The seven steps to personalized learning

Let's find out how your child can benefit by understanding a few basic concepts and techniques of personalized learning from this pyramid.

Step 1: Never be passive, always be active
Don't allow yourself to get into the habit of passively accepting that when you are presented with text, the way things are set out in it is necessarily the best way for YOU to learn. If it doesn't work for you, don't hesitate. Take Action!

Step 2: Learn how to make knowledge your own.
Each time children brings creativity into learning, their mind is linking learning with fun- and that is a great motivation for a child to learn more and do more.

Step3: Experiment with different techniques
Once you and your child have learned about different ways of thinking and learning, you should move on to this step, which is to experiment. Try experimenting with new ideas that you find out what works best for your child.
For example, making riddles. Riddles are able to help your child to:
1. Re-shape the information to make it more personal
2. Find a different way of thinking about a new topic
3. Develop problem-solving abilities.

Step 4: Let children choose what works for them
Having a variety of strategies at their fingertips means that your child can bring any of them into play as required. This places them in a very powerful position. When they do this, they are using skills that will not only help them across the school curricula but also throughout life.

Step 5: Remind children that they are unique
The more children practice different techniques , the more they will begin to have the confidence not only to mix and match them but also to design and come up with a few of their own. Your child is unique and just as able as anyone to come up with great ideas that build upon the fact that they are now becoming an expert in how they think and learn.

Step 6: Remain open to new ideas
Knowledge and research is forever moving on, and children can benefit from this as techniques and strategies can be influenced by new findings and discoveries. What we know about the brain and learning is an ongoing journey, not a static one, so keeping eyes and ears open to new ideas is important.

Step 7: Expert in personalized learning
And lastly, congratulations! Now, you know everything there is to know about personalized learning. Whenever you feel you need to revise things or remind your child how important it is to develop a good range of workable strategies, go through this seven steps again.

Tips for busy parents

In the preschool years, your chidl is a learning machine. He learns even when you don't know he's learning. The most important things you want your child to do is to get to know books, come to love books, and to learn about the language.

These learning tasks can be accomplished if you just do these simple things.

Reading a bedtime story- This cannot be started too early or repeated too often. The fun times when you and your child are together is important in establishing a lifelong habit.

Reading the same book over and over- Unlike yourself, your child will want the repetition of the happy experience.

Give your child markers, paper and pencils- Children need to make notes on paper to learn that they can write down what we say, and that they are able to write too. Look over your child's writing, and keep writing supplies in a special place where you can bring out while keeping an eye on your child.

Write messages to your child- When you are away, leave a message for your child to read. Leave a note on the fridge, or in their lunchbox.

Label your child's possessions- Children need to see their names everywhere.

Make alphabet books- Staple together 26 pieces of paper, write a letter on each page. Get your child to fill each page with words or pictures that begin with the letter that is on it. She can also write her own name, and her friend's name too.


Put magnetic letters on the refrigerator- Many children learned to read from magnetic letters on the refrigerator. You got to form the letters into words, especially your child's name, and get your child to do the same.

Setting achievable goals

One skill that you can teach your child is the ability to set small and achievable goals. When a target is reached, a positive upward spiral of accomplishment is created and your child's self-esteem is heightened. Goals should be specific and have a time frame. When your child has a goal that really matters to him, you will be amazed by his determination and the tenacity that is unleashed in him. Let him begin with small things such as improving his Mathematics grade from B to A and completing his art project in a given time frame. Once this habit is developed, the consequences can be far-reaching.

Dealing with children to do their homework?

"How do you get your children to do their homework? Instead, you leave homework up to your children, and let them deal with the consequences directly."

Here are four effective ways to inspire your children to do their homework:

1) Let your children experience poor grades.

This is difficult, I know but critical. When report cards come out, sit down with your children and ask how they feel about their grades. Discuss which areas they want to improve in and which areas they are proud of. Sometimes going to summer school and missing out on summer fun is a big motivator to do better next time.

2) Pay attention to the subjects they are interested in

Ask them about their interests, hobbies, and projects. Support them in their activities any way that you can.

3) Attend as many of your child's school events as possible

Go to the parent-teacher interviews, the concerts, and the games, and demonstrate your interest, care, and support.

4) Stop reminding them about homework

Leave the responsibility for their homework to them. In order for your children to do well in school over the long-term-and ultimately in life!-they need to care about their homework and responsibilities more than you do do well in school over the long-term-and ultimately in life!-they need to care about their homework and responsibilities more than you do.


Gimmicks, lies, guilt trips, and similar homework motivation techniques don't help.

Instead, choose to make a small investment in your kids' future success: Give them the support and encouragement they need now. They'll ultimately feel more confident about making their own choices and taking responsibility for their achievements-and then you won't have to motivate them to do their homework any more. After all, chances are you have already passed your schooling and don't need to do it again.

General Knowledge

Many children are poor in general knowledge. The minute they start formal education, the emphasis is on schoolwork. Some parents may be so grade-orientated that they overlook this aspect of a child's development.

Cultivating a thirst for knowledge in the child is important. The wider his field of knowledge is, the better a person the child becomes. Thus, finding time to help your children increase their general knowledge is important.

Apart from borrowing illustrated reference books from the public libraries, gathering round the computer and surfing the internet for more information - the topics could range from atomic bombs to zombie.

The children's curiosity and ability to learn are limitless. All they need is an opportunity!

View  A Child's Frist Library of Learning for your child Knwledge

The route to success in goal setting and achieving for your child

It is a very old saying, but a true one: if you don't know where you are going, you could end up somewhere else. Hence, goal setting and achieving the goals set are a valuable skill for your child throughout his/her life.

1. Let your child decide on a goal
Children's dreams and ambitions are their own, as are their gifts. When children work from the foundations of knowing what they are good at and what they want to achieve they have a much better chance of achieving that goal because they will have the personal motivation.

2. Refine goals. The brain likes precision and detail in goals
There is a big difference between a wish list and a goal. Typically a child might say, 'I wish i could do better in my homework.' To the brain this doesn't mean anything because you haven't told it what 'better' means. Is it getting a better and precise grade? Is it presenting your work more neatly?

3. What the brain sees it believes
Since prehistoric cave paintings, humankind has always used pictures to help spur them on to greater things. Visualization works in the same way and is great brain training.

4. 'Keep on going', don't let anything get you down
Ask anyone who has achieved brilliance in any given field and they all have the same story to tell: at many turns in the road they had to face and overcome obstacles - and then move on.

5. Break down big goals into little ones and give them precise timescales
Think of climbing a mountain and you have to build in little goals to get to where tou want to go. Help children achieve their big dreams by showing them how to break down their gial into little steps, all of which they can take in their stride confidently and happily.

6. Celebrate the wins and let children reward themselves
Always celebrate the wins. No matter how big or how small, they all count. The operative words here are 'let children reward themselves'. Real reward for achievement is all about feeling good inside, it is not about the size or cost of the prize. The prize is the achievement itself.

Reading activities for special times

Life is not all about work and no play. During weekends, birthdays, holidays, vacations,rainy days, books make a difference. Books are the right medicine for happy times and sad ones.


1- Make a rainy day book
Put a few sheets of paper together to create a book with your child illustrating it. Write down the sounds made by the rain, the splash, patter and ping of rainfall. Draw pictures of rain equipment, like umbrellas, raincoats, boots. Also, draw pictures of the neighbourhood in the rain, the buildings, people, animals.

Go to the library to get the book "Rain Talk" by Mary Serfoza, where a child listens to the "ping a ding, plip plip, and drum a tum" sounds of the rain. "Get Umbrella" by Taro Yashima, in where three-year-old Momo is awaiting the rain to come, so that she can use her new red boots and umbrella. Seeing what other children do to celebrate the rain gives your children models for their own books.


2- Read before vacations
When preparing for a vacation, get some books from the library. Find books to read about the places you are going. There are informational books about their national parks, historical sites and resorts areas. Also, there are fictional stories set in all parts of the country and world. Ask your chilren's librarian to point out books set in the area you will be visiting. If the books are too difficult for your child to read alone, read aloud to them. Your child will learn that reading is a source of information for all endeavors.



3- Read during vacations
If you travel, books are a important part of your luggage. Bring books along. Encourage your child to keep a journal or diary. Together, write a book about the places you visit and see. If you stay at home, books are even more important to your vacation time. Vacations are a good time to read the more difficult books that take up more time to read.

Did you know -
Kids who are read to do better in school.
Reading aloud to a child raises their self-esteem and reading ability.
Becoming a better reader helps a child do better in social studies and math.
Keeping a diary helps a child become a better writer and reader.
Allowing your child to read in bed is a good habit to start.
Children will read on their own a book that has been read aloud to them.

Characteristics of Infants-Preschoolers

Infants

• Enjoy action nursery rhymes
• Fall asleep to nursery songs and lullabies
• Copy actions of children in books
• Join in making sounds of animals in the books
• Relate book to real life
• Like to see babies in books

Toddlers

• Like to read the same books multiple times
• Choose their favourite book from the shelf
• Explore the world by their senses
• Like short stories which rhyme
• Prefers large, clear and realistic pictures
• Like to name objects in books and magazines

Preschoolers

• Use words to express themselves
• Struggle for independence, want to do things themselves
• Play around with language, singing, making sounds
• Fascinated by other children
• Enjoy simple folktales, but not fairy tales.

Ideas for getting started on reading

It is never too early, nor too late to start reading. Once you have the desire to make your child a reader, the rest is simple. There are only a few things you have to do to create a reader, and there are some which are already done. You can't begin too soon, so start today!


Here are a few ideas on getting started to make your child a reader.

1- Keep books handy and accessible
A stack of books in a basket beside the sofa makes it convenient to use those moments anytime an activity is needed. Books put by the bedside table shows that reading is a natural part of the bedtime routine. A home library can be set up at a low cost, maybe even lower than buying breakable toys.

2- Choose books your child likes
A good book that your child likes, would be read over and over again. Compared to an uninteresting book that doesn't hold your child's attention, good books are a lot more effective.

3- Set up a special time for reading
Besides bedtime, there are other times which you can read to your child too. For example, before dinner, while waiting for the other family members, you can entertain them with a book.


4- Read at bedtime
Reading at bedtime works well. When children are tired, read them a story. Maybe short with a short poem or two. Pick a good time that works for you, even better if there would be three or four times a day!

5- Read for 15minutes every day
Or even longer. When you establish book time on a regular schedule, your child will not let you forget about it.

6- Talk about the story as you read
If the story is set in the city, talk about how the pictures in the book look like the ones in your town. If there is a grandfather in the story, say about how he is similar to their grandfather. If your child doesn't understand things in the story, explain as you read.

With these tips, it would be easy to develop a active reader in your child!

How to Teach Your Toddler the Days of the Week?

10 STEPS in Communicating with preschoolers

1) Give your preschooler your full attention

Even a quick but focused connection can fulfil your child’s need for communication. If your child says, ‘Play with me’, and you’re not available, you might explain why. You could say, ‘I had a hard day at work today. I need three minutes to change. Then I can play with you’. Preschoolers can understand your feelings – to a point – and will appreciate your honesty.

2) Be aware of your tone

Preschoolers are new to sentence-making, they might have a heightened awareness of your tone and body language.

3) Reflect your child’s unspoken emotions

This helps put your child’s feelings into words. If your child didn’t get a turn at the playground, you might say, ‘You wanted to play with the ball next, didn’t you?’ or ‘I can see you feel really cranky!’

4) Enlist your preschooler’s help in figuring out a problem

For example, you might say, ‘Did something in that movie scare you?’ If your child doesn’t answer, you might follow up by saying, ‘Could it have been the look on that person’s face?’

5) Help your preschooler develop emotional awareness

Even if there is misbehaviour – you can talk about it together. Most preschoolers can understand a sentence like, ‘Sometimes, I get mad too. It helps me to go into another room and take some deep breaths’.

6) Offer limited choices

Preschoolers gain a sense of control by making their own decisions. You might say, ‘Do you want to get dressed before or after breakfast today?’

7) Don’t end your sentence with ‘OK’ unless you are ready for your child to say ‘No’.

Asking your child if an activity is OK can lead to a lengthy discussion and even a power struggle.

8) Grant a preschooler’s wish in fantasy

If your child expresses sadness that a toy has to be shared, you might say, ‘Would you like it if you had the toy all to yourself? What would you do with it?’ By expressing a wish and talking it through, even if it can’t be granted, a child begins to calm down.

9) Create safe opportunities for preschoolers to express their BIG feelings

For example, if your child is extremely angry, instead of saying, ‘Stop yelling’, you might say, ‘Go in the bathroom and scream as loud as you can for one minute’.

10) Don’t over-explain

Simple explanations can be more effective than long discussions. If your preschooler is having a tantrum, holding your child close – or just staying nearby – can mean more than any words you can say

Developing Musical Intelligence

Musical Intelligence: The ability to appreciate and produce rhythms and melodies. Bach, Beethoven or Brahms would have processed this intelligence. Music intelligence tends to run in the families, partly because in such families, the child is heavily exposed to music, whether formally or informally. Here's what your child can do to improve his musical intelligence.

1. Sing in the shower or hum a tune while moving from point A to B

2. Play musical games with the family

3. Establish a regular family sing-along time

4. Join a church or community choir

5. Attend concerts or musicals

6. Collect his favorite music CDs and listen to them

7. Spend one hour a week listening to an unfamiliar style of music

8. Put background music while studying, working, eating or during a quiet time in the day

9. Listen to naturally occurring melodies such as bird chirping

10. Have your child make up his/her own tunes

Strategies for apologising to kids

" Children feel validated when their parents say sorry. It also models a positive way of resolving conflict.- Apologise for your behaviour, not for yourself.

You might tell your child, ‘I've been thinking about what happened and I don’t like what I said or did’.

- Give yourself a momentary time out.

You might say, ‘I'm sorry, I'm not thinking clearly right now. Give me a moment and I’ll get back to you’.

- Ask your child, ‘What could I have done differently?’

Ask your child for help in figuring out what to do, and be open to your child’s suggestions. You might say, ‘Did I make a mess of this?’ Kids love to hear parents admit they’re wrong.

- You might also ask, ‘What could you have done differently?’

In a non-accusatory way, review what occurred. Use this opportunity to discuss what you and your child could do differently next time.

- Remember that no parent is perfect.

Think about what provoked your response. Also think about all the good things you do as a parent. Talk to a friend about what happened and find out how your friend might have handled it.

- Think specifically about how you might behave differently next time.

What it is about your child’s behaviour that pushes your buttons? Is there something you can do or say that would change the way you react? You might try taking a deep breath before you speak, or walking out of the room until you figure out how you want to react. Think about this when you’re calm. The heat of the moment might not be the time to fix this problem, particularly if it’s become a pattern.

Providing your child with confidence

Children become aware of their parents' feelings and behavior. They hear not only the words parents say but the tone of their voices. They observe, recognize their body language and also watches their facial expressions closely. The child will also model himself on the things their parents say and do.

Therefore, the way parents behave and speak to their children has enormous influence on their development. Most importantly, it can affect the children's self-confidence.

When parents praise and affirm their offspring, they ensure that their children grow up with appropriate self-esteem But when parents are critical or inconsistent or even unloving, their children will invariably grow up undervaluing themselves.

Praising and rewarding good behavior is more beneficial than constant criticism. To hug the child and praise him or her for good behavior encourages the child to see that being nice or kind brings rewards. It also encourages good self-esteem.

And on a side note, please remember that it is also important for your children to hear you say that you love them.

Dealing with Child's frequent tantrums

Motivation

" Jacklyn, a four year old girl, was brought to us as her parents were worried about her frequent tantrums.Whenever she could not do something well, she would cry. If she lost a card game with her siblings, she would throw away the cards in disgust.Her parents were taught to guide her to understand and accept that sucess is completing the task rather than achieving good results.Good results were a bonus."

Motivation is an important part of learning because with it, a child will develope interest and self belief.

• Give the child a sense of sucess by giving him tasks that he can do.
• Don't focus on mistakes but instead point out the correct way.
• Parents and teachers should not force a child to learn as it generate negative emotions.
• Minimize comparison with other children.Focus on the child's positive aspects.
• Stimulate a child's thirst for knowledge by using field trips to the zoo.library,gardens,museums.etc.
• Encourage participation in non-acafemic activities during tender years. (The 3Rs in tender years should be rest,recreation and relaxation instead of reading,writing and arithmetic.)

Understanding Your Child

Many parents fail to recognize that children are different at different ages.

An infant is a newborn child who has specific needs in order to survive. Infants are defined as from newborn to 12 months in age.

Toddlers refer to young children aged 12 months to three years, who have started developing basic skills in communication, movement and some degree of self care.

Preschoolers are young children between the ages of three to six who are ready for nursery and kindergarten.

It is a challenge to improve the quality of life for our children. Brining up a child is an important and responsible task which changes as the child grows through the stages.

Ages	Infants and toddlers	Children	Adolescents
Specific tasks	Sleep, eat and explore	Play and learn	Identify and independence
Parenting skills	Sensitive and responsive	Protective and nurturing	Negotiation and communication

Knowing the needs of your child is an essential part of parenting skills. For a child to grow up into a mature individual, his day-to-day needs must be adequately met.

The needs of children can be divided into three categories:

Physical needs:-

Including wholesome food, adequate clothing, safe shelter, play, rest, sleep and protection from danger and infection.

Emotional/psychological needs:-

Comprising the need for love and security, new experiences, praise and recognition, and responsibilities.

Moral/spiritual needs:-

From the age of two, children begin to have a conscience and are able to feel guilt. This is the period children learn good moral or religious values from the attitudes of their parents.

Storytelling

Young kids enjoy hearing stories about you and your family. When did you lose your first tooth? Who was a favorite teacher? Thinking about Mommy or Daddy as a little kid may spark the imagination. Maybe you want to share the story, passed down to you, about the ghost that lived in your great-grandmother's attic. And there's nothing more delightful than a story about the time a parent did something mischievous and the consequences. Kids delight in these glimpses of a past that is connected to them.

When you tell stories, you show how to put words together to make meaning. You share something new about yourself that your kids may find interesting or exciting and that might be a springboard for questions and discussions. Most important, you nurture a love of language and stories that kids will have for life.

So take a deep breath and begin: "Once upon a time ...."

Sleep disturbances

Many parents become concerned when their children do not have"enough sleep".They believe that insufficient sleep hinders growth and development. The newborn infant wakes up every 3 to 4 hours and usually takes about 3 months to settle into a day-night cycle. A full day-night cycle is usually established by five years.

Let's look at the average amount of sleep a child needs:

Age Hours of sleep

Night time / Day time

1 Week 8.25 / 8.25

1 Month 8.5 / 7

3 Months 10 / 5

6 Months 11 / 3.25

9 Months 12 / 2

12 Months 11.5 / 2

18 Months 11.5 / 1.75

2 Years 11.5 / 1.5

3 Years 11 / 1

4 Years 11.5 / 0

5 Years 11 / 0

6 Years 10.75 / 0

How children learn language

You are your children’s first and most important teacher, and you’ve already taught them one of the most complex and difficult skills imaginable- language.

You children learned to talk, listen and to understand language from you. To you, it may be natural for them. It is amazing to realize that if you do the same things you did to teach your children to talk; they will learn to read and write naturally too.

The same conditions that help children learn to talk also help them learn other skills, like reading and writing, a part of language. This can be learned in the very same way that children learned to talk. If we do the same things we did when our children were learning to talk, they can learn to read and write with the same ease.

We say that a child learns to talk naturally, but if you think about what you did to help your child learn to talk, you’ll see that there were certain learning conditions present. For example, from the every moment your child was born, you surrounded her with language. You talked to her while you were feeing her, while you were dressing her, while you were bathing her. We literally drench children in words as we fill every moment with sounds of our language. Even though you know she can’t understand you, you still kept on talking.

Just as you surrounded her with talk, now we need to do the same with reading and writing. This is how children learn language at early ages.

Hugging

Hugging makes your body produce oxytocin, a 'feel-good' hormone. Research in the USA found that one 20-second hug a day makes children and parents feel happier and less stressed.

It has also been proven that kids who are hugged often are very expressive and warm, while those who aren't hugged very much or aren't shown affection by their family usually grow up putting a distance between themselves and other people.

Hugging shows a child you love them. It's a gesture of affirmation, appreciation, and acknowledgement.

You'll be surprised at what a hug can do:-

1. Opening up the doors of communication.

2. Affirms love and acceptance.

3. Builds self-esteem.

4. Bridges generation gaps.

5. Heads off potential conflicts.

6. Makes people less defensive.

7. Shows kindness and compassion.

8. Demonstrates respect and value.

9. Sets an example of patience and tolerance.

10. Rejuvenates your day.

11. Makes being a parent all worthwhile.

So hug your child today and everyday!

Feed your child right

Troubled over your sick child?

1) Use familiar and well-liked foods (not to try new food)

2) Use differently coloured foods and pretty dished to make the food look attractive
*Different colored vegetables look nice than one large serving of the same vegetable

3) Serve only small portions. Individual portions more attractive than taking food from the family dish.

4) Straws make milk *drinking fun and also help to prevent spillages.

5) Serve food in convenient bite-sized pieces to avoid child hang to bite or cut.
* Toast can be cut into small fingers ideal for dipping into a soft-boiled egg.

Milk : Any form is suitable ( ice-cream, custards, milk shakes as dessert)

Eggs : Easy to digest , valuable source of protein,iron & other nutrients

Cereals : Infant cereals mixed with milk, liquidised oats

Porridge and noodle soups : Congee, macaroni cooked in clear soups are easy to digest, help to boost fluid and energy intakes.

Fruits : Excellent source of vitamin C and should be given to your child at least once a day.( Freshly squeezed orange juice )

Meat and fish: Lightly cooked liver, chicken or fish can be sieved or blended and added to soups or stews)

Soups : Plain stock can be enriched by adding vegetables or meat purees and some milk.

When your child has been off his food for a long time , it may be advisable to give him mineral supplement, which your doctor can prescribe.

Is your child on the correct track?

Is your child on the correct track?

Characteristics of a child below 2

3 months: Smiles at any face

Parents should provide familiar faces for the child to smile at.

6 months: Smiles at selective people and they put everything into mouth.

Parents should avoid constantly changing caregivers. Ensure that objects that the baby puts into the mouth are safe and nontoxic.

9 months: Sits up on his own, fearful to strangers but have close mother-child relationship.

Let the toddler sit in places where he can see many things. Avoid having strangers make a sudden appearance on the child. Mother should make a point to spend time with the child especially if they have started working.

1 year: Try to stands and drools less often.

Allow surfaces for the child to hold on to for support such as using walkers and should stop using the baby bib.

18 months: Kids start walking

Make sure the floor is safe and nonslip to prevent falls. Limit the areas where the child can explore safely.

2 years: Learn to talk, self-fed, toilet trained. They will start to develop conscience, resistant and stubborn, notice three-person relationship, sibling rivalry and Ignores danger.

Let the child explore within independence by allowing safe limits. Encourage independence by allowing the child to try things out under supervision.

Child Reading Milestones

This is a general outline of the milestones on the road to reading and the ages at which most kids reach them.

Keep in mind that kids develop at different paces and spend varying amounts of time at each stage. If you have concerns, talk to your child's doctor, teacher, or the reading specialist at school. Early intervention is key in helping kids who are struggling to read.

Infancy (Up to Age 1)

Kids usually begin to:
•imitate sounds they hear in language
•respond when spoken to
•look at pictures
•reach for books and turn the pages with help
•respond to stories and pictures by vocalizing and patting the pictures

Toddlers (Ages 1-3)

Kids usually begin to:
•answer questions about and identify objects in books — such as "Where's the cow?" or "What does the cow say?"
•name familiar pictures
•use pointing to identify named objects
•pretend to read books
•finish sentences in books they know well
•scribble on paper
•know names of books and identify them by the picture on the cover
•turn pages of board books
•have a favorite book and request it to be read often

Early Preschool (Age 3)

Kids usually begin to:
•explore books independently
•listen to longer books that are read aloud
•retell a familiar story
•recite the alphabet
•begin to sing the alphabet with prompting and cues
•make continuous symbols that resemble writing
•imitate the action of reading a book aloud

Late Preschool (Age 4)

Kids usually begin to:
•recognize familiar signs and labels, especially on signs and containers
•make up rhymes or silly phrases
•recognize and write some of the letters of the alphabet
•read and write their names
•name letters or sounds that begin words
•match some letters to their sounds
•use familiar letters to try writing words

The Importance of Reading to Your Baby from nativereading

Teaching Your Child Good Behavior

Every parent wants children who are well behaved and polite, but teaching them these important lessons can be a challenge. Children are impulsive and emotional, and often fail to consider the ramifications of their actions or think before they speak. While some of this will simply improve with time and maturity, there are some things you can do from a young age to encourage good behavior in your child.

“I want parents to understand that although they’re not necessarily responsible for whatever behavior problems their child might have, there is much they can do to develop the behavior they do want.”

Dr. Alan Kazdin, head of the Yale Parenting Center explains. There are a few tried and true methods for encouraging the good behavior, and lessening incidents of poor behavior will follow right along.

A simple but effective method is to be sure to catch your child when they are behaving well and praise or reward them for it. Too often, the focus falls on bad behavior, because that is when parents feel the need to step in. “Positive reinforcement is not only good to motivate defiant children and encourage good behavior, but it also helps them see their own positive behaviors,” says Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, licensed psychologist and family therapist. Children who recognize good behavior are more likely to repeat it in order to receive the positive attention from a parent. Poor behavior is often attention-seeking; when the attention is given for good behavior instead, it becomes unnecessary.

Another one of the simplest methods of teaching good behavior is to remember to model it. Parents often think that their children should differentiate between appropriate behavior for adults and behaviors that are ok for them to emulate. The problem is, they don’t see that difference, and the “do as I say, not as I do” attitude simply doesn’t teach much of anything. Model the behavior you want to see in your children, and you will be rewarded with better behavior.

Simple steps to better behaved children:
•
Start teaching good behavior from an early age before bad habits can form

•
Recognize and reward good behavior when it occurs naturally

•
Be a model of good behavior for your child


There will always be challenges in your child’s behavior, but setting good standards from the start can make a parent’s job easier. When you provide a good model of the right behavior and use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior in your child, you are setting the stage for a lifetime of better behavior

Brian facts

Abused Children Have Smaller Brains

Parts of the brain of a severely abused and neglected child can be substantially smaller than that of a healthy child.

Babies Lose Half their Neurons at Birth


It is estimated that a baby loses about half their neurons before they are born. This process is sometimes referred to as pruning and may eliminate neurons that do not receive sufficient input from other neurons.

Baby Talk Increases Vocabulary

A study showed that when mothers frequently spoke to their infants, their children learned about 300 more words by age two than did children whose mothers rarely spoke to them.

Birdsong Similar to Human Speech
Birdsong and human speech have similar characteristics. Birds, like humans, learn their complex vocalizations early in life and imitate their adult counterparts to acquire these skills. These two species have evolved a complex hierarchy of specialized forebrain areas where motor and auditory areas interact continuously in order to produce detailed vocalizations.

Brain Measurements Are Revealing

Electroencephalogram, or EEG, is a non-invasive technique used to record small changes of electrical activity in the brain with surface electrodes on the scalp. Scientists who study sleep find EEG especially useful. The tiny fluctuations detected with EEG are clear indicators of whether a person is asleep, aroused, or somewhere in between.

Brain Uses 20 Percent of Blood

Approximately 20% of the blood flowing from the heart is pumped to the brain. The brain needs constant blood flow in order to keep up with the heavy metabolic demands of the neurons. Brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) rely on this relationship between neural activity and blood flow to produce images of deduced brain activity.

Brain Uses 20% of Oxygen Breathed

Although the brain accounts for only 2% of the whole body's mass, it uses 20% of all the oxygen we breathe. A continuous supply of oxygen is necessary for survival. A loss of oxygen for 10 minutes can result in significant neural damage.

Child Brain Development

Measures of brain activity show that during the second half of a child's first year, the prefrontal cortex, the seat of forethought and logic, forms synapses at such a rate that it consumes twice as much energy as an adult brain. That furious pace continues for the child's first decade of life.

Early Brain Growth

During the first month of life, the number of connections or synapses, dramatically increases from 50 trillion to 1 quadrillion. If an infant's body grew at a comparable rate, his weight would increase from 8.5 pounds at birth to 170 pounds at one month old.

Patricia Kuhl shares astonishing findings about how babies learn one language over another – by listening to the humans around them and “taking statistics” on the sounds they need to know. Clever lab experiments (and brain scans) show how 6-month-old babies use sophisticated reasoning to understand their world.

Patricia Kuhl is co-director of the Institute for Brain and Learning Sciences at the University of Washington. She’s internationally recognized for her research on early language and brain development, and studies that show how young children learn. Kuhl’s work has played a major role in demonstrating how early exposure to language alters the brain. It has implications for critical periods in development, for bilingual education and reading readiness, for developmental disabilities involving language, and for research on computer understanding of speech

Reading

It is a universal axiom that everyone knows and understands - reading is the greatest habit. Reading to younger children is still more effective. A child who inculcates the habit of reading at an early age will be the wisest and intelligent person in the later stages of his or her life. Reading habit should start at your home and by your children's bed side. Bring home great books and read their content to your children, especially when they go to sleep. As you read stories to your children just before they go to bed, the moral of the story will sink in their mind very quickly.

Some examples are:

Reading story books that contain morals and principles.

Reading books that ask children many questions and pose queries.

Reading books that enhance imagination and visualization.

Reading books that promote thinking and deductive skills

Tips: Books are our best friends. Books enhance our image and self esteem. Take your children to a local public library and show them the books, magazines and journals stacked on the racks. Get them a library card if they are above 18 years. Show them how the books are neatly arranged and indexed. Ask them to chose their own books and get it loaned against their name. Allow them to read their own books, recite the stories and morals behind them.

Helpping your child in school

Nagging and Lecturing

Parents usually don't start nagging children about homework and study habits until there is a problem (e.g., being sloppy with homework, or not wanting to do homework at all). Nagging only makes the problem worse because your child will either get angry at you or tune you out. Instead, try to problem-solve together with your child. Ask them to come up with several ideas on their own for how to improve this situation. Brainstorm about how to make homework more fun. Try out at least one of their ideas and discuss how it worked.

Taking Over

You don't trust your child to get things done right, so you tell them what to do, when and how. This may work in the short run but doesn't teach children to become independent learners who take responsibility for their work. Instead of taking over, help your child figure out what they need to do by asking questions: "What will you do? When will you do it? How will I know? How do you want me to hold you accountable for this?"

Focusing on the Future Benefits of School

As parents, we know how important a good education will be later in life. Just don't expect your children to be motivated by this idea; they are more focused on the here and now and give little thought to the future. To motivate them, focus on the immediate benefits of learning (having fun, developing new skills, and ability to play team sports in school if grades are good.)

Leaving Homework for the End of the Day

If homework is scheduled too late in the evening, with only bedtime to follow and no time to play, children won’t be motivated to be efficient, and also won’t want to go to bed since they haven’t had any fun yet. Increase your children’s motivation to complete homework by giving them something to look forward to afterwards. Favorite TV shows, videogames, talking on the phone, or having a special snack are all great rewards after homework is completed, and may provide the extra incentive your child needs to get through a boring and tedious task.

Insisting on Long Study Sessions

"You will sit here until all your homework is done" - this can feel overwhelming to children and create resistance, resulting in conflict. Instead, schedule 10-15 minutes of study time, followed by a 5-min. break, then another 15 minutes of study. Repeat as often as necessary to complete homework. Children actually get more done that way.

Grounding Children for Missed Assignments and Poor GradesThis is not effective for helping them do better in the future. Instead, use problem solving ("What would help you do better next time?"), offer support, and give them incentives for good performance (extra privileges, special rewards).

Not Communicating With Teachers

This means two-way communication: Let the teacher know early on how they can best support your child's learning (how does your child learn best?) -then ask the teacher periodically, "What's the best thing I can do to help my child with this subject at home?" Don’t wait until parent-teacher conferences to find out how your child is doing, or what kinds of problems need to be corrected.

Over Focusing on Grades and Test Scores

When children get the message that grades are all that counts, they quickly lose interest in the process of discovery and learning, and instead focus only on the outcome. If they can't achieve the expected grade or score, they end up feeling bad which usually does not increase their motivation to do better. Children also need to hear from us that success comes in many forms. Some students will excel in sports, drama, music, or art; some develop excellent leadership skills, good citizenship, become peer mediators, or relate well to animals. Whatever your child's strengths are, be sure you focus on those talents more than you focus on their grades.

Sticking Only to the Curriculum

As long as children learn what's expected of them in school, that's good enough, right? Chances are that this year's school curriculum doesn't exactly match his or her own interests and curiosity (maybe they are into whales and sharks, space travel, jungle life, airplanes, etc). Encourage children's natural love for learning by asking, "If you could learn about anything you wanted to, what would you like to learn?" - then provide them with books, videos, trips to museums, and (most importantly) adult conversations about those topics.

Not Modeling Life-Long Learning

Do your children see you interested and enthusiastic about learning, studying, and achieving? Do you read books at home? Go to museums? Look things up? Talk about new ideas? Remember that our children are always watching what we are doing.