The Benefits of Educational Toys For Children
Posted by este in Kids and Teens on October 15, 2011
Jean Piaget was a 20th century educational theorist and researcher who has had a significant impact on the way we understand children. He once said that “play is the work of childhood.” He developed the idea that children pass through four distinct stages as they grow from infants into adults. We will discuss these stages and the overall benefits of educational toys in this article.
Sensorimotor
The first stage that a child goes through is the sensorimotor stage. This stage lasts from birth until about 24 months of age. In this stage, the child moves from the reflexes of an infant to the understanding that objects remain even when they are out of sight and the ability to think symbolically. At each point along the way, the toys given to a child must be appropriate for the substage that the child is progressing through.
Newborns and young babies need toys that they can explore safely with their mouths. Throughout the sensorimotor stage, the primary means of learning takes place through the child’s senses. As babies get older toys that yield predictable results, such as a rattle, are important. Eventually, the young toddler will do experiments with the toys to see what kinds of results he or she can get with them. Stacking toys, toys that show causes and effect, toys that children can manipulate are all suitable for children of this stage.
Preoperational
At about the age of two through seven years old, children proceed through the preoperational stage. Children at this age cannot think logically. They do have great imaginations and magical thinking. Toys that allow them to try out adult roles, such as dress up clothes and toys, and use their imaginations are best for children in this stage. This is also the stage when academics enters the picture. Children need toys that develop number sense, reading and the beginnings of logical thinking, such as puzzles at this stage.
Concrete Operational
The next stage is the concrete operational stage. This stage lasts from about age seven through 12. In this stage, a child’s ability to think logically is just starting to develop. Thinking is very concrete. Providing toys that encourage the development of academic skills, critical thinking and a greater awareness of the world is essential.
Formal Operational
Throughout the teen years and into adulthood, the child’s ability to think abstractly develops. Less time is spent on playing with toys and more time is devoted to specific hobbies and interests, as well as socializing and friends. Hobbies and other interests should be encouraged by providing the child with experiential activities and opportunities to include his or her friends, when possible.
Short- And Long-Term Effects
Children who have been provided with educational toys continue to reap the benefits of them well into their twenties. IQ test scores are also higher (by as much as 50 points) in children who have been provided educational toys. There are many benefits of educational toys. The child learns interpersonal skills, academic, motor and thinking skills all while having a good time. Every child deserves the advantages of playing with educational toys.
Why You Should Educate Your Children About Sex
Posted by este in Kids and Teens on October 11, 2011
Today, sex is no longer a hidden thing anymore. Sex is everywhere.You have it on TV, in movies, on the internet and everywhere. The only place where sex is still forbidden is in conversation between parents and children. Most parent don’t see the reason they should talk about this awkward topic with their children. This is not a topic to play around with. If you are a parent, and you have not spoken to your children about sex before,then get ready to do so before its too late.
Consider this: people don’t view sex these days the way it was seen in the past. In the past, one can easily tell you that sex is ”When a husband and wife are having intercourse”. In our own time which is today, you now have internet sex, oral sex, phone sex, anal sex and many other form of this thing called sex. If you refuse to discuss this topic with your children, sooner or later, they will be confronted with wrong information about sex. They certainly will be exposed to sex. They will hear about sex as soon as they start school. The information will get to them either from other student, friends or some other way that you and I may not know.
And the bad aspect is that they will not tell you because they are afraid that you will suspect them of improper conduct. Discussing sex with your children is your responsibility as a parent. Although granted that it is an awkward topic but it is very important. Your children have questions about sex, but they don’t know how to begin this type of conversation with you.
WHY SHOULD I TALK SEX WITH MY CHILDREN?
One of the reason you should talk to your children about sex is, there are bad people everywhere, sadly, many children have fallen victim of this wicked men. Children are sexually misused by some wicked adult. children are being exploited by wicked people for perverted sexual purposes. And your children are not educated, how can they know that sex in their age is dangerous and how would they know what to do when confronted by those wicked people. Educating your children about sex while they are still young is better. don’t wait until they are nearing their teens, if you do, they may not want to discuss it with you because of a sense of self consciousness that comes to every child as they grow.
BUT I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO BEGIN THIS TOPIC WITH MY CHILDREN
The way to do this is to give children information about sex that is right with their age. You can keep on adding more information to them as they grow according to their understanding. Teach your children about the part of their body that they shouldn’t allow any body to touch or play with- also teach them to report anybody tries to do so either to you or their teacher in school. Don’t talk to your children directly about sex or else, they may not respond. Use indirect language for example, you can start by saying ” some people believe that talking about sex is a bad thing to do, while others say there is nothing wrong with it. what do your school mates think about this?”. Such indirect question from you is likely to get your children open up and express their own views.
Diverse Requirements and Education for Students
Posted by este in Reference and Education on October 7, 2011
The story of Goldilocks and the three bear was a story we loved to hear as a story when young but it again is useful as we have grown up because it is associated with giving education to people. In the story, the house was single but there were different chairs, beds and food bowls for every bear.
In the same way, students have diverse requirements and education must have many alternatives to cater the needs of the recipients. If no options are given, ones weight may be too heavy to smash a small chair.
To nurture the academic requirements of children of grade 5to 8, middle level education curriculum are designed. This grade range comprises children of age 10 to 13. This is an age group in which children are to enter the defiant teenage. The syllabus and teaching styles are therefore so planned as to fulfill this age group children needs.
The foundation has already been laid so at this level of education the children need to be guided and put on the suitable lane. At this age the interests and likings are to be put in their proper places. Some students show their ability of making out sense from information given to them and give different explanation.
Math is taught at different level from primary to tertiary level according to the skills and capacities of different age groups. This pushes the children move ahead and they perform well. Problems apposite to the talent of children also sharp up the learning process.
The educator is not only responsible for teaching the students. He also has to supervise and see how healthy a child psychologically is. He has to do counseling as and when needed. He needs to have training of all these tasks. Over a period of time, students become more frank with teachers and present their true self if the teacher is successful in developing a proper communication channel with them.
To improve the teaching system and provided the needed skills to the children, a monitoring system is set in the education system. Thorough this system reports are generated for the authorities about the teaching and learning levels.
Teaching the teenager children of middle level is a challenge in itself. The teachers must be paid due respect and their struggles, despite the huge problems like dealing with old rules and regulations and educational policies, absence of resources, lake of concern form family members and public officials, be acknowledged.