Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Children need to connect with nature and play spontaneously

Today, parents are scared to let their kids go outside on their own, so that means they keep them inside. They watch TV, they play on the computer, and they go to organized sports or other activities. The optimal word here is “organized.” In order for children to become creative thinkers and learners we must allow them time and space to play freely, especially in nature. Work for young children is play and not the kind of play where parents act as directors instead of bystanders. We shouldn’t dictate how a child should play and interact with others one-hundred percent of the time. Early education is the key... and it begins in the home and yard, not within a stressful schedule that has baby riding all over town for one class after another. You can do everything those classes do - and spend far less money and time.

As a parent, let your child touch nature, smell the scents in nature, taste fruits and vegetables from nature (that you know are safe and clean) and exercise leadership in how he interacts with nature. Not too long ago, we roamed the neighborhood without our parents. We picked berries, caught crayfish, climbed trees, played in mud or dirt, built forts, caught frogs and generally had a great time while being part of nature. We didn’t need gym classes, music classes, cooking classes and art classes to teach us how to do all of these things. I guess you could have called us “explorers.” Let’s bring “exploration” back to our children through the great outdoors and let the learning begin from their perspective once again. Your child will rejoice in a “stress-free lifestyle,” while you enjoy stress-free parenting (well as close to stress-free as you will ever get).

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Shopping for school supplies has never been easier

I recently came across a much needed service for today's busy parents - http://www.ezschoolsupplies.com/
Their mission is to make life easy for moms and dads when they are shopping for school supplies.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, they have 32 distribution centers strategically located throughout the U.S. and over 26,000 brand name items on their website ready to be delivered to your doorstep today.

Stacey Patrilla of EZschoolsupplies.com says, "We offer mothers an intelligent alternative when school supply shopping. Mothers no longer have to go on the dreaded scavenger-hunt to four different stores to search for their school supplies. Parents love us because they can order online the exact school supplies requested by the school or the teachers for each specific grade level and have them delivered right to their home."

"For the schools or organizations that have signed up with us, we give them back a 10% donation to assist them with their fund raising efforts," says Patrilla.

This company's services and supplies were recently contracted by the 1st Battalion in Baghdad and Mosul, as they refurbished six schools for Iraqi children.

Place an order today - http://www.ezschoolsupplies.com/

If your school isn't registered, tell the school to register today. It is a fundraising initiative for the school and helps busy parents, too!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Are American schools failing children?

I received this information in email today (sender is noted at the bottom of the blog) and thought it was important to post for all of my readers. Sad but true...

We are only as strong as our schools, and our schools are failing our children.

Consider:

  • Almost 70% of America's eighth-graders do not read at grade level.

  • Our 15-year-olds rank 25th in math and 21st in science.

  • America showed no improvement in its post-secondary graduation rate between 2000 and 2005.

We know that the nations with the best schools attract the best jobs. If those jobs move to other countries, our economy, our lives and our children will suffer.

For that reason, Strong American Schools launched a new campaign this week to combat the crisis in our public schools. Please join us. Tell your governors, your state and national representatives and senators that you want a change for stronger schools. Make your voice heard.

About Strong American Schools
Strong American Schools, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a nonpartisan campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promoting sound education policies for all Americans. SAS does not support or oppose any candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Raising kids: The right and wrong way

Jim Fay, co-author of From Innocence to Entitlement: A love and logic cure for the tragedy of entitlement has major concerns about the rapid growth of entitlement in our young people and its threat to the American way of life. He cites the examples below as ways "entitlement beliefs" are debilitating our youth:

High need for goods and services

Low pressure to succeed or hold down jobs

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High amount of time to party

Low amount of time to devote to effort toward accomplishment

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High expectations of others

Low ambition

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High resentment for those who would require them to achieve through study and effort

Low appreciation for the opportunity for an education

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High demand for entertainment and excitement

Low awareness of the sacrifices made by their parents

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High willingness to defy society’s traditional rules and values

Low respect for adults and leaders

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High inclination to find substitute “highs” such as alcohol and drugs

Low respect for society’s traditional rules

The foundation for these beliefs start early in life and parent who fail to set reasonable limits for behavior (including character traits) start this problem. Today’s kids can’t distinguish between a “want” and a “need.”

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE REINFORCED!

Kids need to learn how to get what they want through effort and struggle. Parents must set and enforce limits and boundaries. Early education is the key!

Monday, July 14, 2008

Why is paying kids to learn so bad?

The number one trait 21st century companies are looking for in their employees is innovation.

Innovation is a creative process where you don’t always succeed the first time. “Learn and earn” type incentive programs imply that learning and test scores are black and white. However, we know those who understand the gray are the real winners in society and in the workplace.

Monetary incentives are out of touch with one of the key factors needed to best promote achievement in children – an intrinsic desire or at least an appreciation for the endeavor of learning.

It takes building an academic culture in schools and homes to nurture this, not building a payment structure.

We must address these questions:

  • Why don’t children get intrinsic satisfaction from learning in school?
  • How can we fix this failing of education?

Let’s pay our children for those things that would cause them to take more pride in their schools, communities and service organizations. Things like:

  • Tutoring younger children
  • Cleaning up the school grounds
  • Assisting with sports programs for younger students
  • Researching healthier menus for our school cafeterias and create plans for implementing them

Back in the day, motivation and reward came intrinsically from a fear of failure. You studied and worked hard because failure simply wasn’t an option. Now we offer numerous choices for those who aren’t bothered by failure – GED programs, alternative schools and summer school to name just a few.

What do bribes teach children?

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The surest way to raise selfish, rude, contentious, unhelpful children is to have low expectations for what they can and should offer the family and community!

Early education is the key! Teach them to become a responsible citizen who loves to learn and you will not need money or alternative programs for those who fail because they simply will not except failure.