Kids of different ages learn by different methods. For example, a toddler that has just turned two might enjoy finger painting, while an 8 year old girl will enjoy playing with her dolls. While various age groups learn by using different material, one thing is true for all age groups: Kids learn best with toys. The argument on how best to teach kids with toys remains an ongoing debate. Some say that you should just purchase loads of toys for your child and let them play as they please. Others say you should only purchase toys that improve your child’s skills that are necessary for development and make sure they play in a supervised environment. At a young age, children do not like learning by sitting in a classroom and listening to a lecture. They want to be able to build things, make their own worlds, and imagine things that can never come true. Thus is the power of toys. If you buy them a set of LEGOS or building blocks, they will be able to construct their own world and learn a few things along the way. Building things with blocks and LEGOS not only teach your child colors and balance, they also teach him/her spatial reasoning. Teaching kids with toys can also include video games. No, I’m not talking about Pokemon games or the like, I’m talking about games that include educational opportunities for your child. Such a game may include putting puzzles together, adding groups of things, or recognizing patterns. These games are great because you know they are safe for your children, and you know that your children are getting the most out of them. Excellent toys that can teach your kids are dolls. Popular dolls such as Barbie and Bratz are a great opportunity for your young girl to make believe their own world. With thousands of accessories that come with the dolls, it lets your child’s creative juices flow. Dolls are also great because they offer your child the opportunity to learn social skills by playing and sharing their dolls with other young girls. Toys that can teach your baby include simple ones that are large (harder to choke on), colorful and have different textures. Such toys include wooden blocks and inflatable balls. The toys will aide your baby in learning the different between colors, the concept of balance, and cause and effect. For example, if your baby takes one block and hits it against another, they will learn that the cause of hitting the blocks creates the effect of making a sound. Don’t rely on the toys only to teach your kid. You need to be there as a parent and assist your child in their adventures. If you buy them a set of blocks, don’t just lock them in a room and expect them to learn anything. A good thing to do is to set aside a “play time” at a certain time every day. During this play time, you and your child will sit down and play with whatever toys you have purchased for them. In addition to your child learning new things, it is also a great time to bond with your child.
Posts Tagged ‘Young Girls’
Learning Styles of Boys
October 2nd, 2009I am a firm believer in different styles of learning. For instance, are you one of those people that has to read something for yourself rather than have someone read to you? If so, you are probably more of a visual, or possibly auditory learner. When you are trying to commit something to memory, do you find yourself pacing around? Kinesthetic learner. Now, these are very simple examples, and no where near complete, but just an illustration. Everyone learns differently.
Boys and girl have different learning styles. Not that they CAN’T have similarities, but in general, boys and girls acquire information differently. Well, wouldn’t most people know that anyway? Our schools certainly haven’t shown that they understand it. We know that men and women think differently and excel in different areas, so wouldn’t it make sense to think the same about young boys and girls?
The site, Boys and Schools:Improving the Health, Education, and Well-Being of Boys, has a wealth of information for parents of boys. I encourage you to visit and read some of their articles if you are a parent of a boy. A few of the most interesting items are the fact that the increased level of testosterone in boys cause them to be more aggressive, competitive, assertive, and self reliant than girls; girls hear better and teachers may need to use louder voices to reach boys; neurotransmitters in the brain differ between boys and girl, showing a clear difference in how boys and girls process information. Boys don’t do as well in reading as girls, but excel at math skills and other spatial type skills.
So, even from this short list, doesn’t it make sense that if boys were taught to their strengths that they could excel at a rate equal to girls? Believe me, as a mother of boys, I would love to know that my boys have an equal chance to achieve their very best in school. Yet, I know that my boys are bored. They don’t want to read Sarah, Plain and Tall, but they love Diary of a Wimpy Kid. They love studying about dinosaurs, and learning about pirates of old. Things that are exciting! My oldest scored in the top 5% of 4Th graders in the nation in math, on a particular achievement test, but just average in reading. Give him reading problems in math, and he can do them lickety split.
One way to teach children to their strengths is the use of educational technology. Using computers and software in the classroom. Allowing testing on the computer, creating book reports using PowerPoint presentations, playing computer games to teach math concepts. Honestly, in this digital age I am really surprised that it is not more common. Our schools are still using textbooks that look just like the ones I used as a kid. Give them a CD-ROM to use at school, or at home, with animations, or real video. Let them write science reports on the Discovery Channel show, Man vs. Wild, or One Way Out. I can’t tell you how much my boys have learned about animals and the outdoors from Bear Grylls, and energy and momentum from Jonathan Goodwin. And, how about the Planet Earth series? On TLC, there are lots of things to be learned about society, cooking, and even fitness. I know that these are things that they will remember for many years! It is exciting and interesting to them.
Using online learning games is a great tool for children of any age. They are fun and it may not even seem like they are “learning”. For years I have played games online with my children. My 3 year old loves alphabet games, counting games, and even spelling games. My oldest, 10 years old, still likes to go on sites and build virtual robots or building, creating cities, or even dinosaur environments. Our 8 year old likes to do virtual puzzles. They are all learning! The concepts that are presented are things like same/different, big/small, mirror images, different types of environments, among many others.
I just get really frustrated that the American educational system is so far behind the world. We don’t use the wonderful resources that are available to us. Okay, I know that not every classroom has a computer for every child. But, there is usually a computer lab available, some students have their own, and most teachers have at least one computer in their rooms. Find new and fun ways to utilize the technology that is available. Be flexible in how you will accept work that is to be turned in. I have heard from teachers time and time again, “but, it’s not fair to let one student do their work one way, and others another way”. If you are allowing it because it fits their needs more specifically, how is that not fair? Parents don’t treat their children all the same. Employees are not treated all them same, some make more money for one reason or another. There is no fair or not fair. Just equal, but different, opportunities. What works best for each individual.
How can we tolerate the fact that our boys are being allowed to fall behind, when the fix would be so easy to achieve?
By: Amy Fennell
Make-believe Games
September 25th, 2009Imagination is healthy. Unfortunately, many toys and games these days actually stifle the imagination. If there is any indication of the future success of children, it is the amount of imaginative, or make-believe play they engage in on a daily basis. Many parents overlook this critical factor and begin to push learning games or toys with built-in story lines.
From Real-Life to Virtual
Young children almost always begin to play using their imaginations. Toy kitchens and doll houses help little kids act like the grown-ups they admire. Of course, the minute the children discover the wonders of the internet, much of this imaginative play begins to fade, but it doesn’t have to.
There are opportunities online for make-believe games. Although many games children play via the internet involve predetermined actions and plot sequences, this is not the case for all. Some games utilize the imagination more than even traditional toys. Online dolls offer young girls a chance to stretch not only their fashion sense but their imagination as well.
Playing Make-Believe Games
It may seem simple to the casual observer. Stick some clothes on a doll and you have a finished creation. But it is much more than that to the regulars. Every aspect of online play has great significance. Choosing the right base is the first step – is the doll going to represent the doll maker, or is she trying her hand at something new? Then clothing is selected based on what that doll is going to be doing or represent.
Young girls with rich imaginations love playing dress up games with these dolls. The dolls can lead wild fantasy lives or do literally anything the doll maker wishes. Young girls can try on imaginary personalities or styles, or create avatars and characters to be used for any number of games and contests.
Many doll creation sites, like TheDollPalace.com, offer more than simple doll creation software. They give girls a chance to find others interested in the same sort of make-believe games and imaginary worlds. Doll Palace offers forums and opportunities to share stories about dolls. Not only are the girls creating these complex dolls, they are writing histories and stories for their characters as well.
The Benefits of Make-Believe Games
If it is not already obvious, make-believe games, such as these online dolls, give children an opportunity to flex their creative muscle. Creativity and imagination are some of the most wonderful gifts of childhood and often they are stomped out by excessive school work or games that trap players in certain characters or roles. Those that enjoy these dolls should be encouraged to continue playing, and parents interested in developing or fostering these skills in their own children should seek out make-believe games.
Of course the best way to interact with your child as well as encourage the use of the imagination is to sit down routinely with your daughter and ask about her dolls. Do they have a history or is there something special about each one? Parents will be amazed at the lengths doll makers will go to build a complete fantasy life around a simple online paper doll. Imagination is truly a wonder to behold.
By: Ajay R (articlesubmit.net)
