It's All About Making Learning Fun!

Kids are born curious. Their young brains are sponges that greedily soak up all the practical knowledge needed to learn to walk and talk. Yet when it comes to the process of formal education, sometimes the sponges loose their thirst for knowledge.

Children have different learning styles, but regardless of style, they must remain engaged and interested to learn effectively. In other words, the challenge is to make learning fun. Just as teachers have their tricks, there are lots of fun ways for parents to help their kids succeed at school. Internet searches reveal sites with free educational games, downloadable worksheets, activities, books and countless other resources.

You can take many of your daily activities and turn them into a learning experience for your child. Maybe you are having family time out and are going to a restaurant. What can you do at a restaurant to turn it into a learning experience? It is actually very simple, have your kids pay the restaurant bill, including figuring the change and the tip. Why not work on the newspaper crossword or word scramble together as a family. Do you have family TV time? Take this time to check out stations like the Discovery Channel, PBS, and Animal Planet. If your kids get an allowance, give them their allowance in different denominations of bills and coins. Like you can give them all quarters one week. The internet is great for searching for "making learning fun". You can find loads of free interactive educational games and downloadable options. Have them watch a movie that relates to something that they are studying. A great one is to have them plan a "virtual vacation" by researching a destination online that relates to a book they are reading or a topic of study. They can plan everything from where to stay, what activities to do, where to eat etc. I would also have them figure out how much money they are going to need and set up a budget for this as well.

• Reading proficiency is key to academic success, and families who read together create good readers. It's never too young to start making reading fun!


• Reading daily to babies and young children can be a special time together.


• Read a few pages a day of chapter books like "Charlotte's Web" to elementary school aged children.


• Encourage big brothers and sisters to read to younger siblings.


• Subscribe to a children's magazine.


• Visit the library regularly and sign up for story hour and summer reading programs.


• Turn off the RV and have "family reading hour"


• Kids just not into reading? Maybe they haven't found the right book. Whether a joke book, comic book, sports, sci-fi or horses, appealing to their interests helps.

Me and Alyssa Reading

I started reading to my daughter when she was first born. We made a routine that every night at bedtime we will read for an hour, she gets to choose the books that we read. She loves reading so much that if giving the choice to pick between getting a new toy or getting a new book, she will almost every time go for the new book.

We also take weekly trips to the library, which she loves. Before we go though she gets to decide what she wants to learn about, such as manatees, turtles, butterflies etc. While she plays with the educational puzzles, I will select a bunch of books for her and I to look through while we are there. She then makes the decision on what books she would like to take home.

Between story books and educational books, I believe that we always come home with about 10 books at least. When it comes to borrowing books from the library or purchasing a new book, I usually find it hard to tell her "no". I am so grateful that she loves books, that I do not want to discourage her in anyway from wanting to read.

Oh to be a kid again! We've all had those days when the stresses of adulthood mount and we find ourselves yearning for the carefree days of childhood, "the good old days" when we played all day.

This generation of time strapped parents should listen to that inner voice when it comes to making decisions about their own children. it turns out play is just what the doctor ordered. Recent reports reveal that good, old fashioned free play, sadly an activity that is currently in decline, is crucial for children's development. However, parents today are struggling with the notion of just letting their kids play.

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Unstructured play is essential for children's cognitive, physical, social and emotional development and well being. Playskool, a division of Hasbro Inc./ polled parents of younr children about their attitudes towards play.

The survey revealed parents' educational concern had a major effect on their opinions about play. Nearly 82 percent of parents admitted being influenced by educational messaging on packaging when shopping for toys, and 67 percent of parents felt children should start playing with educational toys by six months of age.

Allowing kids to learn naturally through play experiences creates well rounded, creative thinkers and problem solvers. Play empowers children by putting them in control and creating the first realizations of independence. Play is how kids discover their emotions and their personal likes and tastes.

"Regardless of the generation or the location on this planet, play is a universal truth for kids. It's the very cornerstone of their childhood. I see parents with the best and most loving intentions superimposing adult values on their children. I advise my patients not to look at play as wasted time. In fact, it's probably the most valuable time of all for kids," says New York pediatrician, Dr. Laura Popper.

Too many toys in the market today have lost sight of the value of play. Experts have confirmed that pure playtime, especially in a child's early developmental stages, allows them to learn naturally to develop creative thinking and problem solving abilities. The role of toys should support and encourage the value of free, fun play. This is why generations of kids have grown up and enjoyed the classics like Tinkertoy, Mr. Potato Head and Play-Doh. They meet kids' fundamental desire to be creative.

Pure play is the best route to learning. Allowing children to explore through play extracts and cultivates learning skills naturally without putting pressure on the child. When kids are playing, they are making big discoveries about themselves and the world. In a rapid pace of modern life, it's easy for childhood to slip by in the blink of an eye. The moments when kids can just be kids become that much more valuable. BELIEVE IN PLAY!

Your mom probably told you not to play with your food. But play is the very thing that may get your own kids involved in healthy eating. Here are a few ways to make fruits, vegetables, an other healthy foods fun.

A trip to the grocery story can be a great opportunity for a learning experience. Before venturing out on this trip, take the opportunity to have your child practice their spelling by making a list of items that they need to look for at the store. While you are at the store practice reading, ask them what is first on their list, after they find that one, ask was is second and so on.

Did you know that you could work on letter recognition while at the grocery store? Ask young children to help find fruits and vegetables that start with the first letter of their name. You may find that Abigail starts liking apples and that Ben suddenly starts eating bananas. Once you get home from the store, let your children sort the foods by color or texture.

Alyssa Making Christmas Cookies

Cooking together can be a delicious learning experience for children and their parents. Kids can explore new foods, learn about nutrition, and develop math and reading skills as they measure and read directions. These simple guidelines will help you make cooking safe and fun, and to entice your children into trying something new.

Planning is part of the fun!
Invite your child to help to plan a meal or pick a recipe, make a list of ingredients, find them in your kitchen, and/or shop for them. This way, children can learn how to organize and follow through, as well as think ahead. Give your kids a sense of control and accomplishment by letting them make choices whenever possible.

Wash hands before you start cooking.
This goes for grown ups too!

Crate a safe place where kids can cook.
Set up a work area at a lower height to make it easier for preschoolers to reach things. Offer children a stool only if you know they can balance on it. Remove any sharp objects from their reach.

No matter where kids work, always supervise them closely.
Sty in the kitchen until the cooking is finished or take the kids with you to another room.

Set up clear rules about the stove.
Explain to them about the stove in age appropriate, simple terms; for example, "The stove is hot! It's not OK to touch it. Mommy or Daddy will put the pan in the oven. You can watch." Always keep pan and utensil handles turned towards the back of the stove.

Give preschoolers their own safe utensils.
Offer them wooden or plastic ones. If older children are able to use grown up equipment, monitor them carefully. Avoid giving children graters, as fingers can easily get scraped.

Reading and following directions are in the mix!
Ask your child to read each instruction aloud as you prepare the food. Kids will get a sense of turn taking and sequencing from following directions in order.

Practice math as you measure and stir.
Your child can count and help measure to build math skills. When cooking with more than one kid, ask each child to count their "stirs" as they mix the ingredients together.

It's easier to enjoy cooking together if you're not "starving."
Either pick a quick recipe that makes a healthy snack, or have veggies, fruit, and dip to snack on before you start.

Be spontaneous!
To avoid a trip to the store, make simple substitutions. Cornmeal can sometimes replace flour, use vegetable oil instead of melted butter, etc.

Introduce new foods.
Kids often will try unfamiliar foods, including vegetables and fruits, when they transform them into personal "creations".

Make set up and clean up part of the routine.
Kids may love using a mop or dustpan as much as they love the cooking, but save cleaning until after everything is off the stove and out of the oven.

ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE!

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Getting to know nature is not only important, but there are also a lot of educational tools that you can use out in nature. Nature is all around us, and guess what? It is free, so take advantage of this. You say we can't take advantage of the nature around us because we are city-dwellers. Well, guess what even city-dwellers can learn from the nature found around them.

When Children are allowed to revel in their childhood and explore the everyday wonders of the world around them, time slows down and the innocence of childhood lasts just a little bit longer. Everyday presents an opportunity for a new adventure, from the backyard to the night sky. Here are some activities to help your child explore the world around them.

Become A Nature Watcher.
Spend some time with your child just sitting in your backyard or in a park observing the plants and animals around you. Talk about what you see. It can be fun to do this at different times of day and then talk about the differences. Try looking closely at a small patch of ground to see if you notice any insects hidden in the grass or just under the soil. Kids may enjoy looking through a magnifying glass.

Clean Up Your Act
Encourage your child and her friends to "adopt" an area that they care about. Cleaning up the local playground or park will make your neighborhood a better place and give kids a sense of environmental responsibility.

Ready, Set, Recycle!
Recycling can mean collecting bottles, cans and newspapers to cut down on the waste we send to landfills. But it can also mean creating something new out of old materials like decorating a picture frame or pencil holder out of discarded buttons, greeting cards, wrapping paper, yarn, pennies, pasta or ribbons.

Observe The Sky.
Lie down with your child under a tree and study the silhouettes of its leaves against the sky. What can you see in the shapes of the sky peeking through them? What shapes can you find in the clouds? Even babies will enjoy this activity because they are fascinated by strong color contrasts like those of clouds and tree leaves against the bright sky. Be very careful not to look at the sun.

Bloom And Grow
Don't wait for spring to plant your flowers. Even the youngest children can develop green thumbs if they plant an indoor garden.

Plant A Tree
Teach your child that trees provide the oxygen we breathe as well as a habitat for wildlife. Visit the National Arbor Day Foundation to research which trees grow best in your area and how to plant them.

Pet Party
Encourage your child's interest in animals by visiting the local animal shelter and talking about responsible care of other creatures. Older children may be ready to work as pet walkers or host a neighborhood dog wash.

Bring Nature To You
You don't need to live down on the farm to discover nature. Create a biodome or a germinator without leaving your kitchen table.

Reach For The Stars
Become a backyard astronomer. Allow your child to stay up late one night and observe the moon and stars or an important celestial event like a meteor shower.

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