Too Many Toys?

Kids learn through play, and toys are often thought of as tools of play. It's possible that this notion could lead us to believe that the more toys we provide, the better. But I don't think that is necessarily true.



First of all, toys aren't the only tool that kids have to learn. In fact, some of the most meaningful learning experiences might happen without any traditional toys, such as growing something in a garden, cooking with a parent, or just simply interacting with parents or peers in imaginative play. I came across this article that discusses how having fewer toys can benefit your child.

Just something to think about!

Reading Dads

Love this article about the influence that fathers can have on their children's reading experiences.

I have great memories of reading with both of my parents. I think the fact that they loved to read and read with me definitely influenced my own desire to read, and subsequent love of reading.

There's a fun story we like to tell in my family about my dad's reading habits. He would often get so caught up in a book that he would lose all track of time or whatever was going on around him. (Do you know the feeling?) One night he went shopping at K-Mart and bought a new book. Apparently he was so interested in this book that he started reading it in the parking lot, and kept reading until about 3 in the morning! We love to tease him about that, but then I've also had experiences where I forgo sleep because I can't put a book down- I'm just usually in my bedroom. That's the kind of reading love I'd like to foster in my students and children someday. Granted, I don't want them reading in parking lots, but I'd love for them to experience the joy of being caught up in the world of words. Thanks to both of my parents for helping me to find that love!

Happy (late) Father's Day to all the wonderful father figures out there. Although we tend to focus a lot on mothers, never forget that you play an equally significant role in the lives of your children!

Distracted by Technology?

Technology is great, but there could be some dangers in letting those things distract us from what is most important. There could also be some dangers in allowing kids to be too absorbed with all things technology. Regardless of the advantages and necessity of technology these days, the fact remains that kids still need real interactions with people and materials to develop their brain capacity, as well as social and emotional skills.

Check out this article about one piece of technology that is distracting people (and parents) everywhere: the Smartphone. Now, I'm not saying Smartphones are all bad- I happen to own one...and I do love it. It adds a lot of convenience to my life. But, I am also guilty of letting it become too much of a distraction at times. This was a good reminder that playing on Smartphones instead of paying attention to our families might be causing harm in ways we never intended.

Playful Learning Resource

I recently stumbled across this website that promotes creating playful learning experiences and spaces for children. There is a link for learning experiences that has different ideas for areas such as math, literacy, science, etc. I only had time to look at a few, but here are some ideas that I loved: alphabet pebble magnets, leaf family, and everybody needs a rock.

There is also a link for resources that contains a plethora of websites for different subject areas. This website looks like an excellent resource for both parents and teachers! I will add it to the learning resources section for future reference.

Summer Learning Fun: Read!

In my opinion, one of the easiest and most beneficial things that you can do always, but especially in the summer,  is just simply to read! Whether your child is a toddler or capable of reading on their own, reading can and should be a daily activity. I think literacy skills affect all other areas of learning, so why not make reading a priority?

The simple act of reading can help support literacy development. But here are some very general tips and guidelines for some simple things you can do along side reading.

For pre-readers (usually ages 0-4):
*Talk about the pictures and the story. Don't be afraid to ask them questions and let them talk as well.
*Point out words and letters, and emphasize different aspects of print such as looking at the cover, starting at the beginning and turning pages, tracking the words from left to right, etc.
*As often as possible, link words to their pictures to help build vocabulary knowledge.
*Try to find books that engage their interest and can build upon their current knowledge and life experiences.
*As children move from infancy to the preschool years, encourage them to "read" the books to you, by telling their own story using the pictures.

For early readers (Kindergarteners & First Graders):
Read out loud to them
*This is a great time to model how to read and practice the strategies they have learned. For example, you can pretend to get stuck on a word, and let them help you figure it out using those strategies.
*You can select books that they can comprehend and enjoy, but are above their own reading level.
*Build their comprehension skills by talking with them before, during, and after you read the story.
*Discuss elements of the story such as plot, characters, and setting by asking questions and having them make predictions about what will happen.
*Emphasize new vocabulary words or concepts.
Have them read out loud to you:
*Try to find books that are on their reading level. (A good rule of thumb to follow is that if they turn to a random page and get stuck on five or more words, it is probably too hard.) You might ask for suggestions from their current teacher or a librarian about books or readers that would be appropriate for their level.
*Encourage them to read as much as they can without your help, but not to the point where they get frustrated. Helping them to use strategies when they get stuck on a word is usually better than just telling them what the word is.
*As they progress, let them try reading silently to themselves as well as out loud. Just make sure to still talk with them about what they read to encourage good comprehension.

For developing readers (Second & Third Graders) Generally the same principles as before, just at a higher level.
Read out loud to them
*Model fluent and expressive reading, and build comprehension skills using the same ideas listed above.
*This can be a fun age to select chapter books or series that are engaging, but may be a bit too hard for them to read on their own.

Have them read independently
*Both through reading out loud and silently on their own
*It is still appropriate to give guidance and help with reading strategies where needed, but encourage their independence as much as possible.
*It is always a good idea to talk with them about what they are reading. Encourage them to summarize events of the story, to describe the setting and characters in greater detail, and to think critically about the plot and the writing style.

Don't be afraid to use a wide variety of books: picture books, poetry books, informational (non-fiction) books, chapter books, etc. It's also great to let them re-read books if they really like them. Re-reading can be beneficial for improving fluency skills.

Well, these are just a few things that you can do during reading time. So whether it's 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or hours on end---take the time. It will definitely be time well spent. I will surely be posting much more about other ways to promote literacy, as well as some fun ideas for enriching reading experiences. If you haven't noticed already, I'm a huge advocate for facilitating literacy skills. That is because literacy is linked to success not only in school, but in life!

And I'm not the only one...Check out this article from KSL's Book Matters Column  and UEN's Summer Reading Site for some more tips on how to promote reading this summer.

Ages and Stages

Here is a general resource for looking at the developmental stages that young children go through as they grow. Scholastic.com has developed these charts that outline the timeline of developmental progress usually made at different ages. There are charts that show the development of motor skills, play, creative thinking, cognitive skills, math, literacy and more. However, I think it's important to remember that not all children develop at the same rate, and there can always be exceptions to these guidelines, especially in the first years of life.

It's absolutely important for parents, caretakers and teachers to understand where their kids are at developmentally, as well as where they should be that, so that they can help facilitate healthy growth and development with appropriate activities. But we need to be careful not to assume that just because children are a certain age, that they are in a particular stage of development.

Every child is an individual- a unique, amazing human being. We need to get to know them and their development on an individual basis.

General charts and guidelines can be helpful in guiding our interactions with young children, and determining if there is significant developmental delay. Just don't forget that age is not the only indicator of development. When examining our instructional approaches and interactions, we need to consider the whole child: their experiences, their abilities, and their current stage of development- even if that stage is different than what's expected for their age.