I loved Schoolhouse Rock videos when I was a child. They played between cartoons on Saturday mornings, and were short, fun videos with catchy tunes that taught kids about things like planets, nouns, laws, and the Preamble to the United States Constitution.
Though I don't usually recommend videos for children (I'd rather they play outside, pretend to be kings and queens, build a fort, etc.), Schoolhouse Rock videos are great, short, and educational. On a rainy day, they are good for a few minutes of fun, singing along and learning. And, if you are my age, it is just neat to see them again.
You can find them on www.youtube.com/ by searching for "Schoolhouse Rock." Below are a couple of my favorites that my kids love too.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Model unstructured time for children
Scholastic.com has a helpful article for parents about unstructured playtime for children. It talks about why such time is valuable and how to make sure your children get enough of it. One of the experts relied on in the article is Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., a professor at Temple University in Philadelphia and co-author of Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less. According to Hirsh-Pasek,
"'There is a myth that doing nothing is wasting time, when it's actually extremely productive and essential,...During empty hours, kids explore the world at their own pace, develop their own unique set of interests and indulge in the sort of fantasy play that will help them figure out how to create their own happiness, handle problems with others on their own, and sensibly manage their own time. That's a critical life skill.'"
The article recommends that parents model unstructured time for their children:
"You are your child's best teacher. If she sees that you value unstructured time, she will, too. 'The world is a rich learning environment, without all the frills,' says Hirsh-Pasek. Carve out time to turn off your cell phone, stop checking your email, and just hang out, without lamenting that you 'should' be doing something instead of 'wasting time.' Create retreats in your home to beckon everyone: a window seat lined with pillows, a corner filled with art supplies, musical instruments, CDs, a deck of cards. Eliminate, limit, or refuse to buy more high-tech gear such as video and computer games. See what happens."
Click here to read the rest of the article and learn other ways to promote unstructured play time in your home.
"'There is a myth that doing nothing is wasting time, when it's actually extremely productive and essential,...During empty hours, kids explore the world at their own pace, develop their own unique set of interests and indulge in the sort of fantasy play that will help them figure out how to create their own happiness, handle problems with others on their own, and sensibly manage their own time. That's a critical life skill.'"
The article recommends that parents model unstructured time for their children:
"You are your child's best teacher. If she sees that you value unstructured time, she will, too. 'The world is a rich learning environment, without all the frills,' says Hirsh-Pasek. Carve out time to turn off your cell phone, stop checking your email, and just hang out, without lamenting that you 'should' be doing something instead of 'wasting time.' Create retreats in your home to beckon everyone: a window seat lined with pillows, a corner filled with art supplies, musical instruments, CDs, a deck of cards. Eliminate, limit, or refuse to buy more high-tech gear such as video and computer games. See what happens."
Click here to read the rest of the article and learn other ways to promote unstructured play time in your home.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Imaginative play helps children learn self-control
National Public Radio reports that imaginative play helps children learn self-control. According to the report, children today are not learning the self-regulation skills they used to, because imaginative play is being squeezed out by television, video games, and organized activities. Here are some highlights from the report...
"For most of human history, children played by roaming near or far in packs large and small. Younger children were supervised by older children and engaged in freewheeling imaginative play. They were pirates and princesses, aristocrats and heroes.
But, while all that play might have looked a lot like time spent doing nothing much at all, it actually helped build a critical cognitive skill called executive function. Executive function has a number of elements, such as working memory and cognitive flexibility. But perhaps the most important is self-regulation — the ability for kids to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline....
Unfortunately, play has changed dramatically during the past half-century, and according to many psychological researchers, the play that kids engage in today does not help them build executive function skills. Kids spend more time in front of televisions and video games. When they aren't in front of a screen, they often spend their time in leagues and lessons...when kids are in leagues and lessons, they are usually being regulated by adults. That means they are not able to practice regulating themselves.
'As a result, Leong says, 'kids aren't developing the self-regulation skills that they used to.'"
Click here to read the full NPR report, "Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control." Click here for a related NPR report, "Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills."
"For most of human history, children played by roaming near or far in packs large and small. Younger children were supervised by older children and engaged in freewheeling imaginative play. They were pirates and princesses, aristocrats and heroes.
But, while all that play might have looked a lot like time spent doing nothing much at all, it actually helped build a critical cognitive skill called executive function. Executive function has a number of elements, such as working memory and cognitive flexibility. But perhaps the most important is self-regulation — the ability for kids to control their emotions and behavior, resist impulses, and exert self-control and discipline....
Unfortunately, play has changed dramatically during the past half-century, and according to many psychological researchers, the play that kids engage in today does not help them build executive function skills. Kids spend more time in front of televisions and video games. When they aren't in front of a screen, they often spend their time in leagues and lessons...when kids are in leagues and lessons, they are usually being regulated by adults. That means they are not able to practice regulating themselves.
'As a result, Leong says, 'kids aren't developing the self-regulation skills that they used to.'"
Click here to read the full NPR report, "Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control." Click here for a related NPR report, "Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills."
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Two Great Children's Books for a Rainy Day... Or Any Day
On a rainy day like today, my children and I like to curl up on the couch and read a whole stack of books! They pick the books and I read. Two books in particular always seem to make it into the stack. They have such fun with these book, I wanted to share them with you
The first is We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. It takes you on a bear hunt through "a deep cold river," "thick oozy mud," "a big dark forest," and more. My children love it for its sing-songy meter and it's wonderful descriptions of noises. Here is an excerpt from the book...
The second book is Cars and Trucks and Things That Go, by Richard Scarry. It is filled with all sorts of strange and hilarious made up automobiles. Some of our favorites are the pickle truck, bananamobile, and carrotcar. On every page there is small gold bug hiding, and you have to search to find him. We always have a ton of fun with this book.
The first is We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. It takes you on a bear hunt through "a deep cold river," "thick oozy mud," "a big dark forest," and more. My children love it for its sing-songy meter and it's wonderful descriptions of noises. Here is an excerpt from the book...We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to catch a big one.
What a beautiful day!
We're not scared.
Uh-uh! Mud!
Thick oozy mud.
We can't go over it.
We can't go under it.
Oh no! We've got to go through it!
Squelch squerch!
Squelch squerch!
Squelch squerch!
I often hear my three year old daughter reciting this book to herself as she plays.
If you click on the images of the books, you will link to them on Amazon.com. I hope you enjoy them as much as we have.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Is Your Child Overscheduled?
According to an article on Parent & Child Magazine's website, the following 12 questions can be used in assessing whether your child may be overscheduled:
"• Does he act grouchy, mopey, or irritable?
• Can she fall asleep at bedtime?
• Are his grades slipping? Does he finish his homework?
• Has she started overeating?
• Does he zone out in front of the TV?
• Is she complaining of stomachaches, headaches, or mysterious illnesses?
• Does he grumble about being bored?
• Is she over-anxious about getting approval from authority figures?
• When you're heading out the door, does he throw a tantrum or "lose" equipment?
• Does she pick fights with her siblings or complain you don't love her as much?
• Can he keep track of where's he's supposed to be?
• Is her schedule draining you or your family members?"
The article concludes that you may want to re-assess your child's after-school schedule if he "exhibits a few of these behaviors on an ongoing basis." It also provides a link to more tips on evaluating extracurricular activities.
"• Does he act grouchy, mopey, or irritable?
• Can she fall asleep at bedtime?
• Are his grades slipping? Does he finish his homework?
• Has she started overeating?
• Does he zone out in front of the TV?
• Is she complaining of stomachaches, headaches, or mysterious illnesses?
• Does he grumble about being bored?
• Is she over-anxious about getting approval from authority figures?
• When you're heading out the door, does he throw a tantrum or "lose" equipment?
• Does she pick fights with her siblings or complain you don't love her as much?
• Can he keep track of where's he's supposed to be?
• Is her schedule draining you or your family members?"
The article concludes that you may want to re-assess your child's after-school schedule if he "exhibits a few of these behaviors on an ongoing basis." It also provides a link to more tips on evaluating extracurricular activities.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Taking Indoor Play Outdoors
A teacher in Kansas has a great idea for making indoor activities more fun and enriching for children... take the activities outdoors. The Fort Scott Tribune reported that during the National Association for the Education of Young Children's 2009 Week of the Young Child, preschool teacher Angie Simon set up a space for her students to create large colorful paintings outdoors.
"According to Simon, allowing the children to create their artworks outside can heighten their senses of creativity and generate a greater awareness of nature. Also, children find new enjoyment in familiar activities when they are done with a little twist of something new, Simon said." Click here to read the rest of the article.
"According to Simon, allowing the children to create their artworks outside can heighten their senses of creativity and generate a greater awareness of nature. Also, children find new enjoyment in familiar activities when they are done with a little twist of something new, Simon said." Click here to read the rest of the article.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
"Play Is Education"
An article in the Kentucky Post reports that "play is education." According to the article:
"Through play, children practice real life. Play, especially unstructured outdoor play, helps children develop the ability to focus, plan, make decisions, develop a positive self-concept, take risks, develop social interactions, organize and develop empathy. When two children play with blocks, for example, building a block tower or city helps them to learn about sorting sizes, geometry, negotiation, compromise, and to recognize their ability to be challenged."
Click here to read the entire article.
"Through play, children practice real life. Play, especially unstructured outdoor play, helps children develop the ability to focus, plan, make decisions, develop a positive self-concept, take risks, develop social interactions, organize and develop empathy. When two children play with blocks, for example, building a block tower or city helps them to learn about sorting sizes, geometry, negotiation, compromise, and to recognize their ability to be challenged."
Click here to read the entire article.
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