Re-invent the US education system – make a difference for your child

Twenty first century skills are the backbone to innovation in business and competitiveness in global markets. Our children have to be taught how to think outside of the box and become creative thinkers. Textbooks aren’t producing the types of employees innovative companies need. We must change course…rethink the way we train students to think and learn.

In my opinion, this begins at birth. The brain is ready to make connections and lots of them the day a baby is born. We have to stop telling ourselves that babies aren’t “ready” for experiences and learning (because they are ‘just babies’). Repetitive language, experiences and activities over time are necessary for hard-wiring the brain to think at a high level and in an innovative fashion.

Google has mastered the brain’s formula. The brain makes associations to develop memory. For the brain to make associations it must have an infinite number of experiences by which to attach prior knowledge to make a new association. For example, if you are searching in Google or your brain for that matter, for information about poetry, you will retrieve information on poetry and other material that is associated with poetry. You will probably be connected to or reminded of famous poets and writers. You will recall or be directed to information on how to write, writing styles, penmanship, rhyme, classes being offered for poetry, music and art. All of these topics are associated with poetry.

However, in our current education system we teach in a linear fashion where students learn information a mile wide (lots of unconnected concepts, skills and information) and never connect most of that learning in a deep way to other concepts or apply it in a real world fashion. The brain doesn’t retrieve information from memorized lists, charts or textbook questions which is the exact way most children are being taught to learn (and hopefully retain) skills and information today.

According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the American Society for Quality (ASQ)- a professional association that offers training and tools to educators and businesses – adults agree with educators that schools are not making 21st-century skills a priority.

In fact, 96 percent of adults believe that students today need to improve upon the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century. Skills listed by adults and parents as needing more development include organizational skills, communication skills, problem solving and reasoning, creativity, teamwork, and science and technology skills.

Learning early gives every child a chance to be and do what they want to do in our new global world.  Wiggle Giggle Learn is your source for developing high level skills and brain power in your child beginning at birth.

How to create a vision and goals for your child’s success in school and life

In order to achieve anything in business we must first create a vision and set goals to make that vision a reality. The same is true with your life at home. Surely you have dreamed of the kind of life you want for your children. However, have you ever considered writing that vision on paper and connecting goals to ensure it becomes reality? Your intentional parental acts every day create the blueprint for your child’s success in school and life.

I encourage you to take a few minutes this week to write a vision for your children and set goals to make sure it becomes reality. Post them in a prominent place for daily reading until they are a natural part of your intentional actions each day. If your children are older, teach them how to create a vision and set goals for themselves, as well.

My vision for my children is:

My children will be happy to go to school. They will learn independently and be responsible for themselves and others. My children will have many friends and enjoy helping others. For all of their hard work and dedication, they will receive academic awards, athletic awards and service awards. College is something they will always dream of attending. Reading and writing will be joyful experiences for them. My children will be organized, know how to study, will love to learn and will love to teach others.

The goals that will help us reach the vision are:

1. I will build a loving and mutually respectful relationship with my children.

2. I will offer them ample opportunities to make independent choices with as much guidance as necessary and with trust that their decisions are helping them learn independence.

3. I will seek out opportunities for them to be leaders and get involved in service learning projects that support the community we live in.

4. I will encourage them to attempt difficult tasks and support them through the tasks.

5. I will read and write to them and with them everyday.

6. I will engage in daily conversation about what my children have learned and what I have learned. Creating a desire to learn something new and share this new knowledge with others each day.

7. I will keep the house organized and teach them how to organize.

Learning to write letters and numbers begins during infancy and toddlerhood

Handwriting Practice for Babies and Toddlers

Guest writer: Doreen Bolhuis – Founder of Gymtrix

Just picture this- a little one sitting at a table, crayon clutched tightly in hand, a brow furrowed with determination and eyes gleaming with delight as the letters flow. It is truly a milestone when a child learns to write their name. It’s a fact that most children learn to write the letters of their name before any others.

As a parent, you will encourage your child and help him or her to learn their letters. But, you might be interested to learn that the fine motor skills needed for handwriting begin early in life. Mastering handwriting skills is a complex process that begins long before a child forms his first letters with a pencil. It begins in infancy and parents can help a child improve fine motor skills to prepare them for handwriting.

How can you help your baby develop better fine motor skills? By providing fun and challenging activities that work the small movements of the fingers and hands. It doesn’t take a lot of time or any special items. Just spend some time with your baby or toddler every day with these simple activities.

For babies:

• Sort cheerios into ice cube trays (it’s okay to eat a few as well!)
• Drop cheerios (one at a time) into an empty 2 liter soda bottle
• Transfer a handful of uncooked rice from one plate to another and back again

Babies love these activities. They love the sound of the cheerios dropping into the container. They are curious about the way their fingers work. They are delighted when you encourage them.

One thing to note: babies will have a dominant hand, one that they prefer to use. You will want to encourage them to use their other to develop fine motor skills equally.

For toddlers:

• Sort uncooked rice into ice cube trays ( this is more challenging than cheerios because rice is smaller)
• Mix uncooked rice with uncooked macaroni in a bowl. Have your toddler pick out only the macaroni and transfer each piece into a small bowl. When your child has mastered this skill, try it again, picking out the rice this time.
• Put rice in a small bowl. Have your toddler use a spoon to transfer rice into another bowl.

Remember to play these games with each hand to develop fine motor skills equally

Have you ever noticed your baby or toddler looking closely at small things (like fuzz in the carpet, a small pebble, an ant, a crumb) and trying to pick them up? Encourage these efforts! Your child is working hard to master fine motor skills, and to learn about his or her body and the world. What’s even better? Perfecting fine motor skills at an early age will help your child graduate to writing his or her name!

About the author: Doreen Bolhuis is a nationally recognized physical education professional and the founder of Gymtrix.
Bolhuis developed GYMTRIX™ based on over 30 years of knowledge and practical experience.

To read more about Doreen please visit preventingobesity.wordpress.com and howtopreventchildhoodobesity.com

Is your baby meeting developmental milestones?

Studies show that parents’ observations turn out to be very good predictors of developmental delays. In fact, the Journal of Child Neurology reported in 2005 that current research strongly supports the idea that parents—regardless of socioeconomic status, location, or well-being—give accurate information about their child’s development.

Understanding the importance of detecting developmental delays and behavioral problems early is crucial to provide better outcomes for children. Pediatric Associates of Dallas offers an Ages and Stages Questionnaire that allows parents to know what “normal” behaviors would look like at 4 months, 8 months, 14 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months and 60 months. Click here to view these documents and read more about the milestones expected at each age.

Screening young children is an effective, efficient way for professionals to catch problems and start treatment when it does the most good—during the crucial early years when the child’s brain and body are developing so rapidly, says F.P. Glascoe in Pediatrics in Review (2000).

Glascoe goes on to say, because delays can be subtle and can occur in children who appear to be developing typically, most children who would benefit from early intervention are not identified until after they start school. Even pediatricians, the child health specialists, fail to detect delays more than 70% of the time when they rely on clinical judgment alone.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants and young children be screened for developmental delays as a regular part of their ongoing health care.

Teaching children to be active and healthy from birth

Rae Pica, a children’s physical activity specialist for 25 years and the author of 15 books wrote an article that reports: Recent evidence indicates infants are spending upwards of sixty waking hours a week in things; in high chairs and walkers, playpens and portable cribs, plastic seats, bouncy seats, and seats that swing. We push them in strollers until they’re four or five years old!

We unthinkingly teach a sedentary lifestyle from babyhood!Babies need to move for the sake of their motor and cognitive development. When they spend too much time containerized, they never strengthen their muscles – to lift and turn their heads, to push up on their arms, to develop optimal balance, stability, and motor skills. Early movement experiences are also considered essential to the neural stimulation (the use-it-or-lose-it principle involved in the keeping or pruning of brain cells) needed for healthy brain development. Touch and movement spark the neurons in a babies brain to grow and branch out encompass other neurons.

Adults assume that until an infant is at least able to creep, play and movement experiences are severely limited. But that’s just not so! There are many ways babies can move and play without the ability to transport themselves from place to place. Children learn to play just as they learn to walk and talk – by having it modeled and by experiencing it and practicing it.

Parents only want the best for their children. The simple truth is that babies don’t need fancy gadgets and gear. The best we have to offer them is what their brains were “hardwired” for before birth. It’s free and accessible to all. It is touch, movement and play!

Baby GYMTRIX is a new product that we love! It motivates kids to try new physical experiences and discover how it feels to succeed; it gives them a positive attitude about physical activity that can influence their whole lives. These great DVDs teach parents and caregivers how to help baby move, kick, balance, twist, roll and jump – a must-have for families that want to develop physical strength and a healthy lifestyle for exercise from birth.

De-stress your family to fight childhood obesity

A Swedish study of more than 7,000 families found that kids with a highly stressful family life are twice as likely to be obese when compared with children living in low-stress environments.

I know that when life gets crazy at my house, proper meals and bedtimes are usually the first place we make irrational decisions that lead to poor food choices and a lack of good sleep. So how much stress is there in your family’s environment?

Do you take time to communicate your feelings with each other? Do you reserve time on your daily schedule for exercise and relaxation? Do you have family discussions about good nutrition and healthy behaviors like exercise? Do you have an exercise plan for the family and is it a high priority or your things to do list?

Beanstalk Express offers resources for healthy nutrition, habits and ways to help end childhood obesity. Information from Beanstalk Express confirms the fact that childhood obesity is quickly becoming an epidemic.

From Beanstalk Express – Once upon a time, childhood obesity was not an epidemic among children. In fact, “once upon a time” was less than 30 years ago. From 1980 – 2004, the rate of obesity in preschool children has jumped from 5% to nearly 14%. Rates among elementary school children have increased from 6.5% to a whopping 18.8%. And, according to the Centers For Disease Control, these rates show no signs of slowing. Researchers at Yale University’s Psychological Bulletin estimate that by the year 2010, 50% of children in North America will be overweight.

What has changed in our society to explain that nearly 1 in every 3 children today is overweight? No one single thing – that would be too easy. Over the past 30 years, we have experienced a “global swarming” of cultural changes that have brought us to where we are today. Changes that include a computer and technology-dominated society that promotes sedentary behaviors and it’s now affecting our children with increased TV viewing, computer time and lack of free play. Much of the food we eat is fast, processed and easy – considered “necessary” in meeting the needs of our hurried and over-extended society. Even our mindset about how we eat, or even why we eat has changed with the effective marketing efforts of big food companies. Their efforts have changed the rules about eating and nutrition – no longer vital for life, food has become a source of recreation and instant gratification. No other demographic is more influenced by these marketing campaigns than our children.

We cannot point a finger at “who” or “what” to blame for the obesity epidemic because it is entrenched with influences. As a society, we are incapable of reversing the hands of time and returning to a culture that supported proper nutrition, encouraged physical activity and raised healthier children. But as parents, we are capable of creating a healthy environment within our homes that support healthy habits in our children. Childhood obesity can be prevented. And prevention begins at home.