saying you mean there on the bed? What mommy is already cleaning up? In hopes he would say yes, but knowing that would be to good to be true.
Noooo he said right here and points down to a box we had of old Life magazines my mom had left here when she went back to Florida.
Okay now I am wondering at this point how I have failed as a mother in potty training and why my mom did not go through this with Logan. The good thing was that Logan had only managed to get it on one magazine and told me he helped me clean it up and tore the cover off of it for me.
Sure enough that cover of the magazine was soaked and lying away from the rest.
Needless to say we will try a different form of potty training for now.
My Homepage
http://everythingdaze.blogspot.com/
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=151878'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/20980%22%3ELaurie Leonard
</a>
I thought this was such an off the wall experience with my son that I would share it with you.
When my mom was up here visiting we had been working with my two year old on potty training. One time when my mom watched Logan for me she said she had just put some pants on him minus a diaper and told him let her know right away when he needed to go potty and she would help him with his potty chair, he did great, she said.
So the other day I bought some thicker underwear for Logan and figured I would try it, he was so excited about the thought of underwear and no diaper. Thus began our little adventure for the day.
I told Logan to tell mommy as soon as he had to go potty and we would go use his potty chair. He said okay mommy, I don't think he really understood at all what I meant. I am getting some papers out of the computer desk and all of a sudden I hear " Mommy I am peeing" To my horror I look over and there is a waterfall coming out of my son and of course he is standing on our bed.
I do not know what exactly the look was on my face, but my sons eyes got very big. I told him calmly honey you have to tell mommy before you go so we can make it to the bathroom, see why.
So I cleaned him up and began cleaning up the mess, realizing half way through I hadn't put a diaper on my son. Well I thought no big deal he just went more than I thought was humanly possible at his age, we are safe for the moment. OR NOT !!!!!
I go to bathroom for another rinse of my rag and I hear, from my bedroom "Mommy I just peed" I run in there saying you mean there on the bed? What mommy is already cleaning up? In hopes he would say yes, but knowing that would be to good to be true.
Noooo he said right here and points down to a box we had of old Life magazines my mom had left here when she went back to Florida.
Okay now I am wondering at this point how I have failed as a mother in potty training and why my mom did not go through this with Logan. The good thing was that Logan had only managed to get it on one magazine and told me he helped me clean it up and tore the cover off of it for me.
Sure enough that cover of the magazine was soaked and lying away from the rest.
Needless to say we will try a different form of potty training for now.
My Homepage
http://everythingdaze.blogspot.com/
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=151878'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
Educational Software
Educational Software Considered A Key Tool for Your Child's Education
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/20586%22%3EJay Corbin
</a>
Computers are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. More people than ever own computers and the numbers continue to rise. Children are learning how to use computers at a much earlier age than their parents did. In my own life, my family did not own a computer till I was six while my daughter will be born in a house with three computers.
While their teachers will do everything they can to educate your child, your child is one of twenty or thirty kids in the classroom. Ultimately, the burden of educating your child rests on your shoulders. Your home is a great environment to direct your child's learning in fun and creative ways. There are many opportunities to learn in your home.
Educational software on the computer is a valuable tool that will have an enormous impact on your child's learning skills. Beginning reading programs covering phonics will build a solid foundation for the further development of your child's reading skills. Also, its never too early to start with math skills and there are many programs, such as Reader Rabbit's math, that will encourage a thorough knowlege of addition and subtraction.
You child needs any educational advantage you can give them. The best advantage you can give them, according to the prevailing research, is to find a way to engage their interest. Children who are interested in the material learn at a faster rate than a child that is unentertained by the learning process. Kids love video games and cartoons, so computer software that combines the two with a postive learning experience can be a tremendous advantage for your child's education. Studies have shown that educational software is very effective at enhancing the quality of teaching and helping students comprehend on a higher level.
There are some things to remember when choosing software. First, it has to be easy for your child to operate, especially if you have a small child. When I was six, I hated the keyboard and we didn't have a mouse yet, so I remember how hard it was to use any software that was more complicated than hitting the arrow keys. Luckily, software and computers have evolved but it is still a consideration. Second, make sure it is software that will accomodate the attention span of a five or six year old. They don't have much of an attention span at that age so make sure the software dishes out the education in small doses. If your child gets bored then it doesn't serve much purpose, does it.
You should also find software that fits with your child's interests. This shouldn't be a problem, nobody knows your kid as well as you do. As much as I dislike the media tie in programs, Sponge Bob and Spiderman may be the best teachers for the job at hand. It's easier to introduce new ideas and pique their interest if there is something familiar about it. It's sneaky, but it gets the job done.
Finally, do some comparison shopping. There are a lot of options and you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. Compare the features of the program with what your child is learning in school already. Make sure the program itself is regularly updated and enhanced with new features to make sure it is of the best value. Also, compare competing products to make sure you get the best possible program. While you can't put a price on the importance of your child's education, you can make sure you get a great return on your investment.
Jay Corbin runs the Educator Cafe which offers cheap educational software as well as great deals on Rosetta Stone Software.
Article Source: <a href='http://www.articles.co.il/article.php?id=152690'>http://www.free-articles-zone.com</a>
By <a href="http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/20586%22%3EJay Corbin
</a>
Computers are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. More people than ever own computers and the numbers continue to rise. Children are learning how to use computers at a much earlier age than their parents did. In my own life, my family did not own a computer till I was six while my daughter will be born in a house with three computers.
While their teachers will do everything they can to educate your child, your child is one of twenty or thirty kids in the classroom. Ultimately, the burden of educating your child rests on your shoulders. Your home is a great environment to direct your child's learning in fun and creative ways. There are many opportunities to learn in your home.
Educational software on the computer is a valuable tool that will have an enormous impact on your child's learning skills. Beginning reading programs covering phonics will build a solid foundation for the further development of your child's reading skills. Also, its never too early to start with math skills and there are many programs, such as Reader Rabbit's math, that will encourage a thorough knowlege of addition and subtraction.
You child needs any educational advantage you can give them. The best advantage you can give them, according to the prevailing research, is to find a way to engage their interest. Children who are interested in the material learn at a faster rate than a child that is unentertained by the learning process. Kids love video games and cartoons, so computer software that combines the two with a postive learning experience can be a tremendous advantage for your child's education. Studies have shown that educational software is very effective at enhancing the quality of teaching and helping students comprehend on a higher level.
There are some things to remember when choosing software. First, it has to be easy for your child to operate, especially if you have a small child. When I was six, I hated the keyboard and we didn't have a mouse yet, so I remember how hard it was to use any software that was more complicated than hitting the arrow keys. Luckily, software and computers have evolved but it is still a consideration. Second, make sure it is software that will accomodate the attention span of a five or six year old. They don't have much of an attention span at that age so make sure the software dishes out the education in small doses. If your child gets bored then it doesn't serve much purpose, does it.
You should also find software that fits with your child's interests. This shouldn't be a problem, nobody knows your kid as well as you do. As much as I dislike the media tie in programs, Sponge Bob and Spiderman may be the best teachers for the job at hand. It's easier to introduce new ideas and pique their interest if there is something familiar about it. It's sneaky, but it gets the job done.
Finally, do some comparison shopping. There are a lot of options and you want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. Compare the features of the program with what your child is learning in school already. Make sure the program itself is regularly updated and enhanced with new features to make sure it is of the best value. Also, compare competing products to make sure you get the best possible program. While you can't put a price on the importance of your child's education, you can make sure you get a great return on your investment.
Jay Corbin runs the Educator Cafe which offers cheap educational software as well as great deals on Rosetta Stone Software.
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