Research has shown that early childhood is the best time to teach and cultivate the brain. During these beginning stages of development children’s minds act like sponges, absorbing a larger proportion of content than adults. This is why it is actually easier for young kids to learn new material, such as languages, quickly and relatively easily.
The hardest thing for most parents and teachers is making learning enjoyable for young children. Instead of using reading and homework as a punishment, try making it part of the daily routine. Utilizing fun educational games is a simple way to get young people excited about learning.
It’s my personal belief that our culture has promoted a dumbing-down effect for many years, and that’s why I pledged to give my child every academic advantage possible. If you look at the correspondence and speeches of early American heroes, you’ll be shocked at the level of intellect that was on display in that relatively primitive age. Even without access to quality public education, people pursued knowledge on their own.
In recent years, the incentive has been removed. We have little reason to learn anything about the world around us. Whereas most Canadians are familiar with the United States’ political climate, few Americans take the time to learn about Canada, Mexico or any other countries for that matter. When I found some learning games online, I quickly sought out a program featuring a world atlas and encyclopedia of world history all in one.
Conventional wisdom states that actions speak louder than words, and this is especially true when applied to children. Few kids have the patience or presence of mind to tolerate rote memorization and other forms of “traditional” phonics education. In order to be effective, the learning process needs to be interactive. Capturing a child’s interest isn’t easy, but once you’ve captivated him the process takes care of itself.
Word pronunciation games keep the child from losing attention and interest. As a conscientious parent, you can complement these computer games with physical materials such as flash cards. Try implementing an element of humor into the phonics sessions, perhaps incorporating a child’s favorite nursery rhyme or bedtime story.
Pittsburgh Public School Students First to Welcome Keyboard Town PALS to Their Curriculum
Jeffrey Primary School Educators and Shaler School Representatives Learn New Typing Method at Unique Presentation
Tuesday, August 25, 2009: The Jeffrey Primary School in Glenshaw, PA will be the first public school to integrate Keyboard Town PALS (KTP) into its curriculum. This coming September, the school’s second graders will be introduced to the educational and entertaining program that uses successful association and memory techniques, through stories told by fun and adorable live puppets. The KTP readiness program for younger learners will also be integrated into the Kindergarten curriculum. Jeffery Primary School’s extremely supportive Parent Teacher Organization is happy to cover the cost of implementing both programs in the school next year.
KTP was founded by Rita Herman, CEO and professional educator and Donna Katz, President and former private school administrator. They enlisted the help of several members of the Emmy-Award Winning teams behind “Misters Rogers’ Neighborhood”, as well as Warner Brothers’ “Looney Tunes” and Hanna Barbara cartoons.
At the end of last school year, the KTP method was introduced to the administration and teaching staff of Jeffrey Primary, along with other representatives from the Shaler Area School District. A unique and informative in-service presentation was given by the KTP creators using actual puppets featured in the KTP software, and beginning a weeklong series of presentations that will continue in California. The following week, Donna and Rita traveled to California for a presentation at the Lockwood Elementary School in Los Angeles. The presentation was filmed for the nationally syndicated television show, “Kurt the Cyber Guy.” The itinerary also included a presentation for children with special needs in conjunction with The Friendship Circle, a nationwide nonprofit organization.
“When I first listened to Donna speak about the program and what it could offer our students, I knew that it would be a perfect fit for the level of technology instruction we have available to us,” says Jeffrey Primary School Principal, Kara Eckert. “I quickly realized that this program could serve as a stepping stone to the other projects and programs that we will be unveiling over the course of the next year.”
Currently, Keyboard Town PALS is the only company that offers teaching material for typing by using the Purposeful Associative Learning System (PALS). The company claims that no parent or educator will ever want to return to the mindless drills and endless exercises used by other programs.
The KTP educational software is available by download or by order purchase at www.OnlyAnHour.com and www.Amazon.com. For all media inquiries, contact Daniel Ferszt at Global Point Public Relations 310.424.8290 or email dferszt@globalpointpr.com.
I’ve been happily married for five years, and my son just turned 4. I’m still relatively new to this whole parenting thing, but I’ve found that it helps to try to put myself in my son’s shoes – to think about the way I thought and acted at his age. My wife and I have been careful to limit our son’s exposure to television, which we view as more of a time-waster than a teaching tool.
On the other hand, I’ve been exploring the market for educational computer games; the number of choices these days is astounding. When I was young, I spent hours playing “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego.” Looking back, I realize that my own parents selected that game because it taught kids about geography without reminding them that they were actually learning something. I’m planning to do the same thing for my son.
You may have noticed lately that many people would do anything to avoid attempting a simple math problem. It’s astonishing how many adults are worried about experiencing embarrassment once their ignorance is revealed. The issue can be traced to a lack of math fundamentals, which should be learned early in life. Some people simply lack a solid foundation.
With this in mind, it’s important for parents to encourage their children to embrace math as a fun concept that deserves to be studied. Math games for kids can be thought of as a welcome change from rote memorization and other techniques that don’t appeal to young children. With any luck, your kids will grow up to take pride in their math skills and they won’t have anything to hide when the topic arises.
Growing up, my family wasn’t exactly what you would call affluent. We bought the majority of our wardrobes secondhand, and many of my toys had once belonged to my older brother. I remember attending a garage sale one summer morning and asking for money to buy the biggest book sitting on a table. It turned out to be a single-volume Random House encyclopedia that was only a few years old. I used it as a reference to quench my constant curiosity about the world.
I went on to receive a doctoral degree, and my family lives a comfortable life. I still understand the value of a kids encyclopedia – my children use a cutting-edge software version that features almost all the latest updates. It contains much more detailed information than a typical Wikipedia entry, and I don’t have to worry about my children stumbling upon inappropriate material on the Internet.
Speed reading makes for a neat party trick, but it has little practical value. Ultimately, retention and understanding count most. Children should be encouraged to take their time while reading, drawing critical meaning from the content. Most college-level aptitude tests gauge reading comprehension, so it’s never too early to give a child some basic lessons.
Educational software programs often focus on teaching kids to apply the information they read. For instance, in The Oregon Trail, a popular game that came standard on the Apple II in the 1980s, users read about the importance of hunting and buying supplies to ward off disease. They are expected to retain that information once the journey begins. Today, educational software is much more advanced, but it still emphasizes the importance of reading comprehension.
It’s a well accepted idea that families that spend time together are more connected. That’s why so many families have turned to a family game night. This is one night out of every week that everyone in the family agrees to meet at the house to spend some time together. For some families, this means dusting off the DVD collection and enjoying a film together, and for other families it means rediscovering all those board games that usually sit unused in the closet.
For an added benefit, choose educational games for kids as the centerpiece of your game night. This doesn’t have to be something overt, otherwise you risk alienating your kids. But it can be something interactive and fun that still stretches the mental muscles. Even games like Scattergories can be raucous, creative, and fun, but they definitely offer some real educational value in their ability to foster creative thinking. For added creative value, let your kid develop their own game that everyone can play!
With kids increasingly attached to their gaming consoles, it can be difficult trying to encourage them to partake in games that offer a little more educational value. In fact, many kids will groan and drag their heels when they believe they are made to play with anything that boasts an educational bent. But there is one easy way to get your kids involved in some educational (and fun) games.
This is by purchasing them educational games that can be played on their various consoles. Whether they’re attached to their Nintendo DS or their Xbox, there are a number of video games that are interactive and entertaining but also offer some educational merit. This way, you’re a happy parent because they’re learning, and they’re a happy child because they still get to play with their gaming console.