Early Childhood Education Advice - Martial Arts for your Toddler
Practicing the martial arts provides distinct advantages for older children and adults. Did you know that toddler-age children could also greatly benefit from the martial arts as well? Karate and Tae Kwan Do not only provide toddlers with exciting experiences with other children, but these arts also encourage motor skill coordination, concentration, and self-confidence. Add these skills with a touch of ancient Eastern wisdom, and your toddler will be learning life lessons that will serve him well in the years to come. (Note: although the pronouns "him" and "his" are used here, the martial arts are just as effective for girls!)
Between the ages of two and five, your toddler is growing in mind, body and spirit. These ages are distinctly important, as they set the tone for your toddler's life pattern of behavior. Childhood development experts recommend that toddlers participate in physical and mental activities to encourage personality growth, physical maturity, and socialization with others. The martial arts effectively provide these experiences in a variety of ways.
While your toddler is growing, his muscles and bones must develop strength and agility. Physical development occurs only when a toddler receives adequate exercise that including stretching, bending and muscle-building movements.
Have you noticed how clumsy toddlers can be? Although they have mastered the fine art of walking, they seem to trip over many things, including their own two feet! The martial arts excel at teaching your toddler motor skill coordination, precision movements that increase hand-eye coordination and foot/leg movements that help him learn balance and move him past the toddler "wobbles."
How long is your toddler's attention span? How about his ability to focus on tasks until they're completed? Is he able to memorize and retain information at a rate appropriate for his age? The martial arts require toddlers to concentrate and pay close attention to the instructions of the sensei (teacher); to be successful in the martial arts and in their lives, toddlers must learn to listen and thoroughly absorb the lessons. Your toddler will also learn to focus and follow through on tasks; dawdling and impulsivity aren't allowed! The sensei will re-direct your child's focus to mastering the task at hand; movements that can only be learned by strict focus. Your toddler will be required to memorize the order and types of movements, performing them flawlessly when prompted by the sensei. Thus, when he begins school, your toddler will have a distinct edge in learning language and abstract arithmetic skills.
The best things in life are not free. Hard work and discipline get you what you want and help you reach your goals. Unfortunately, toddlers only know that they want everything now. There is no later; there is no waiting. Right away is all that matters. In the martial arts, toddlers get their first taste of reality and learn self-discipline. They learn that they have to take things step by step and master each step before moving on to the next. There are no shortcuts.
Your toddler will learn that unprovoked aggression is never appropriate. The martial arts are defensive in nature; your toddler will learn that amicably getting along with others results from the self confidence of knowing that he isn't going to be harmed by schoolyard bullies. As he bows to his opponent, your toddler learns to show respect to others, increasing his own confidence. His mastery of the martial arts also teaches him that he can succeed in life tasks, thus building a confident, intrepid adult.
Your toddler's sensei will expose him to the enduring wisdom of Eastern philosophy and the ancient world. These are the concepts of avoiding foolish and self-destructive behavior, service to others, tolerance for differences, patience, loyalty and caution.
These days finding a martial arts program for your child isn't difficult. A reputable school (dojo) will allow you to sit in a class at any time and watch your child's progress. Don't be afraid to ask questions and stay for a couple of classes to see how the instructors interact with all the students. Who knows? You might want to join the fun too!
Discover more tips to help your childs development at http://childrenlearnmore.com
Sunday, September 02, 2007
10 Easy Ways To Make Children Smarter
Scientific research shows that intelligence is both genetic and environmental. Intelligence is also not fixed but can be increased because the brain develops new neurons and interconnections with stimulation.
A supportive environment fosters numerous aspects of intelligence. The following 10 easy ways to stimulate intelligence in children will provide an "enriched environment" for brain growth.
One: Love and Self-Esteem Improve Academic Performance
In a long series of experiments, Prescott Lecky, an American educational researcher, found a high correlation between low self-esteem and learning problems in children.
He correctly theorized that by raising a child's self-esteem, learning performance would also improve.
His success stories include a poor speller who averaged 55% in spelling improved to 91% in six months, a Latin student who went from 30% to 84% after three encouraging conversations with a teacher, and a student considered to have no aptitude for English who improved over a semester to win the school's literary prize.
Two: Breast Fed Babies Are Smarter
Danish researchers found that mother's milk contained essential micronutrients for brain development. In fact, the longer the child was breast fed, the more the brain was nourished. For example, infants breast fed for 9 months were smarter than infants only breast-fed for two months.
Three: Proper Nutrition Improve Health And Nerve Conduction
Diets high in sugar, Trans fatty acids, and salt decreased health in children. Junk food failed to provide sufficient iron for healthy brain development, resulting in poor nerve impulses. Children with nutritional deficiency also missed school more often because of illness and fell behind their peers.
Four: Proper Breakfast Improves Attention At School
Thirty years of research has shown a strong correlation between breakfast and mental alertness. Children who had nutritious breakfasts had better memory. They also concentrated better and absorbed more information during class. Those who had no breakfast or poor breakfast were more irritable and distracted during class.
Five: Exercise Benefits Intelligence And Personality
Research conducted by the University of Illinois showed that fitter children performed better academically. Besides the obvious physiological benefits of improved oxygen intake, blood flow, immune stimulation, and neural transmission, there was also a psychological and sociological component, too. Psychologically, fitter children showed higher self-esteem. Sociologically, those who participated in organized sports displayed more confidence, more cooperation, and spontaneous leadership.
Six: Musical Training Improves IQ Into Adulthood
Long-term research by the University of Toronto showed that organized music lessons benefited children all the way into adulthood. The longer the child studied music, the higher their IQs as adults. Music students also displayed better grades throughout their schooling.
Seven: Some Video Games Enhance Mental Acuity
Research by the University of Rochester found that certain video games improved sensory perception, strategic thinking, and planning ahead of time. The video games that created positive mental improvements had an educational element that improved motor skills and enhanced memory.
Eight: Mind Games Do More Than Entertain
Board games like chess, checkers, creative games like Lego and jigsaw puzzles, and brainteaser games like crosswords, cryptograms, riddles, and Sudoku improved intelligence. Specifically, they stimulated better decision-making, smarter analytical thinking, and more accurate problem solving.
Nine: Reading Improves Both Creativity And Logic
Whether a child was read to at bedtime, or actively read their own books, silently or aloud, they displayed increased left and right brain intellectual growth. Both fiction and non-fiction books improved creative imagination and logical, sequential thinking.
Ten: Nurturing Curiosity Creates An Open, Absorbent Mind
Curiosity, the urge to seek knowledge, is essential to improving intelligence in children. Conducting educational outings, teaching new skills, and supporting hobbies encouraged the development of curiosity.
These 10 ways of raising intelligence in children are easy to apply, practical, and within the reach of parents and teachers. Research has shown that they are highly effective in creating the environmental support children need to develop their intelligence.
Learn more about your childs development and child education at http://childrenlearnmore.info
Scientific research shows that intelligence is both genetic and environmental. Intelligence is also not fixed but can be increased because the brain develops new neurons and interconnections with stimulation.
A supportive environment fosters numerous aspects of intelligence. The following 10 easy ways to stimulate intelligence in children will provide an "enriched environment" for brain growth.
One: Love and Self-Esteem Improve Academic Performance
In a long series of experiments, Prescott Lecky, an American educational researcher, found a high correlation between low self-esteem and learning problems in children.
He correctly theorized that by raising a child's self-esteem, learning performance would also improve.
His success stories include a poor speller who averaged 55% in spelling improved to 91% in six months, a Latin student who went from 30% to 84% after three encouraging conversations with a teacher, and a student considered to have no aptitude for English who improved over a semester to win the school's literary prize.
Two: Breast Fed Babies Are Smarter
Danish researchers found that mother's milk contained essential micronutrients for brain development. In fact, the longer the child was breast fed, the more the brain was nourished. For example, infants breast fed for 9 months were smarter than infants only breast-fed for two months.
Three: Proper Nutrition Improve Health And Nerve Conduction
Diets high in sugar, Trans fatty acids, and salt decreased health in children. Junk food failed to provide sufficient iron for healthy brain development, resulting in poor nerve impulses. Children with nutritional deficiency also missed school more often because of illness and fell behind their peers.
Four: Proper Breakfast Improves Attention At School
Thirty years of research has shown a strong correlation between breakfast and mental alertness. Children who had nutritious breakfasts had better memory. They also concentrated better and absorbed more information during class. Those who had no breakfast or poor breakfast were more irritable and distracted during class.
Five: Exercise Benefits Intelligence And Personality
Research conducted by the University of Illinois showed that fitter children performed better academically. Besides the obvious physiological benefits of improved oxygen intake, blood flow, immune stimulation, and neural transmission, there was also a psychological and sociological component, too. Psychologically, fitter children showed higher self-esteem. Sociologically, those who participated in organized sports displayed more confidence, more cooperation, and spontaneous leadership.
Six: Musical Training Improves IQ Into Adulthood
Long-term research by the University of Toronto showed that organized music lessons benefited children all the way into adulthood. The longer the child studied music, the higher their IQs as adults. Music students also displayed better grades throughout their schooling.
Seven: Some Video Games Enhance Mental Acuity
Research by the University of Rochester found that certain video games improved sensory perception, strategic thinking, and planning ahead of time. The video games that created positive mental improvements had an educational element that improved motor skills and enhanced memory.
Eight: Mind Games Do More Than Entertain
Board games like chess, checkers, creative games like Lego and jigsaw puzzles, and brainteaser games like crosswords, cryptograms, riddles, and Sudoku improved intelligence. Specifically, they stimulated better decision-making, smarter analytical thinking, and more accurate problem solving.
Nine: Reading Improves Both Creativity And Logic
Whether a child was read to at bedtime, or actively read their own books, silently or aloud, they displayed increased left and right brain intellectual growth. Both fiction and non-fiction books improved creative imagination and logical, sequential thinking.
Ten: Nurturing Curiosity Creates An Open, Absorbent Mind
Curiosity, the urge to seek knowledge, is essential to improving intelligence in children. Conducting educational outings, teaching new skills, and supporting hobbies encouraged the development of curiosity.
These 10 ways of raising intelligence in children are easy to apply, practical, and within the reach of parents and teachers. Research has shown that they are highly effective in creating the environmental support children need to develop their intelligence.
Learn more about your childs development and child education at http://childrenlearnmore.info
Home Schooling Cost Analysis
When parents decide to educate their children at home, it usually costs much less than either a private school or a public school.
By home schooling your child, you will save time and gas because there is little or no commuting. There is also less expense for day care due to the one parent staying home full time. In addition, clothing is inexpensive because there is no pressure to keep up with fashion trends. Home school expenses include books and supplies, which can be very reasonable especially when you use your local library. Eating meals at home is also cheaper and much healthier than either buying meals at school or making lunches for school depending on how you make them. Other expenses include music lessons, sport supplies and other fees for hobbies or group activities. Computer equipment and computer software are also an extra expense. Some parents who home school also pay for private tutoring to supplement their own teaching.
Public schools have no tuition and do not charge for books, but parents must pay for school supplies. Extracurricular activities your child may be involved in have fees associated with them, same fees as for home schooling. Children who attend public school can either ride the bus, which is free, or commute to school, which can be costly with rising gas prices. Sometimes there is a fee for computer classes in public school, depending on the school. Public school lunches cost more, especially when parents do not know if their children are throwing the food away or sharing it with other children. Clothing expenses are high because of peer pressure and popularity. Often, parents need day care for their children until they are done with work.
Private schools do charge tuition, which is usually $1000 to $5000 per year, depending on the school. A private school also charges for books, but not usually supplies. Music and art lessons are usually included in the tuition cost. Computer software is an extra fee, along with any sport supplies or other after school program. Private schools do not offer any transportation, so that is an extra expense.
Overall, parents who choose to home school spend the least amount of money, while parents who choose private school spend the most. On the other hand, when a parent decides to home school, a full time job for the parent teacher is usually out of the question (or very difficult to include in a daily schedule). Nevertheless, the choice to home school should be based on your child's ability to thrive and learn in a home setting or school setting.
Learn more about your childs development and child education at http://childrenlearnmore.com
When parents decide to educate their children at home, it usually costs much less than either a private school or a public school.
By home schooling your child, you will save time and gas because there is little or no commuting. There is also less expense for day care due to the one parent staying home full time. In addition, clothing is inexpensive because there is no pressure to keep up with fashion trends. Home school expenses include books and supplies, which can be very reasonable especially when you use your local library. Eating meals at home is also cheaper and much healthier than either buying meals at school or making lunches for school depending on how you make them. Other expenses include music lessons, sport supplies and other fees for hobbies or group activities. Computer equipment and computer software are also an extra expense. Some parents who home school also pay for private tutoring to supplement their own teaching.
Public schools have no tuition and do not charge for books, but parents must pay for school supplies. Extracurricular activities your child may be involved in have fees associated with them, same fees as for home schooling. Children who attend public school can either ride the bus, which is free, or commute to school, which can be costly with rising gas prices. Sometimes there is a fee for computer classes in public school, depending on the school. Public school lunches cost more, especially when parents do not know if their children are throwing the food away or sharing it with other children. Clothing expenses are high because of peer pressure and popularity. Often, parents need day care for their children until they are done with work.
Private schools do charge tuition, which is usually $1000 to $5000 per year, depending on the school. A private school also charges for books, but not usually supplies. Music and art lessons are usually included in the tuition cost. Computer software is an extra fee, along with any sport supplies or other after school program. Private schools do not offer any transportation, so that is an extra expense.
Overall, parents who choose to home school spend the least amount of money, while parents who choose private school spend the most. On the other hand, when a parent decides to home school, a full time job for the parent teacher is usually out of the question (or very difficult to include in a daily schedule). Nevertheless, the choice to home school should be based on your child's ability to thrive and learn in a home setting or school setting.
Learn more about your childs development and child education at http://childrenlearnmore.com
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