Summer Learning Loss

Posted on | by KD Novelties

When it comes to making sure that your child stays on track with reading during the summer months, there are other aspects of your child’s learning and education that may over the summer months.  A study was conducted by the National Education Commission that reported a growing concern about the nation’s school calendar issues, (with summer being too long), and how it affects students, especially those at risk for academic failure.

The study showed that aside from other academic skills, math and spelling skills were the most pronounced when it came to summer loss results. This result was deduced due to its nature, seeing as math and spelling skills are acquired via factual and procedural knowledge, whereas reading and other similar subjects are more conceptually based.

There are plenty of things that parents can do to help make sure that their child’s academic skill levels are not in jeopardy over the summer, and it helps to keep all aspects of your child’s education in mind. You can certainly make an effort to ensure that family trips are educational and that reading is incorporated into your summer routines, but you can help kids with math skills and spelling, too. With the wealth of technology available, there are many math and spelling based apps on mobile devices, you can even ask your kids simple questions in your day-to-day lives to help keep their skills sharp. Ask your children to count how many calories from fat are in their snacks, or have them conduct other calculations, and simply reading nutritional labels can be educational in terms of expanding concepts relating to health and reading. Encourage your kids to start a journal to document their summer, that way they are practicing spelling and reading skills at once. Many schools, places of worship, community centers, libraries and parks even offer educational day camps and other summer activities, so make sure to look out for programs your child may be eligible for.

What the National Education Commission study also indicated was that summer loss differed from child to child, not only in regards to their summer activities but to their inherent IQ, school performance and overall character. As a parent, it helps to keep these characteristics in mind in order to make sure that your child’s specific needs are met no matter what. For instance, some kids may not necessarily need to read more often during the summer in order to retain their reading level, but children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities absolutely will. The same goes for other subject areas such as math, science, spelling and more. Know what your child’s strengths and weaknesses are and play to those factors. Make sure that your child gets the help that they need. Even if your child is not expressly sent to summer school for remedial math does not mean that helping reinforce mathematical skills and concepts over the summer won’t help them fight summer loss.

How Your Family Can Give Back This Summer

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Children learn a lot by example, and certain habits tend to make the best impression when they are part of a routine. For instance, children are more likely to develop an interest in reading if they see their parents reading by example. When it comes to routine, children may grow accustomed to reading at a certain time of day which helps instill the act of reading as an important part of their lives. This can apply to other things too: children are more likely to eat healthy if they see their parents eating that way. The same goes for other habits and interests that parents feel may be beneficial for their children. As the summer holidays near, parents may be wondering how they can encourage their kids to do something meaningful, and by making it part of your routine, you can help your children grow into well developed individuals.

Aside from planned vacations, there are plenty of things that families can do together during the summer holidays, yet not many people may realize just how fun, fulfilling and inspiring it can be to spend some time with your family while you also help your community.

Being charitable is a virtue, and as a parent it is a great ideal to instill in your children. Like reading, leading by example and making it a part of your everyday can make giving back a huge part of your child’s life. Here are some ways you can give back with your children this summer and make some memories too:

● Does your family have a favorite park or hangout spot? The next time you plan an outing, see if there’s anything that you can do for this community space. Do they need any assistance cleaning up or setting up activities? Cleaning is a great skill, especially for children who are just learning how to pick up after themselves as independent individuals while also learning to complete other tasks on their own. Cleaning up and helping others is a great way to teach accountability and compassion.

● Is there a local pet shelter near your home? If your kids love animals, volunteering at shelters is a great way to provide your children with opportunities to play with them as well as help them out, and it can be especially beneficial for kids who may not have pets at home. Unadopted pets need love and your family, as well as your children, can help shelters out by playing with the animals, taking them for walks, or completing other tasks in order to help improve the lives of these animals. You might find that doing so just might help to improve your own life as well!

● Do you have a yard or is there a garden close to your home? Planting trees with your children can help impart the idea that taking care of the earth is important, and that even planting one tree can make a difference and help the planet.

● Parents can also encourage kids to donate. As the new school year approaches, your children may want new school supplies. Encourage them to gather the things that they may no longer want, such as last year’s backpack or the pair of sneakers they outgrew, and go along with them as they donate these items to other children in need.

There are plenty of other things that you can do to give back with your kids, but remember, by making it a part of your everyday and by leading by example, parents can help make a huge difference in their child’s lives and it can even encourage them to make a positive difference in other people’s lives as well.

Why Your Kids Should Go Bike Riding This Summer and the Lessons They’ll Learn

Posted on | by KD Novelties

Aside from learning to walk and talk, one of the more formidable moments of a child’s young life is when they first learn to ride a bike. Bicycling is a great pastime for children, and it can grow into a lifelong interest as well, whether they continue to love leisurely riding a cruiser or taking up mountain biking or speed cycling as adults. But learning to ride a bike as a child is more than just a Hallmark milestone; learning to ride a bike can help improve a child’s coordination, it can foster a sense of independence and individual capability, it can help encourage them to stay active and exercise, and it can also teach them about the importance of safety.

Most children start out on a tricycle or a two-wheeler fitted with training wheels. These types of bikes provide balance so that children can ride safely while they build their own sense of skill and prowess. When a child is ready they can upgrade to a two-wheeler, free of any support, and ride on their own. This progression definitely takes practice, but it also takes a sense of courage as well. Physically riding a bike takes a lot of coordination and thought, especially early on, so by learning to ride a bike children are utilizing these important parts of their brain in order to propel themselves forward.

Practice makes perfect! Leveling up to a two-wheeler can help provide kids with a tangible goal that they can strive for, which can help kids when they set goals for themselves throughout their lives as well. Therefore, kids will have to develop their skills and improve their balance and coordination, they will be improving their mental-physical relationship while learning to meet a goal, and gaining a sense of independence and accomplishment once they successfully do so.

Biking can help teach other important lessons, too. Cycling is a physical activity and can be a great outdoor activity during all seasons even the winter months. It is becoming increasingly important that parents find ways to keep kids active, especially with the rising obesity problem in the US, and bicycling can help keep kids on the move. Not only is it fun, it keeps them physically active and gives them plenty of exercise.

In order to ride a bike safely, kids will also need to learn about the safety measures they need to take while cycling. This skill-set will apply to various other aspects of life, even if the safety measures and rule are not exactly the same. Kids should definitely wear a well-fitted helmet, and elbow pads, kneepads, and even gloves should be considered as well. Aside from wearing the proper equipment, as well as the appropriate clothing and footwear, kids should also know how they should treat certain potential incidents such as if they cannot brake or if they lose control of the handlebars for any reason or if they fall. The goal is to get kids to practice safety and bike well, but accidents happen and it is important that kids know exactly what to do in these situations so they understand how to prevent injury in themselves as well as others.

There are many benefits to teaching your child how to bike. It can help teach them a variety of different life lessons and skills while also being fun and active. And you never know, biking and cycling may just become a lifelong hobby of theirs for years to come. So make sure to grab your bikes as a family and enjoy the summer!

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