MilestonesChild.com Blog

FEARS –HOW TO HELP THE CHILD DEAL WITH IT

2011-04-04T05:32:00.000+05:30

Fear is in an inborn tendency. And any special fear, which the child has, is learned only through experience. For the child the world is full of things, which he does not understand. The child may have fear of the dark, of thunder, an animal or even something as common as water. When very young, the infant shows catchiness of breath and throws out his arms and this is a response he shows to shocks. We as parents need to play our part, we need to protect the growing child from fears and most importantly, a parent’s job is to help the child learn constructive ways to cope with and conquer those fears.

Now how do we prevent fears?

We all know that there are certain fears that may begin in a child in a second and last for days, weeks or months. These fears may arise in the young child from shock or surprise and usually leaves him insecure.

As parents, we can help by not exposing the child to frightful stories movies or talks. Parents should never use fear appeal to control the child or just to see him frightened.

It may not be possible for us to entirely keep the child from being exposed to new and strange persons, situations and other living creatures. Yet we might help by being a good shock absorber for their fears.

The excitable nervous child is most disposed to fears. He needs to be protected from emotional strain and excitement in a happy family atmosphere. The family should be peaceful and serene when dealing with different matters.

Avoid unnecessary, loud shrill or sudden noises near the infant and young child

Be near the youngster when such frightening situation is likely to arise and remember that you as a parent need to exercise complete calm and self-control.

See that strange persons keep at a distance comfortable to the baby or young child.

Don’t allow anyone to smile or laugh at or talk about the child’s fear. Meet your child’s fear sympathetically in a matter of fact way.

It’s very easy and we see many parents do this -- “Eat your food or the police man will put you in jail”. To control your child never refer to the policeman, doctor or watchman. Nor should you mention things like putting him in a dark room or bathroom.

Don’t talk about your fears in front of your child.

If your child is scared of animals don’t drag the child to a dog or cat to reassure him. The more you pull the child, the more you make him feel he has to pull in the opposite directions. Allow him to get over his fear himself.

Some children may overcome their fears by playing games about it. Allow them to do so. It will be of great help to them.

Most of all provide ample affection for the child in every reasonable way.

By Ms Hema Sridhar

Teach your child how to handle money

2010-12-01T07:58:00.001+05:30

If you give your child his own money to spend he may gain an excellent education in the use of money and its value. Sometimes parent can help the child to earn money at home. The child can be paid for helping about during the holidays at home or at a friend’s place. Now you may have this doubt.. ‘ if I pay my own child for jobs done at home, will he be likely then to volunteer to help in many other jobs he’s not paid for? Well, don’t make it a habit to pay him every time but only on specific occasions.

As soon as the child gets money to spend, let him spend the money about, as he likes. Offer suggestions now and then if the child accepts them, but never correct him. Assume that the money you have given him is “his”. Don’t include the money given by grandparents or relatives in this. If possible dissuade your relatives to give such monitory gifts; only then will your child learn how to value his money.

Encourage your child to save money. You can induce the child to save the money of one week, and if he saves that without spending tell him that you will slightly raise the amount the next week. This can help him plan and buy something he desires and he also learns that he has given up something now, for something better later.

Please note that the amount you give your child should be increased gradually as he enters high school and his needs increase. Some parents interpret pocket money to be nothing more than money to spend for luxury, regardless of the child’s age. Real pocket money includes regular money for specific necessities as well as for luxuries.

Slowly educate your child to keep itemized account for his expenditure. A few years later, he will know how he used the money and this will help him to handle money in future.

By Ms Hema Sridhar

What is the difference between teaching and educating?

2010-11-24T07:46:00.002+05:30

Teaching a child can be said as instructing a child in a certain area. Educating a child is helping him develop mentally, morally, physically and socially. Teaching is just a part of this. You can teach a child how to wash his hands before eating. But you need to educate him and explain to him the reason for washing his hands. It is therefore necessary for the teacher to educate a child before he/she starts teaching the child.

For a young three or four year old child, going to school is an enormous step. The child may never have been away from his mother for such a length of time. He may have had very little contact with children of his own age. But once he starts schooling he needs to become socialised in a new environment. This means that he needs to know

1. the dos and don'ts of getting on with others in the school

2. how to be accepted by others and how to accept them

3 how to gradually become independent while taking part in a group that is much bigger and wider than his immediate family circle.

Now it is the teacher’s responsibility to help the pupils develop all the above and help them learn it. A teacher plays a very important role in setting the base for the years to come. Here are some points that a teacher needs to remember

enjoy the young pupils

be as relaxed as possible

be firm and consistent with them.

FATHERS, LOVINGLY YOURS - YOUR CHILD

2010-09-13T08:47:00.001+05:30

Well, most of us commonly see that fathers seem to have this idea that they have fulfilled their responsibility to their kids in having found a good mother for them. Yes, we all are aware that fathers are so encumbered with trying to make a good living for their children. They need to provide them and their mothers a good and comfortable life. By what we leave in material substance will perish by and by. Have you as fathers, found time to live with them?

The day–by-day and year-by- year companionship with your children will live on and on in them. So much so that we can still recall our loving moments with our children and even our grandchildren. Trying going to your own past, and recall the moments with your parents and grandparents. Are you giving such fine moment to your children?

Its best to remember that in everyday guidance of our children, both parents are equally necessary if these children are to develop best and it is very important that they plan together as a team when it comes to their children’s needs.

In this busy life, it’s a known fact that some fathers, unfortunately, because of the nature of their work, cannot spend nearly so much time with their growing children as they would like to spend. It should be noted that it is NOT the amount of time that counts, but the way the time available is spent and the relationship of the father to the children during this precious time.

Try to spend a reasonable amount of leisure time with your children. Include the mother too in this. As you and she enjoy each other’s company, plan maters concerning the needs of the home, the expenditure, etc in bringing up the children. This way you would have laid a healthy foundation for cultivating a cooperative family life.

To be a good father is to be a good husband. You cannot possibly cultivate a good relation with your children without also cultivating a good relation with their mother. See to it that you give their mother due regard for her as a person and observe towards her the niceties of social grace making her feel that what she does for the family is worthwhile.

You and your wife, should talk over your individual ideas about guidance of the children, when the children are not present. If you feel that she is too lenient with the youngsters and you might want her to be stricter. Then relax and be careful not to criticize her in the children’s presence. Talk this out with her.

When your child is a baby, learn to share in his physical care, keeping him for short periods while the mother gets her relaxation. When you come home from your work, you may be tired but remember, so may the mother. All day with one or several young children is a severe strain on the nerves. You can choose this time reading to your child, listening to his experiences of the day, answering his questions, enjoying his creations and inventions, making things with him, or planning a game with his friends on weekends.

Its is quite possible for you to find these experiences with your child a means of relaxation and enjoyment rather than a burden. It all depends on your point of view and the values you place on such relationships.

The father who can play cricket for the boys or toys with the girls sets the stage for vigorous group play in the neighbourhood and also renders invaluable service. It is a great art to be sympathetic, understanding, attentive to what the child tells you at different stages of his life. He will definitely talk about his experiences, joys or sorrows. It might seem too trivial for you to hear this out but it is of great importance to him. Don’t try to make fun of anything he asks or says, but instead treat him with deep regard as a person. And continually make him feel, “My Dad understands.”

When treated this way, the child will naturally ask you about any matter, which deeply concerns him. This is especially important during adolescence and during his youth. He will have the confidence to come to you for information and advice at any time. Try to help your children enjoy achievement within the range of his ability. Find out what he can do well at home, at school or on the play ground. If he is slow at books and better in doing things with his hands, help him out. See to it that he finds ways to be happy with other children of his age. Build on his successes. When he lags at school, don’t dwell on his failures. Help him to cultivate regular habits and for this see to it that you have regular habits as a parent.

Finally the more good times you and your children and your family can have together, the more they will want to follow your ideals. Have fun fathers…spend valuable time with your family !

MsHema Sridhar

QUARRELING BY CHILDREN

2010-08-09T07:46:00.001+05:30

Fighting by two children or more is a normal phenomenon. Unless there is serious danger to any child’s life and limb or there is any property destruction, it is best to leave the children alone. If as a parent, you can stand it no longer, separate them for some time without attempting to blame them. And remember, the worst thing you can do when two children are quarreling is to go and try to find out who started it.

At home fighting usually arises with young children over property rights, like whose playthings it is and whose place to sleep. It is better for each child to have his own things. Some play items can be kept common and the children can take turns. As a parent we must see to it that the younger child be trained to respect the older one, and not to appropriate the things of the older child.

Don’t duplicate toys. Let one have a truck and the other a car. Then the two of them may have to exchange or cooperate.

When it comes to some other child visiting your home, the principle of individual ownership is hard to apply. Let your child, on arrival of another child who is likely to be destructive, put away his most precious things. Have on hand a few sturdy toys, which your child can share with his friend. This way both the children can enjoy and there is no fear of the toy breaking. If your child shares his toys, do appreciate him.

Quarrelling on the playground is better if left to the children to settle themselves. If parents go out to defend their child, other children will take offence. Let your child retreat if he cannot defend himself. Train him early never to fight with sticks or stones. Your child may be quarrelsome when he is behind or lags in play skills. The more of correction then must be with the parents. The parents should introduce the child to the play skills where he lags.

Sometimes a child may pick a fight by calling other children ugly names. Such a child may also use these names before the parents and the parents should correct him immediately. There are some parents who themselves set a bad example in this direction.

We, as parents, should build up ideals and habits in child for peaceful play with his friends. And to achieve this, as parents we should practice these good behavior towards other people in his presence. The parent needs to cultivate a happy relationship with all the parents and their children of the neighborhood.

By Hema Sridhar

PRAISE IS BETTER THAN BLAME

2010-06-28T07:38:00.004+05:30

Do you as a parent celebrate your child’s successes? It’s a well known fact that all of us gain a lot from our successes than from our failures. The same goes for our children too. Then why is it that a parent finds it easier to blame a child than praise him?

As a parent we assume that if we do not restrain our child then the child is spoilt. But mere restrains are futile.There must be enough outlets of satisfying activity that are approved by us. For every single thing a parent forbids the child, there should be scores of other things we allow and encourage. Otherwise, our children may grow irritable and resistant.

How do we know that our method to discipline the child has been effective?

Even after being punished or rebuked for a forbidden behavior, the child turns happily to some approved activity…then yes, our method to discipline has been

effective. And the more approved things children do with pleasure, the less prone they are to do what is not approved.

Children at the age of six, ten, sixteen are usually discouraged in various experiences at school, among friends, or because of parents. When one wish after another is denied to them, we should as parents, try hard to find hopeful, positive ways of helping him or her to get emotional relief through other outlets which bring the child satisfaction.

So provide your child a lot of hopeful and positive outlets. Imagine how happy your child is going to feel when he discovers that there are a pair of understanding wise and sympathetic parents, who give him encouragement when all the world seems to be hostile.

To achieve cooperation from your children be sure to praise him or her a lot. The mother may compliment her young daughter on her lovely conduct during a party or at her friends house. A father may express delight at breakfast table over the way their son has been getting ready for school promptly, or for helping with the house cleaning chore.

Always remember never to mention the bad behavior of the child, only the good behavior should be picked out for comment. When you hear any nice things about them at school, be sure to mention it to your child. Now surely you may ask this question “won't it make my child conceited when praised so much?” It will…only if we praise them for traits not won by their own efforts..like beautiful face or lovely skin”. Rather, we should pick out praise specific instances of good conduct, in which the child has done with effort what we consider meritorious.

Build your children on their strengths rather than on their weaknesses.

And blessed are those children whose parents, and those who guide them, celebrate their successes.

Ms Hema

IS YOUR CHILD “THE GIFTED CHILD?”

2010-04-01T15:23:00.002+05:30

The first obligation of the parents who think their child is gifted is to inquire, “how can I find out if my child is gifted? What are the characteristics of the gifted child?”

The following checklist is a rough indication of what you may want to look out for after your child is born up to 2 years of age -

· Ability to recognize faces early (within a few months after birth).

· Early expressions like smiling.

· Unusual alertness.

· Early interest in looking at books like turning pages of books before 1 year of age and paying attention when read to within 6 months.

· Unusually active and high levels of energy.

· Playing with toys like shape sorters by 11 or 12 months.

· Ability to form two word phrases by 14 months.

· Ability to understand instructions given by you by 18 months.

· Ability to say and understand many words before 18 months.

· Could stay still and watch his or her favourite TV programme.

· Appears to require less sleep (yet not sleepy or irritable due to lack of sleep).

· Recognition of letters/alphabets by age one and a half.

· Recognition and rote counting of numbers 1 – 10 or higher by age 2.

· Recognition of colours by age 2.

· Recognition of first word by age 2.

· Interest in puzzles by age 2.

· Has long attention span in interest areas by age 2.

· Ability to form at least 3-word sentence by age 2.

· Knowledge about calendars and clocks by age 3.

· Demonstration of unusual competency in drawing, painting, singing and other such abilities.

· And most of all, an early interest in reading and a liking for books.

The gifted child’s superiority in language development is very high . he has an early acquisition of skill in reading which is remarkable. Most of such children learn to read before they enter school . Vocabulary development too is extraordinary.

This child has a vivid imagination and this includes having imaginary friends .The child is extremely curious and asks many questions about things and events they have observed,. It is important that parents try to answer their questions patiently and appropriately, or help them find answers. Reading aloud to them is highly desirable, be sure to provide picture book, and provide reading material for the very young gifted child. Later encourage him to use public libraries around your area.

It should be taken into account that a child gets an opportunity to do the above. Gifted children have special need, for intellectual stimulation and challenging experience. Parents should stimulate the gifted child’s development . trips and excursions , followed by discussions , will help. Workshops for such children will be of great value. Guidance should be given so that TV will not consume too much of the child’s leisure time..

The above checklist is at best regarded as a rough guide and bear in mind that not all of the skills and age guide mentioned is absolute. Some children may demonstrate these abilities at a younger age and some may be older and yet classified as advanced learners. However, this can be a good guide to look out for signs of early advanced development in children and provide the necessary platform for them to flourish.

You , as a parent or as a teacher has an inbuilt ability to recognize if your child is gifted. Provide him a favorable environment, affection, physical well being and security ….and see him blossom.

By Ms HemaSridhar

IS YOUR CHILD HYPERACTIVE?

2010-02-21T10:58:00.003+05:30

Movement is a necessary part of every child’s growing up. Of course there is a wide range of difference in degree. But for a hyperactive child it is extremely difficult to be within the normal range for movement. This child is active to such an extent that he has difficulty in adjusting to regular family living or behaving which is expected.

A parent expects the young child to be quiet for ten minutes or more, to remain in one place without moving, or to pay attention for a long period. Well…this is not possible for any child. And remember the more the child is told to behave, be quiet or still, the greater the problem may become. Do not expect from young child, behaviour that is impossible for him. Instead of becoming less active, these demands when placed upon him may make him more active.

How do you recognize a hyperactive child?

The child who is hyperactive generally has an abundance of physical energy. And he needs to release this energy.

§ He does not respond well to verbal scolding or ever-verbal praise

§ He is more often a problem in groups of children than when he is alone.

§ Though he likes activities too many activities around him may confuse and distract him

So how do you reduce hyperactive behavior?

The first step is removal of tension. The parent’s goal should be to reduce hyperactivity and not to ELIMINATE it.

§ Do not attempt to reward the child if he keeps still, this method is not realistic. The goal as mentioned above should be merely a lessening of the activity.

§ Give the child activities, which involve movement, which he can do even at home.

§ Activities like cleaning the room, setting the table, picking up toys, drying the washed dishes, picking the clothes when dry can be very effective but ONLY if done without any scolding. See to it that you don’t order the child to do the above activities but request him. And if the child refuses, leave him.

§ Do not wait for the hyperactive child to misbehave. A parent is usually sensitive to the child’s behaviour and need for movement. As soon as the child shows restlessness give him some work which he loves and which involves movements.

§ Praise him for good behaviour instead of being criticized.

§ Don’t say, “I knew you were going to get into trouble”. Don’t merely watch.

§ Be wise and turn the negative situation into one that is positive.

§ When the child gets into trouble being in a group of children, remove him for a short period of time from the presence of other children. This is more so when the child becomes highly excitable.

§ Don’t scold or preach him when trying to reason with him during such occasions.

§ Television has been found to be disturbing for hyperactive children. So avoid any kind of over stimulation.

§ See to it that family activities should not involve frantic behaviour. This causes confusion in a hyperactive child, as too many activities happen at once during such frantic behaviour. Clear direction to do things is very important for the child.

§ Movement must be allowed but in a controlled situation. Because the hyperactive child is a child, there are times when he is going to get into trouble, don’t lose hope as parents. These moments pass.

A hyperactive child is generally warm, outgoing and lovable; he is most willing to help, particularly if it involves physical activity that requires using up of his excess energy.

You should provide a home situation secure with love and with minimum of disturbing factors. In cases of extreme hyperactivity in children, which cannot be handled at home, the child should be taken to a doctor.

DO NOT PANIC ! DO NOT LOSE HOPE ! BE PATIENT WITH THE CHILD!

By Ms Hema Sridhar

Checklist for Helping Your Child With Homework

2010-02-13T09:30:00.002+05:30

In continuation of the earlier post on HomeWork, here is a check list to breeze you through....

1. Show That You Think Education and Homework Are Important

___ Do you set a regular time every day for homework?

___ Does your child have the papers, books, pencils and other things needed to do assignments?

___ Does your child have a well-lit, fairly quiet place to study?

___ Do you set a good example by showing your child that the skills he is learning are an important part of the things he will do as an adult?

___ Do you stay in touch with your child’s teacher?

2. Monitor Assignments

___ Do you know what your child’s homework assignments are? How long they should take? How the teacher wants you to be involved in them?

___ Do you see that your child starts and completes assignments?

___ Do you read the teacher’s comments on assignments that are returned?

___ Is TV viewing or video game playing cutting into your child’s homework time?

3. Provide Guidance

___ Do you help your child to get organized? Does your child need a schedule or assignment book? A book bag or backpack and a folder for papers?

___ Do you encourage your child to develop good study habits (for example, scheduling enough time for big assignments; making up practice tests)?

___ Do you talk with your child about homework assignments? Does she understand them?

4. Talk with Teachers to Resolve Problems

___ Do you meet with the teacher early in the year before any problems arise?

___ If a problem comes up, do you meet with the teacher?

___ Do you cooperate with the teacher to work out a plan and a schedule to solve homework problems?

___ Do you follow up with the teacher and with your child to make sure the plan is working?

By Mrs Hamsapriya S

Home Work, Home Work, Home Work !

2010-02-08T13:27:00.001+05:30

Homework has become an inevitable part of a child’s curriculum. Though there may be arguments for and against homework, it is there to stay. Sometimes, homework becomes a very big hassle. There are days when the child comes home with at least 2 hours of homework.

Here are a few tips for parents as well as children to not only complete the work but also make it into a meaningful learning experience

Environment : Choose a clutter free and well-lit place for the child. It may either be a study place or even the dining table. Soft music may be played in the background. A plate of light and nutritious snacks may be placed on the table. Let it not be oily and greasy food. Ensure your presence in the vicinity, pencils and colours may be placed on the right hand side preferably in a colourful holder.

Sorting the homework : All work may be categorized into 2 lots - mindless, repetitive work like copying the pages of a book or writing the answers 3 times fall into this category. The second is productive, purposeful work directed towards a goal. Activities directed towards spelling words, math facts, counting money, telling time, vocabulary, and others can be valuable to the academic success of your child.

A parent should identify the most productive learning time of their children. Homework which has learning value attached to it may be completed at that time. Mindless, repetitive work may be delegated to a time, when the child is mentally tired and is not able to do productive work.

Time management : Choose a time, which is convenient for both you and the child. Schedule the work for the child and fix a time limit for every part of the homework. A toy timer would make the whole exercise interesting. Encourage the child to finish his work within the stipulated time and the bonus time he has earned may be used to do any activity to his liking.

Scheduling and Prioritizing : The child should be encouraged to schedule the order of the work, which needs to be completed. All homework that needs to be completed may be placed in the order of priority on the table before the child starts the work. In case the child needs to use the computer, the parent may switch on he computer before he starts to work and also help him out by short listing a few sites which he may need to browse through to complete his work.

Motivating : Motivate the child to do his work by sitting with him. The parent may also do some reading or writing at the same time. Let your child understand that even parents need to do some homework for the smooth functioning of the household. Praise him for his neat and fast work.

WATCH OUT FOR HOMEWORK CHECKLIST IN NEXT POST...

By Ms Hamsapriya S

Preschool Prep: Getting Ready for The Big Transition

2010-01-29T13:08:00.001+05:30

If your child is starting preschool this fall, you may be approaching this major milestone with conflicting emotions. You’re probably excited about all the fun (you hope) your child will have and the new friends he’ll make. At the same time, you may feel a little sad that your baby is venturing out into the big world without you.

These emotions are normal. Your child is also bound to have a host of feelings about this transition, feeling proud to be a big kid but at the same time worried about being separated from you and starting something unfamiliar.

Having Fun with Preschool Prep : There’s a lot you can do in the weeks before to get ready for the big day. But try to keep your efforts low-key. If you make too big a deal out of this milestone, your child may end up being more worried than excited. Here are some ideas to keep the focus on fun.

Use pretend play to explore the idea of preschool. Take turns being the parent, child and teacher. Act out common daily routines, such as saying good-bye to mommy and/or daddy, taking off your coat, singing songs, reading stories, playing outside, and taking naps. Reassure your child that preschool is a good place where he will have fun and learn. Answer his questions patiently. This helps children feel more in control, which reduces their anxiety.
Read books about preschool. There are many books about going to preschool available from the public library in your area. Choose several to share with your child over the summer before school starts. Talk about the story and how the characters are feeling. Ask how your child is feeling.
Make a game out of practicing self-help skills like: putting on her backpack, fastening her shoes. For example, you might want to have a "race" with your child to see how quickly she can put on her shoes. When you play school together, you can give your child the chance to practice taking off her shirt, zipping her backpack closed etc. If your child will be bringing lunch, pack it up one day before school starts and have a picnic together. This will give her the chance to practice opening her lunch box and start eating her snacks - important skills for the first day!
Play at your new preschool. Visit your child’s preschool together. Ask when you can tour the school with your child. Play on the school playground a few times before your child starts the program. These visits increase your child’s comfort with and confidence in this new setting.

Worries and Watching : Your child may also have some questions or concerns about starting preschool, either before or after she starts. Help her get ready with these two key strategies:

Listen to your child’s worries. Although it’s tempting to quickly reassure your child and move on, it’s important to let your child know that her worries have been heard. No matter what they are, big or small, children’s worries about preschool can significantly influence their experience there. Will you remember to pick her up in the afternoon? Will her teacher be nice?

Let your child know it’s normal to feel happy, sad, excited, scared, or worried. Explain that starting something new can feel scary and that lots of people feel that way. It can be helpful to share a time when you started something new and how you felt. When you allow your child to share her worries, you can help her think through how to deal with them. For example, if she is worried about missing you, the two of you can make a book of family photos to keep in her bag and look at it when she is lonely.

Notice nonverbal messages : As much as 3-year-olds may talk, most are not yet able to fully explain how they are feeling or what they are worried about. Your child may “act out” his worry by clinging, becoming withdrawn, or by being more aggressive. Another common reaction, as children take a big move forward, is to actually move backward in other areas. For example, if your child is fully potty trained, he may start have toileting accidents. He may ask that you feed or dress her even though he can do these things by herself.

It is natural to be frustrated by this regressed behavior, and you may be concerned that if you do these things for her, she won’t go back to doing them herself. In fact, letting her play this out often leads to children returning to their “big kid” selves sooner. Remember that your child is facing—and managing—a big change in his life. She may need more support, nurturing, and patience from you while she makes this transition.

The Preschool Countdown: What to Do and When : The last few weeks before starting preschool seem to fly by! As you begin the countdown to the first day, here are some things to keep in mind:

During the 2 Weeks Before Preschool Starts:

Purchase a backpack together with your child. If possible, let your child choose it herself. This gives her a sense of control and emphasizes the fact that she is a "big kid" starting preschool.
Label all items—backpack, shoes, water bottle, etc.—with your child’s name and teacher’s name in permanent ink.
Figure out how your child will get to school and how she will come home. Talk to your child about the morning and afternoon routine so that she understands that she will be safe, okay, and cared for. Make sure your child meets her before- and/or after-school caregiver, if you are using one.
Start using your child’s “school bedtime.” Help your child get into a preschool schedule by keeping to his or her school bedtime, beginning about 2 weeks before school starts.

The Night Before Preschool

Answer any last-minute questions from your child.
Keep the uniform ready. Make sure that your child goes to bed on time.
Pick a bedtime that gives your child a good night’s rest before his or her first day. Keep the bedtime routine soothing and relaxing. Don’t focus too much (or at all!) on the first day of school unless she wants to.

The First Day

Wake up early enough so that you and your child don’t have to rush to get to preschool.
Make breakfast for your child and, if possible, sit down to eat together—or at least talk with her as she eats and you get ready.
Review the day’s routine (what preschool will be like, how your child will get to school/come home).
Pack your child’s backpack together. If your child is bringing lunch, select foods that you know are her favorites. Having some familiarity on her first day is helpful as she adjusts to so many changes.
Saying a Good Good-Bye : These strategies can ease the jitters of separating on your child’s first day at preschool.
- Plan to stay a little while. Staying for 15 to 30 minutes on that first morning can help ease the transition. Together, the two of you can explore the classroom, meet some other children, and play with a few toys. Cooperate with the teacher and take her guidance in helping your child adjust to the new environment.
- Keep your tone positive and upbeat. Children pick up on the reactions of the trusted adults in their lives. So try not to look worried or sad, and don’t linger too long. Say a quick, upbeat good-bye and reassure your child that all will be well.
- Think about creating a special good-bye routine. For example, you can give your child a kiss on his or her palm to “hold” all day long. Or, the two of you can sing a special song together before you leave. Good-bye routines are comforting to children and help them understand and prepare for what will happen next.
- Resist the rescue. Try not to run back in the classroom if you hear your child crying, as upsetting as this can be. This is a big change and your child may, quite understandably feel sad and a little scared. But if you run back in, it sends the message that she is only okay if you are there and it is likely to prolong your child’s distress and make it harder for her to adapt.
Rest assured, teachers have many years of experience with helping families make the shift to preschool. Instead, you can wait outside the classroom for a few minutes to ensure that all is well.
By HamsapriyaS

Stimulate Your Little One’s Imagination

2010-01-23T11:51:00.003+05:30

Stimulate Your Little One’s Imagination

When your child is two or three years old, he begins to do some things, which an adult never understands. It may seem insane for an adult to see a child handling things an adult cannot see, and talks about things not present to an adult’s senses. A child can easily turn blocks and sticks and stones into as many other things or animals or persons as he chooses.

Observe your child. When he feels the need of a new pet, he creates them out of his imagination and he makes them act as per his wish. Things no bigger than mere specks of dust he can transform in a moment to the size of mountains, and mountains he can turn to specks. Unless a child is ridiculed or scolded for this wholesome fun, he lives in a land of make believe.

Help your child with his imaginations. He may pretend for instance that you are he and he is you carrying on this drama for a few days. When he does this, join in with his play. Do not be impatient with him.

When your child enters kindergarten, he seems unable to discriminate between facts and fancies; be sympathetic. Don’t suggest that he is lying. Just calmly help him to know the difference between make-believe as “play stories” and true accounts as “what really happened”.

Avoid words such as LIE and TRUTH. It is best to avoid such vocabulary where there are little children.

Don’t drive the little child to think of himself a liar, when he is so truthful. See to it that you don’t disturb his play with imaginary characters. You may destroy his creative powers and rob his wholesome fun if you do so.

Welcome all the creatures of his fancy to your home. Learn to talk with them and live with them. Encourage his creation. Read to him from pictured storybook. Read, read and read. Open your child’s imagination…open a book. But avoid frightful stories.

Dramatize the story with him, play the part, which he wishes you to play.

So parents, start stimulating your child’s imagination, get some nice time out, lie on your back with him in the garden or on the terrace, watch the clouds passing by, see each strangely shaped cloud and share your imaginations…and I promise you, your child’s imagination will outshine yours in no time.

Blessed is the child whose parents and teachers appreciate his gift of imagination.

Hema Sridhar

Reading skills -the most powerful arm in your child’s hand

2010-01-09T10:22:00.005+05:30

The acquisition of reading skills at a very early age cannot be emphasized enough. Importance of reading skills filters into all aspects of school. I have personally witnessed the importance of reading skills on a daily basis in the following areas:

• Language Arts

• Social Studies

• Science

• Mathematics

• Social Skills

Many parents probably think reading skills is only required in language arts. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Of course, your child does need to have adequate reading skills to do well in language arts, but reading skills plays a major role in other subject areas, as well.

Let’s take a look at social studies, for example. Whether your child is learning about his neighborhood in kindergarten, or learning about other countries in the sixth class, he needs to be able to read in order to have a rich learning experience. Even basics of social studies, such as map reading, emphasize the importance of reading.

Let’s look at a real life situation; say the teacher has just introduced the continents to the class. She has pinned a huge map of the world on the wall and asks the class to point out the continents as she calls out the names; for example ' ASIA '

If your child does not have basic sound-symbol recognition skills, he will have a terrible time finding even a single continent. If, however, your child has the basic symbol sound recognition, he will know that the state he is looking for starts with the letter A and ends in A and has a S sound as well. Now, he has a slightly better chance of locating the continent than the first child.

On the other hand there may be another child who has learnt to read at a very young age through the whole word approach. Rather than searching frantically, the child can locate the continents in a jiffy and pay attention to the rest of the teacher’s lesson.

The importance of reading skills is also obvious in science. The hands-on nature of science often makes it a favourite subject of young children but for the complicated reading involved with it

The ability to follow and understand lab procedures correctly is important in science. If your child has solid reading skills, he will be able to successfully follow lab procedures. If she doesn’t, she is likely to be unsuccessful at completing science experiments. This will be both frustrating and disappointing for your child. It can even result in your child disliking science, because she sees it as a subject in which she can’t be successful.

Most parents fail to understand the role of reading in math. Poor reading skills can be a huge obstacle for students in math. Many a children fail in maths in spite of being stong in computation and concepts.

Most parents of young children relate math to numbers.That is never the case. Maths is all about problem solving. This aspect of math is nowadays being given a lot of emphasis right from the primary classes . Therefore, math now includes many story problems, that require reading skills.

A student with a strong math mind, but poor reading skills, can’t possibly do well in today’s math classes. reading skills is a prerequisite to do well in maths.

Less obviously, the importance of reading in socialization is seen in the self-esteem of your child. A child who goes to school every day, unable to read, will experience self-esteem problems. It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. If your child can’t read, but everyone else around him can, he will begin to see himself as less adequate.

Furthermore, a child who struggles with reading often develops a poor attitude about school – and understandably so. To illustrate this point, let’s pretend you had to go to a party where everyone speaks and reads only German. Let’s further assume you are supposed to make a speech as well. And, you need to try to make friends there, too. I am sure the next time you are invited for a similar party you would hesitate and have second thoughts. If your child can’t read, he feels this way, too.

The importance of reading skills for academic success and social acceptance is immense. To give your child the best chance of excelling in school, be sure to provide him with a strong reading foundation and to encourage reading at home.Start at a very young age, when I say young I really mean it AS EARLY AS ONE YEAR.

Mrs. Hamsapriya

Simple Tips - Classroom Management

2009-12-10T15:50:00.003+05:30

HOW TO CONTROL A CLASSROOM
You may feel it easier to shout at the class when they are out of control, but this method is not at all effective and is a short-term approach to get their attention.

Try these tips next time before you raise your voice -

Keep some signals with you. You can have a silence board, or clap your hand three times, put your hands up to show that you want them to be quiet.
Play some games to distract them from being noisy. You can tell them” if you finish quietly we can play a game” ; but make sure that you play the game once they finish.
You can always take them out and play an active game if you find them very restless in the class.
It is sometimes a good thing to ask them " who are the best children in this school?”. This will calm them down. Once they have calmed down you can say “I know, you are the best”
Praise the children often if they have been good. Say that you are proud of them and that they are learning a lot.

It is all in the way we present ourselves to the child; we raise our voice, children quieten down...again they shout, we raise our voice, children quieten down....slowly this becomes a pattern and children think that they ought to quieten down only when we raise our voice. BREAK this pattern, DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE...instead, employ ways suggested here consistently.

Motivating Students

2009-11-29T21:04:00.002+05:30

Some Practical Tips to Try:

Find out about your students' interests, experiences, hobbies, and career goals. As often as you can, relate the content to students' interests.

Use lots of examples, illustrations, anecdotes and stories.

Use humour.

Be a "real" person. Let students know some things about you.

Admit mistakes, lack of knowledge. Don't try to be THE authority. Instead, model where students can find the information. Knowing where to find the answers is just as important as to know the answers.

Talk less than your students do.

Encourage interaction among students. Use group work, encourage discussion, try brainstorming, role-playing, whatever you feel comfortable with. Try something NEW.
LISTEN.

Give positive feedback, verbally (praise) and non-verbally (make eye-contact, smile, nod).

Make sure that the level of teaching matches students' background, ability, and experience.

Check that the relevance of what you're doing is clear to the students.

Use as much VARIETY in your methods and materials as possible.

Be clear about what's going to happen. Use an agenda.

Encourage students to make decisions about their own learning -- give them CHOICES, act on their suggestions.

If possible, encourage students to have input into how they will be evaluated.
Ask students how the sessions could be made more interesting!

Engage students in their learning. Activity is much more motivating than passive listening or passive responses. The more students DO, the more they will LEARN.

Stubbornness

2009-07-14T10:21:00.002+05:30

HOW TO CORRECT IT IN CHILDREN
Stubbornness is sometimes considered to be a valuable trait in people. On its account a person drives towards his goal and does not give up easily, what ever be the task in hand. But in a growing child this trait when exhibited to his parents, results in conflict, unhappiness and a great deal of waste in energy. Such children are usually considered as non cooperative. This sort of a behavior arises when the parent tries to force the child against his will to do what the parent wants him to do.

It is interesting to note that stubbornness does not arise when you forbid something to the child. Yes, one must make sure that the child has learned that NO and DON’T really means just that. The parents themselves usually end up teaching the child how to be stubborn even before the child is four or five. Many parents who try hardest to prevent it do most to promote it.

There is just one simple principle to prevent stubbornness in a child and promote cooperation instead. “Pain tends to inhibit or prevent; pleasure to promote”. All animals, especially man , tend to do again and again what has brought pleasure and avoid repeating what has brought pain. So as a parent, therefore, make things pleasant when you want the child to do something your way; and painful only the few things you want him never to do again. Parents should limit the negative commands. Give positive suggestions instead.

For example if you want the child to arrange his books or sleep , you request the child to do so. Then you let the child choose and as a parent you will try to set the stage so he will. If you fail to win his cooperation, you have to accept it as it has been a request from you and not a command. By accepting his choice, you are respecting his decision. Always show great satisfaction over his cooperation, making it pleasant so he will be ready to cooperate the next time.
Once you start punishing the child for disobedience, you start connecting in his mind pain with a request. The more he thinks this way, the less he cooperates with your request.

Always remember -
Whether you command or request , be sure first that the request is simple in the beginning where you know, he would love to do that job.
If you are sure you should make a positive command (not to be confused with positive suggestions) and therefore administer punishment for failure to obey, punish him only IF HE DOES NOT OBEY…not UNTIL HE OBEYS.

Child and Concentration

2009-05-29T16:05:00.002+05:30

I am sure many of us want to know how to get our child to concentrate. We often hear parents complain ”my child does not keep his attention at a stretch on what he is supposed to be learning from books”.

WHAT CAN WE DO?
1. First we should have his vision and hearing checked by specialist and corrected. If corrections cannot be made, we need to take these problems into account

2. Find out through close cooperation with the school, if the child has any learning troubles and if so how to help him with this.

3. Find out if the child is a slow learner. If so, in which area and give him special attention in the same. The child may be more comfortable with home tutoring than being at school. Once he gets familiar and confident in his subjects, he will develop interest in them. Interest leads to success. He will try hardest when he succeeds most. Help him enjoy more successes and celebrate these successes with him

4. At home, as parents we can cultivate some good habits of concentration, which should carry over to school by paying strict attention when the child talks to us. We should also be careful as parents, to have the child’s undivided attention before uttering a request or a command. It is sometimes good to have him repeat the request or command immediately. Also train the child at home to do his regular chores promptly.

5. When your child is a baby provide him a serene atmosphere at home and establish routines with affection. Provide with proper playthings. Do not give too many playthings at a time, as he may start flitting from one toy to another. Encourage and direct your child in creative play, construction blocks and other things that he can make with his hands.

6. Avoid diverting him from a play or activity he is absorbed in. Encourage concentration and appreciate his achievements, even if he plays with the same toy continuously for hours or even days. Encourage your child to finish this undertaking. Try to keep him from beginning many such jobs which you are sure he won’t finish

7. Read to the young child daily from the time he starts looking at a book. It may be a story or a song that takes less that a minute. Allow them to play freely with the peer groups

PreMath

2009-05-26T09:48:00.003+05:30

Building Children's Math Skills
When children go to school, they get "formal" lessons in reading, writing, and arithmetic. But arithmetic, the adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing of numbers, is just one part of the greater use of math. Math is all about how numbers work.

Math helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Just as the brain is "pre-wired" to learn and use language, it is also a part of human nature to learn and use math concepts.

Children are adventurous. As they begin crawling and walking to explore, they handle objects, and notice the size of their toys. They start to form ideas about their environment, naturally. With these activities, children learn the basics of math.

They learn how to:
Group and sort ; Recognize numbers; Recognize shapes; Recognize patterns; Estimate/predict; Tell time; Addition and Subtraction concepts; Explore spaceAll of above are important "pre-math" skills. They are the basis for learning math in elementary school and beyond.

You use math throughout your day, so just share it and make it fun for children. More than likely you are already helping your child to learn pre-math concepts by the words you use and the activities you do with him. Child care providers and other such programs also use activities that foster math skills in children's daily routines.

PHONICS..

2009-02-02T17:42:00.004+05:30

What is Phonics?

Phonics is when a reader learns to use letter/sound relationships to form words and is able to recognize words when he sees them.

This approach to teaching reading and writing is based on hearing all the sounds of English. Each sound is related to a letter or group of letters.

Long before the baby can talk, he is interested in sounds and makes many of the basic ones. He hits on them by accident as he babbles. He may repeat the ones he likes and thus imitate himself before imitating the sounds others make.

And as the child develops some speech he is also interested in sounds various creatures make like bow wow, quack quack, etc. Even before speech develops he hears his mother sing lullabies and sing short songs to him. And this makes the child automatically interested in sounds

Phonics is the system of written letters and letter combinations, which represent the sounds in spoken language, e. g. the written letter, p, represents the sound at the beginning of pony. The written combination th represents the sound at the beginning of three.

Phonemes are the smallest units of spoken language. They are the sounds that form syllables and words. For example, there are three phonemes in mat.

Phonemes include sounds represented by letter combinations such as th. Keep in mind that phonemes are sounds.There are about 40 to 45 phonemes in English. Phonemic awareness helps lay a solid foundation for spelling and word recognition skills.

The goal is not phoneme mastery. The goal is phoneme awareness.

All work and no play makes....

2009-01-19T14:08:00.003+05:30

Why play games?
Playing is a child’s natural way of learning. A game has its own rules and interactions. This in itself is a mini social world in which children prepare themselves little by little to enter a society.’

Playing games is often associated with kids. Kids play various types of games, and these games include indoor as well as outdoor games. Kids have a fascination for games. While some of them like to stay indoors, a majority of the kids like to go out and have fun. Both, indoor and outdoor games have their own importance, and negligence of any might lead to an imbalance of health.

Through games and play, children learn to accept rules. They know what it is to play fair, to adjust, to accommodate, not to cheat, how to work with others and how to behave if they win or lose. Games also develop the child’s automatic use of a new language.

Games enhance the child’s gross motor and fine motor skill along with eye hand coordination. Games also create a sense of closeness within the class. Definitely introduction of concepts through games has given better results than traditional teaching methods.

Go Ahead, Play with your child - school or home.
www.milestoneschild.com

Obama-Biden's thought of early childhood education

2009-01-11T22:04:00.008+05:30

It is heartening to hear that Early Childhood Education is part of the Obama-Biden's plan in the field of education. Their "Zero to Five" plan aims to impart a stress free environment for the child and the parents. Early head start is a step towards igniting the young minds and nurturing their academic and aesthetic talents.The idea of training the children even before they enter kindergarten is a very forward thought and a possibility.

And we, at milestoneschild.com are making a sincere effort to change the way learning and teaching takes place between the child and the teacher. The need of the hour is to cross academic barriers and move ahead with the children.

As a tutor or a parent do you have the urge to make learning and teaching a stress free activity?

Being a Teacher ?!!?

2009-01-04T17:11:00.002+05:30

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A TEACHER?

Yes, it is a noble profession ! You are the makers of the next generation!

But, is it as good as being an engineer, a doctor, or an architect. Yes, definitely, it is not only good; it is better than all other professions. Consider the raw materials the other people use to create something.

An engineer uses computers and other instruments to create something useful for mankind.
A doctor uses his prowess and skill to cure illnesses in the humans.
An architect adds aesthetics to the dwellings and serves the artistic thirst of the mankind.

Teachers, you stimulate the supercomputer, the brain of the child and create a human being itself.

Welcome to MilestonesChild.com blog

2008-12-31T09:57:00.000+05:30

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