For the first year or two of life outside the womb, our brains are in the most impressionable state they will ever be in. A baby's brain is immediately shaped by interacting with their environment. As a parent, one can have a large influence on their newborns first encounters with learning.
The mind learns optimally when appropriately challenged in an environment that encourages taking risks. However, under perceived threat, the mind does not perform as well. This makes it harder to learn when you are nervous, stressed, or not feeling well.
Before a child learns to talk, they experience emotions. Emotions are another source for improving memory. People are better at recalling stories that held strong feelings. The emotional context plays an important role in the learning process. People with excellent memories have multiple interests. We naturally remember what we are interested in. As a parent, it is crucial to teach your child the value of learning.
Motivation is the key to learning. You can help your child to discover this thirst of knowledge before they even enter school. Here are some key steps in preparing your child to be a stellar student:
1. Fill your home with reading. Read to your child daily. Fill your home with reading material such as novels, newspapers, and educational magazines. A child is influenced by their surroundings. When a son or daughter sees a parent reading at a young age, it makes an impression. As parents, we can foster that with a love for learning. Parents are the most important modeling agent in a child???s life.
2. Encourage your child to explore his or her interests. If you have a son who loves animals, offer him some educational books about animals. If he's young, allow him to explore the world Of the National Geographic Magazines. You could also direct him to some websites that explore animal facts. You're enthusiasm over your child is motivation in itself.
3. Provide play opportunities that offer different types of learning styles. Play is one of the most powerful vehicles through which children master new skill, concepts, and experiences. This will help them solve the challenges they meet in school. Through the use of blocks, your child will develop his or her creative expression and problem solving skills. A cash register would help them recreate their own experiences. However, boxes of various sizes can be great toys that encourage your child to be creative in his or her creations.
4. When your child starts school, make sure that they are organized. An organized folder lends To an organized mind.
5. Celebrate achievements. Reward your child for large and small achievements, whether it's finishing a book or completing a major assignment in school. Positive reinforcement encourages a child to continue to challenge themselves.
6. Use everyday event as learning opportunities.Encourage your child to explore his/her world. Continually ask questions and make connections that build upon their existing knowledge. The brain learns through associations.
As a central role model, moms and dads have the responsibility to create an environment that fosters a love for learning.
Alli Ross is the webmaster at the baby names box - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Read articles ranging from parenting and family to home and garden or find the perfect recipe. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!
cleaning help near Mundelein ..Child tantrums are a way for children to express their... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
There are several treatment options available to help improve the... Read More
1. New Word of the DayIntroduce your preschooler to a... Read More
In the wonderment of childhood, it is easier for a... Read More
For most children, it is easy to learn to read... Read More
In elementary school it's pretty straightforward: bringing in cupcakes to... Read More
Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More
The debate in many towns continues throughout this country about... Read More
Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles... Read More
My son is 6 yrs old. He came home the... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Ask parents what their biggest school year challenge is, and... Read More
Get into their world. The world that teens are growing... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
Everyone loves penguins. And now, everyone has a chance to... Read More
Do you live with an ADD / ADHD child? If... Read More
Our back-to-school buying habits do not help kids succeed in... Read More
Bearers of life, wipers of noses, givers of unconditional love... Read More
Attention all parents of teen-agers. Here is an important, groundbreaking... Read More
reliable maid service Wilmette ..Q. With the school year just beginning, what can we... Read More
According to a September 2004 study by the RAND Corporation,... Read More
Before going further into choosing computers for children, I believe... Read More
The school holidays are a great time for the kids,... Read More
Little Suzy has really been having a hard time getting... Read More
Dear Sir, It was with some interest that I read... Read More
Many working families choose a commercial or individual day care... Read More
Q: A parent writes in to ask, "You write a... Read More
There are two methods for teaching children to read; whole... Read More
Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More
Most people have more training before they receive their driver's... Read More
"I WON'T DO IT!" "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"Whether parent or... Read More
Checking accounts are an absolute necessity these days. You can... Read More
A great many parents are concerned that the electronic games... Read More
Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky... Read More
To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More
Life is funny.My twenty-year-old daughter, Melanie, has a her new... Read More
Who lives in your house? Are they driving you "crazy?"... Read More
For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More
Successful parents have learned to be both firm and kind... Read More
All too often, children with learning disabilities are seen through... Read More
Do you ever wonder what is behind the occasional nasty... Read More
Under the "No Child Left Behind Act," public schools whose... Read More
Is there a way to build a robot to help... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
Parenting |