From our guest Blogger Dr. Rick:
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS A TUTOR
By Dr. Rick
Every student needs a little help now and then. A straight-A student maybe just got her first B. Or maybe another student is freaked out about algebra. Maybe yet another kid needs a guiding hand in budgeting his time.
That’s where tutoring comes in. Tutors provide one-on-one attention, fill in the academic gaps, review basics or challenge with new and demanding assignments, give support, and allow for new discoveries.
We’ve often talked about tutoring in the Dr. Rick Blog. We’ve discussed why tutoring works. We’ve covered how to know if your child needs a tutor. And we’ve reviewed how to choose a tutor. I’ve told you that I work for Sylvan Learning, North America’s largest tutoring provider, and that I’ve personally met countless kids who’ve experienced the power of tutoring. We’ve served over two million kids in more than thirty years. That’s a lot of increased confidence.
Tutoring is not a one-time fix. Once you’ve experienced the confidence that comes with success, you’ll want to keep Sylvan in your phone’s quick dial. It’s good to have a good tutor who has your back during stressful academic times. You turn to your plumber whenever you have a water problem, why not turn to Sylvan whenever a school problem arises?
So, you know tutoring works, you’ve chosen a tutor (I hope at Sylvan), and your child is improving. But your work isn’t done. Today, let’s talk about what to do while your child is working with a tutor. In the next Dr. Rick Blog, we’ll discuss what to do afterwards.
1. Make goals. You can’t work toward success if you don’t know what success looks like. Work with your child and the tutor to come up with some reasonable goals. Here are some tips to help you do this.
2. Get progress reports. Expect the tutor to provide you with regular and systematic reports about your child’s progress. Insist on it.
3. Show daily interest. Whether your child has a tutoring session that day or not, talk to him about what he’s learning, how he’s getting along, and whether he’s seeing a difference in school.
4. Ask about learning activities. Ask him what he and the tutor covered today. Ask him to explain a math problem, how to find the main idea in an essay, or whatever he did today. We learn best when we have to explain something concisely and purposefully.
5. Ask how to reinforce at home. Ask the tutor what you can be doing at home to reinforce knowledge and skills. When learning is a part of home, school, and tutoring, it becomes relevant and important.
6. Consider the school. Letting the school in on the process can be enormously helpful. Unless you have a compelling reason not to, inform the classroom teacher that your child is so motivated to improve she’s going the extra mile to receive tutoring. Perhaps the tutor and teacher can keep in touch.
7. Review rewards and consequences. You know how I feel about rewarding good behavior. I’m for reasonable and motivating rewards. Same for consequences. I’m for students knowing that their behavior has consequences. You and your child can come up with rewards (extra alone time with you, added curfew time, some favorite treat) and consequences (loss of play time, adjustment of allowance) that will make sense for your family.
8. Be a cheerleader. Support, encourage, and hearten your learner. Remind him how proud of him you are for his extra work, his persistence, and his progress.
9. Show the power of perseverance. When he stumbles, as we all do from time to time, show him how to learn from mistakes and start over again, stronger. Perseverance is one of the greatest but most often overlooked character trait in a world of instant gratification.
10. Stay positive. Kids need us to be positive. They need our attention. They need us to pay heed, to recognize their improvements, and to celebrate with them when they reach their goals.
Your child is using a tutor. Good for her, good for you. Show that you have your tutors, too – mentors at work, clergy at your place of worship, and wise friends whose advice you seek. Encourage him to be brave enough to know when to ask for help and smart enough to benefit from it.
Sylvan Learning Directors and teachers from Flemington, New Jersey dish on the latest educational trends and what you can do to help your child achieve academic success!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Take a Walk
This holiday season would be the perfect opportunity. Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving!
Take a Walk With Your Kid
by Dr. Rick
Kids tell us in many ways that they’re more interested in our attention than in our gifts. Over the years, kids of all ages have told me in lots of ways – their behavior, their writing, their offhand comments – that they crave the attention of the significant adults in their lives.
One sophomore in a long-ago English class wrote plaintively that she didn’t really care about expensive gifts, of which she famously and enviably had many. What she really would have liked was some time alone with her mom, who rarely had time for her.
When kids ask for something so special, why not give it to them, especially when it costs so little? They’re young for such a short time.
I’ve found that a simple walk in the neighborhood can be a terrific gift. Here are some reasons why and some things to do on your special walks. Make them a happy routine. You’ll be glad you did.
1.One child at a time. Yes, walks with a group of kids can be entertaining, but make it a practice to walk from time to time with just one at a time. No siblings. Just you and one feeling-special kid. This, by the way, is a highly motivating reward for some job well done, some goal attained, or some good effort expended. Kids love being our center of attention.
2.Talk about school. Your walks are a perfect and leisurely way to learn about what’s going on in school. No agendas. Just hearing about classes, teachers, lunches, and classmates. Keep in touch and keep informed.
3.Talk about friends. Friendships are kids’ most urgent interests as they get older. Maintaining friendships is a learned skill, and kids need a sympathetic ear to sort things out. Be that person. You don’t need answers. Just be there.
4.Talk about family. Sometimes a relaxed walk is just the right time to talk about family memories, relatives who are no longer with us, or interesting family history. Kids love to know that they belong to a close group with a shared history.
5.Talk about sports. A universal topic. Talk about school, local, or national team favorites. Share your interests, experiences, and knowledge. Talk about your sports heroes and favorite memories. Ask about theirs.
6.Talk about favorites. A perfect conversation starter. Everyone has favorites. Food, TV programs, movies, music, personalities, books, subjects in school, heroes of the human and super varieties, pastimes, cars, fashions, technology. Up to you.
7.Talk about whatever the topic of the moment is. Maybe a crisis at school, a broken heart, hurt feelings, or confusion. Maybe a rising confidence from having just made a team, getting a part in the school play, or succeeding at something difficult.
8.Listen. You don’t always have to supply the topics of conversation. Kids have plenty of things to talk about. Let it happen.
9.Be silent. Silence is, indeed, golden. Amazing what holding one’s tongue can accomplish. Kids will continue talking, you’ll continue learning. And you’ll be gently and knowledgeably helping them gain independence while being present for them.
10.Keep a record of your mileage. Get one of those inexpensive pedometers that keeps track of how far you’ve walked. It’s fun to watch the miles rack up, an added physical benefit to go along with the closeness you’re building. Make a mileage goal.
11.Sing, skip, and be silly. Walks should be fun. No reason why you have to turn them all into learning experiences or family therapy. When the mood hits, sing a favorite song together, kick a stone for as long as you can keep it going, skip, hop, and act silly. Wear fun hats. Let the neighbors wonder what you’re up to.
12.Draw, describe, write. Make mental notes of what you see. When you get home, sharpen your powers of observation by drawing together, or writing the occasional poem about what you noticed.
13.Take pictures. Many a talented amateur – and professional – photographer started by snapping pictures around the neighborhood. Just about every phone has a camera now, or those single-use cameras are just right for youngsters.
14.Learn about nature. Just about every community has a park. Explore the trails, become familiar with the varieties of trees, and notice the effects of the seasons on nature. For each season, note the changing light, the position of the sun in the sky, the way animals adapt to winter, the way trees and flowers come back to life in the spring.
15.Get to know the neighborhood pets. Walkers get to know their neighborhoods in ways people in cars cannot. Walkers get to know not only their neighbors but their neighbors’ pets, the friendly puppy from the house on the hill, the tetchy mutt that needs a wide berth, the cute calico always curled in the sun by the corner. Come up with funny names for them.
Don’t try to do all of these things in each walk, of course. You have plenty of time and plenty of walks. But you get the picture. Kids need our time, we want to be there for them, and taking a simple walk on a regular basis fills the bill. Get moving.
Take a Walk With Your Kid
by Dr. Rick
Kids tell us in many ways that they’re more interested in our attention than in our gifts. Over the years, kids of all ages have told me in lots of ways – their behavior, their writing, their offhand comments – that they crave the attention of the significant adults in their lives.
One sophomore in a long-ago English class wrote plaintively that she didn’t really care about expensive gifts, of which she famously and enviably had many. What she really would have liked was some time alone with her mom, who rarely had time for her.
When kids ask for something so special, why not give it to them, especially when it costs so little? They’re young for such a short time.
I’ve found that a simple walk in the neighborhood can be a terrific gift. Here are some reasons why and some things to do on your special walks. Make them a happy routine. You’ll be glad you did.
1.One child at a time. Yes, walks with a group of kids can be entertaining, but make it a practice to walk from time to time with just one at a time. No siblings. Just you and one feeling-special kid. This, by the way, is a highly motivating reward for some job well done, some goal attained, or some good effort expended. Kids love being our center of attention.
2.Talk about school. Your walks are a perfect and leisurely way to learn about what’s going on in school. No agendas. Just hearing about classes, teachers, lunches, and classmates. Keep in touch and keep informed.
3.Talk about friends. Friendships are kids’ most urgent interests as they get older. Maintaining friendships is a learned skill, and kids need a sympathetic ear to sort things out. Be that person. You don’t need answers. Just be there.
4.Talk about family. Sometimes a relaxed walk is just the right time to talk about family memories, relatives who are no longer with us, or interesting family history. Kids love to know that they belong to a close group with a shared history.
5.Talk about sports. A universal topic. Talk about school, local, or national team favorites. Share your interests, experiences, and knowledge. Talk about your sports heroes and favorite memories. Ask about theirs.
6.Talk about favorites. A perfect conversation starter. Everyone has favorites. Food, TV programs, movies, music, personalities, books, subjects in school, heroes of the human and super varieties, pastimes, cars, fashions, technology. Up to you.
7.Talk about whatever the topic of the moment is. Maybe a crisis at school, a broken heart, hurt feelings, or confusion. Maybe a rising confidence from having just made a team, getting a part in the school play, or succeeding at something difficult.
8.Listen. You don’t always have to supply the topics of conversation. Kids have plenty of things to talk about. Let it happen.
9.Be silent. Silence is, indeed, golden. Amazing what holding one’s tongue can accomplish. Kids will continue talking, you’ll continue learning. And you’ll be gently and knowledgeably helping them gain independence while being present for them.
10.Keep a record of your mileage. Get one of those inexpensive pedometers that keeps track of how far you’ve walked. It’s fun to watch the miles rack up, an added physical benefit to go along with the closeness you’re building. Make a mileage goal.
11.Sing, skip, and be silly. Walks should be fun. No reason why you have to turn them all into learning experiences or family therapy. When the mood hits, sing a favorite song together, kick a stone for as long as you can keep it going, skip, hop, and act silly. Wear fun hats. Let the neighbors wonder what you’re up to.
12.Draw, describe, write. Make mental notes of what you see. When you get home, sharpen your powers of observation by drawing together, or writing the occasional poem about what you noticed.
13.Take pictures. Many a talented amateur – and professional – photographer started by snapping pictures around the neighborhood. Just about every phone has a camera now, or those single-use cameras are just right for youngsters.
14.Learn about nature. Just about every community has a park. Explore the trails, become familiar with the varieties of trees, and notice the effects of the seasons on nature. For each season, note the changing light, the position of the sun in the sky, the way animals adapt to winter, the way trees and flowers come back to life in the spring.
15.Get to know the neighborhood pets. Walkers get to know their neighborhoods in ways people in cars cannot. Walkers get to know not only their neighbors but their neighbors’ pets, the friendly puppy from the house on the hill, the tetchy mutt that needs a wide berth, the cute calico always curled in the sun by the corner. Come up with funny names for them.
Don’t try to do all of these things in each walk, of course. You have plenty of time and plenty of walks. But you get the picture. Kids need our time, we want to be there for them, and taking a simple walk on a regular basis fills the bill. Get moving.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Math Games For Parents and Kids
Guess Blogger, Dr. Rick, talks about the importance of math games to help kids learn math.
Ten Math Games for Parents and Kids
by Dr. Rick
Why don’t parents spend as much math-related time with their kids as they do reading-related time?
We read with our kids on a fairly regular basis. Read-aloud time. Bed time. Family reading time. Reading signs on road trips. Reading stuff as we’re watching TV. We read with our kids more than we think. So, if we enjoy reading so much with our kids, why shouldn’t we get the same enjoyment doing math with them?
Maybe it’s because math causes anxiety in many parents. (The company I work for, Sylvan Learning, commissioned a report recently that found 97% of parents would rather discuss alcohol and drug use with their middle-school-age kids than talk about algebra.)
Maybe it’s because many of us had bad experiences in math in school. Maybe it’s because math instruction has changed so much in the past few years we don’t feel up-to-date.
Excuses, excuses.
Kids need math more than ever. They need the brain exercise. They need to know the power of practice. They need to recognize the value of perseverance. They need the confidence that comes with success. They need problem-solving skills. They need math for their future jobs.
So, here, in the spirit of encouraging math interaction among parents and kids, are some suggestions for incorporating some math fun into kids’ lives. We can’t allow our math insecurities and anxieties to get in the way of our kids’ success. Some of these ideas are from my own experience, some are from creative math teachers, and some are from a cool website.
1.Keep score. Kids love sports and games, so play up the role of score keeper and “statistics manager.” Help them see the various ways to slice and dice the numbers of a game – most singles in a game since last month, fewest errors in a game against the Bluebirds, highest attendance ever, etc. Let the kids come up with categories.
2.Use manipulatives. Manipulatives are objects that kids can, well, manipulate to visualize the numbers they’re working with. Use egg cartons and raw macaroni to count out arithmetic problems, for example. Or make piles of paper clips, toy soldiers, checkers, marbles, or gummy bears to visualize counting by five or ten.
3.Learn to estimate. Show kids how important it is to learn to estimate. Estimate with them some fun concept – how many slices of pepperoni on the pizza, how many coins in a piggy bank, how many toys on the floor, or how many steps to the second floor? Estimate, then count to check accuracy.
4.Tell time. Telling time is math, too. Make a game out of figuring out how long it will take to get somewhere in the family car. “What time should we leave to get to church at 10:00 if it takes us fifteen minutes to get there? What time should we get up? Have breakfast?”
5.Embrace your junk mail. Junk mail is good for something after all. “If we get ten pieces of junk mail a week, about how much can we expect this month?” To learn sorting skills, categorize the junk mail into piles by senders’ zip codes, types of mail, or the various states they come from. If you get lots of catalogues, use them to “pretend-shop” for stuff using a simple budget. “How many things from this catalogue can I buy for $50?”
6.Guess the number! Guess the number your child is thinking between, say, one and twenty. Ask smart math questions, so she’ll get the strategies for when it’s her turn. “Can I count the number by 3’s? Is it between three and twelve? Is it higher than fifteen?”
7.Use money. “I have three coins in my pocket that equal seven cents. What are they?” As he gets quicker, up the number of coins.
8.Have a “number of the day.” In previous blogs, I’ve recommended having a “word of the day” to encourage reading. Why not have a number of the day, too? Figure out how many ways you can get to your number of the day – how many ways can we add, subtract, multiply, or divide other numbers to reach today’s number?
9.Play store. Kids love to play grown-up. Save old boxes – cereal, cookies, pasta, whatever – and “stock” the shelves of a make-believe store. Have your child put prices on each one. Then, go shopping in his store. “How much for two of these, please? Oh, sir, I just discovered I don’t have enough money. Which box shall I put back to be within my budget?”
10.Use a calculator. Yes, use a calculator. Learning how to use one is an important skill for kids. It’s best to wait, though, until basic skills in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing are automatic or pretty nearly so. If using a calculator motivates a youngster to learn math quicker, why not use one?
Ask your child’s math teacher for other ideas you can borrow to encourage your children’s interest in, spark their curiosity about, and let them see the relevance of math in everyday life.
Ten Math Games for Parents and Kids
by Dr. Rick
Why don’t parents spend as much math-related time with their kids as they do reading-related time?
We read with our kids on a fairly regular basis. Read-aloud time. Bed time. Family reading time. Reading signs on road trips. Reading stuff as we’re watching TV. We read with our kids more than we think. So, if we enjoy reading so much with our kids, why shouldn’t we get the same enjoyment doing math with them?
Maybe it’s because math causes anxiety in many parents. (The company I work for, Sylvan Learning, commissioned a report recently that found 97% of parents would rather discuss alcohol and drug use with their middle-school-age kids than talk about algebra.)
Maybe it’s because many of us had bad experiences in math in school. Maybe it’s because math instruction has changed so much in the past few years we don’t feel up-to-date.
Excuses, excuses.
Kids need math more than ever. They need the brain exercise. They need to know the power of practice. They need to recognize the value of perseverance. They need the confidence that comes with success. They need problem-solving skills. They need math for their future jobs.
So, here, in the spirit of encouraging math interaction among parents and kids, are some suggestions for incorporating some math fun into kids’ lives. We can’t allow our math insecurities and anxieties to get in the way of our kids’ success. Some of these ideas are from my own experience, some are from creative math teachers, and some are from a cool website.
1.Keep score. Kids love sports and games, so play up the role of score keeper and “statistics manager.” Help them see the various ways to slice and dice the numbers of a game – most singles in a game since last month, fewest errors in a game against the Bluebirds, highest attendance ever, etc. Let the kids come up with categories.
2.Use manipulatives. Manipulatives are objects that kids can, well, manipulate to visualize the numbers they’re working with. Use egg cartons and raw macaroni to count out arithmetic problems, for example. Or make piles of paper clips, toy soldiers, checkers, marbles, or gummy bears to visualize counting by five or ten.
3.Learn to estimate. Show kids how important it is to learn to estimate. Estimate with them some fun concept – how many slices of pepperoni on the pizza, how many coins in a piggy bank, how many toys on the floor, or how many steps to the second floor? Estimate, then count to check accuracy.
4.Tell time. Telling time is math, too. Make a game out of figuring out how long it will take to get somewhere in the family car. “What time should we leave to get to church at 10:00 if it takes us fifteen minutes to get there? What time should we get up? Have breakfast?”
5.Embrace your junk mail. Junk mail is good for something after all. “If we get ten pieces of junk mail a week, about how much can we expect this month?” To learn sorting skills, categorize the junk mail into piles by senders’ zip codes, types of mail, or the various states they come from. If you get lots of catalogues, use them to “pretend-shop” for stuff using a simple budget. “How many things from this catalogue can I buy for $50?”
6.Guess the number! Guess the number your child is thinking between, say, one and twenty. Ask smart math questions, so she’ll get the strategies for when it’s her turn. “Can I count the number by 3’s? Is it between three and twelve? Is it higher than fifteen?”
7.Use money. “I have three coins in my pocket that equal seven cents. What are they?” As he gets quicker, up the number of coins.
8.Have a “number of the day.” In previous blogs, I’ve recommended having a “word of the day” to encourage reading. Why not have a number of the day, too? Figure out how many ways you can get to your number of the day – how many ways can we add, subtract, multiply, or divide other numbers to reach today’s number?
9.Play store. Kids love to play grown-up. Save old boxes – cereal, cookies, pasta, whatever – and “stock” the shelves of a make-believe store. Have your child put prices on each one. Then, go shopping in his store. “How much for two of these, please? Oh, sir, I just discovered I don’t have enough money. Which box shall I put back to be within my budget?”
10.Use a calculator. Yes, use a calculator. Learning how to use one is an important skill for kids. It’s best to wait, though, until basic skills in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing are automatic or pretty nearly so. If using a calculator motivates a youngster to learn math quicker, why not use one?
Ask your child’s math teacher for other ideas you can borrow to encourage your children’s interest in, spark their curiosity about, and let them see the relevance of math in everyday life.
Monday, November 7, 2011
SAT/ACT Testing
Throughout North America, schools are facing budget cuts that could increase classroom sizes and eliminate popular school programs, such as individualized college counseling. Thus, leaving parents to foot the bill. Families today are, on average, spending more than $1,000 on college preparatory books, materials and academic services for each student applying to college. Sylvan Learning is helping to soften the financial blow to parents – and school districts - through their ongoing national effort to partner with schools to provide SAT/ACT practice tests and free improvement sessions.
Today’s high school students are submitting, on average, seven to nine college applications, a marked increase from the two to four applications submitted just 10 years ago. This fact, coupled with the reality that a person with a college degree earns over 70 percent more than someone without one, raises the stakes in the college prep environment. It is in a family’s best interest to be strategic in their planning and engage teenagers in fun, academic activities that promote a lifelong love of learning.
The planning for college, though, starts far before students reach their Junior years-- Students should begin charting their course towards college as early as eighth grade.
Click on the image below to enlarge or to print a full page roadmap.
For more information about College Preparation courses, visit www.sylvanlearning.com
Today’s high school students are submitting, on average, seven to nine college applications, a marked increase from the two to four applications submitted just 10 years ago. This fact, coupled with the reality that a person with a college degree earns over 70 percent more than someone without one, raises the stakes in the college prep environment. It is in a family’s best interest to be strategic in their planning and engage teenagers in fun, academic activities that promote a lifelong love of learning.
The planning for college, though, starts far before students reach their Junior years-- Students should begin charting their course towards college as early as eighth grade.
Click on the image below to enlarge or to print a full page roadmap.
For more information about College Preparation courses, visit www.sylvanlearning.com
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Free Play is an Essential Part of Childhood
by guest blogger Dr. Rick Bavaria
Every parent and teacher knows that adults’ most important role in the lives of our kids is to listen to them, care for them, and guide them with healthy routines and wise values. We want them to think, to learn, to be responsible, and to care for others. We want them to be respectful of their friends and peers, to be honest, and to live healthy and safe lives. It’s not easy, but since when have parenting and teaching been easy?
We schedule our kids’ lives with family, school, worship, play, friends, sports, and hobbies. That’s good. Kids need the routines and rhythms that add structure to their lives, make clear our expectations, and provide them with a sense of safety.
But sometimes we overdo it. Sometimes the schedules, no matter how lovingly intended, can add stress to kids’ lives. Schedules should not be treadmills.
Play is the perfect example. Readers of the Dr. Rick Blog know how much I admire, respect, and support the efforts of creative physical education teachers. I’ve written about the need for adult-guided summer exercise, and I’ve even praised gym class dance units.
But today let’s praise what scientists call “free play.” The unstructured, imaginative play that kids make up as they go along. This is an important part of kids’ lives, too.
Here’s why.
1.It increases creativity. When kids get their creative juices going, there’s no stopping them. Watch them invent games, and before you know it, they’ve got rules and teams established. Watch them create storylines, complete with characters and relationships. Amazing.
2.It reduces stress. Kids feel stress, just as we adults do. Except they don’t always have the words to express it. Free, unstructured play may be just the outlet.
3.It’s the opposite of passive entertainment. Let’s face it. Lots of kids spend too much time sitting in front of screens that do all the imagining for them. Their brains can come up with some exciting plot lines, too.
4.It encourages “true toys.” I’ve heard pediatricians refer to toys like blocks, action figures, and dolls as “true toys,” meaning they encourage kids’ imaginations. No passive entertainment here.
5.It balances “over-scheduling.” If you suspect your kids are over-scheduled – when even you can’t keep the family calendar straight – then free play can be a worthwhile antidote. Maybe it’s time to dump the macramé lessons.
6.It encourages adults to be analytical. When we evaluate marketing claims of certain toys, games, and activities, we quickly see that a lot of them are not as valuable as some creative free play. And they’re a lot more expensive.
7.It promotes spontaneous play groups. Free play is the perfect reason why kids with similar interests like to get together. They can be cowpokes, pilots, space travelers, entertainers, sports stars, tag players, jump ropers, hide-and-seekers, or Simon Says players. Whatever they want.
8.It allows for exploration. Free play lets kids discover a variety of interests and talents on their own. Discovery is one of childhood’s most important gifts.
9.It’s important for school, too. School free play – as any teacher can tell you – allows kids to unwind after tests, and other potentially stressful activities. It lets them expend energy just after lunch or before events when they need to be quiet – a guest speaker, for example, or a school play or concert. Make sure your school or early childhood organization has plenty of time for play.
10.It gives you time with your kids. The best one. Playing with your kids builds memories, lets you talk to and listen to them, and enables you to laugh often and loudly together. Nothing better.
Free play doesn’t eliminate the need for supervision, naturally, nor does it mean that structured time – ballet lessons, tutoring, homework and study – is unhelpful. It’s simply another reminder of the value of balance in just about all things.
Every parent and teacher knows that adults’ most important role in the lives of our kids is to listen to them, care for them, and guide them with healthy routines and wise values. We want them to think, to learn, to be responsible, and to care for others. We want them to be respectful of their friends and peers, to be honest, and to live healthy and safe lives. It’s not easy, but since when have parenting and teaching been easy?
We schedule our kids’ lives with family, school, worship, play, friends, sports, and hobbies. That’s good. Kids need the routines and rhythms that add structure to their lives, make clear our expectations, and provide them with a sense of safety.
But sometimes we overdo it. Sometimes the schedules, no matter how lovingly intended, can add stress to kids’ lives. Schedules should not be treadmills.
Play is the perfect example. Readers of the Dr. Rick Blog know how much I admire, respect, and support the efforts of creative physical education teachers. I’ve written about the need for adult-guided summer exercise, and I’ve even praised gym class dance units.
But today let’s praise what scientists call “free play.” The unstructured, imaginative play that kids make up as they go along. This is an important part of kids’ lives, too.
Here’s why.
1.It increases creativity. When kids get their creative juices going, there’s no stopping them. Watch them invent games, and before you know it, they’ve got rules and teams established. Watch them create storylines, complete with characters and relationships. Amazing.
2.It reduces stress. Kids feel stress, just as we adults do. Except they don’t always have the words to express it. Free, unstructured play may be just the outlet.
3.It’s the opposite of passive entertainment. Let’s face it. Lots of kids spend too much time sitting in front of screens that do all the imagining for them. Their brains can come up with some exciting plot lines, too.
4.It encourages “true toys.” I’ve heard pediatricians refer to toys like blocks, action figures, and dolls as “true toys,” meaning they encourage kids’ imaginations. No passive entertainment here.
5.It balances “over-scheduling.” If you suspect your kids are over-scheduled – when even you can’t keep the family calendar straight – then free play can be a worthwhile antidote. Maybe it’s time to dump the macramé lessons.
6.It encourages adults to be analytical. When we evaluate marketing claims of certain toys, games, and activities, we quickly see that a lot of them are not as valuable as some creative free play. And they’re a lot more expensive.
7.It promotes spontaneous play groups. Free play is the perfect reason why kids with similar interests like to get together. They can be cowpokes, pilots, space travelers, entertainers, sports stars, tag players, jump ropers, hide-and-seekers, or Simon Says players. Whatever they want.
8.It allows for exploration. Free play lets kids discover a variety of interests and talents on their own. Discovery is one of childhood’s most important gifts.
9.It’s important for school, too. School free play – as any teacher can tell you – allows kids to unwind after tests, and other potentially stressful activities. It lets them expend energy just after lunch or before events when they need to be quiet – a guest speaker, for example, or a school play or concert. Make sure your school or early childhood organization has plenty of time for play.
10.It gives you time with your kids. The best one. Playing with your kids builds memories, lets you talk to and listen to them, and enables you to laugh often and loudly together. Nothing better.
Free play doesn’t eliminate the need for supervision, naturally, nor does it mean that structured time – ballet lessons, tutoring, homework and study – is unhelpful. It’s simply another reminder of the value of balance in just about all things.
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