There are so many times throughout the day that math can be taught or reviewed. Many of these math skills can be brought up while in the car. Talking about speed, which car is going faster or slower on the road. Discussing the digital time in the car as well as the track number playing on a CD helps with reviewing time and numbers. The different shapes of the street signs help with teaching and reviewing geometry. Another way to incorporate math could be in the kitchen. Time can be reviewed with how long something needs to cook for. Measurement is reviewed with measuring the ingredients and also discussing temperature. Telephone numbers and addresses help children to practice their numbers and to learn their phone number and where they live. These are just a few examples of how math can be incorporated into your child’s day.
Archive for the ‘LifeSpan’ Category
Ways to Incorporate Math throughout the Day
Thursday, June 27th, 2013Selecting Kid Friendly Sunscreen
Thursday, June 6th, 2013The summer weather is definitely here with full force! We have certainly been spending longer hours outdoors here at LifeSpan! Whether you are at the pool or the park, a child’s tender skin is often more susceptible to burn than an adult’s skin. With so many products on the market, it can be confusing and intimidating to decide which product will work best on your child. Last summer the FDA changed some of the required wording on sunscreen labels to make it easier for consumers to pick products that meet their needs. A good rule of thumb would be to look for a sunscreen that says broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Sunscreens will no longer say “water-proof”, they must say “water-resistant”. Also, sunscreen should now be applied every 2 hours as a general rule regardless of activity. There are plenty of “kid-friendly” sunscreens on the market. You can check out the list and ready more about sunscreens and children at http://pediatrics.about.com/od/sunscreen/a/best_sunscreen.htm?p=1
How Does Dramatic Play Help with Literacy?
Wednesday, May 29th, 2013Dramatic play is usually a lot of fun for children. A lot of children enjoy pretending to be a waitress or a waiter, a teacher, a fire fighter, a Dr., etc. Dramatic play helps the children to interact with other children, use their imagination, and it also helps with reading and writing. Sometimes the children do not even realize they are practicing their reading and writing. For instance, when a child is pretending to be a waiter or a waitress, they are practicing to read the menu or write down what someone is ordering. When a child is pretending to be a teacher, they may practice reading to their class. When a child is pretending to write for a newspaper, they are writing stories that they are pretending will be published in the newspaper or into a book. Another child may be in charge of editing their writing for the newspaper or book. These are fun, creative ways for children to continue practicing their reading and writing.
This information as well as more great information can be found at:
Organized sports can help children develop in a variety of ways
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013Organized sports can help children develop in a variety of ways. Sports provide children an opportunity to learn physical skills (Fine and Gross Motor) and develop the social aspects of being part of a “team.” Sports do not just work the body but also increases cognitive development in children when they are actively engaged in physical activity. Not only do sports provide fun opportunities for children it also promotes a healthy regiment of regular exercise.
There are a great deal of sports programs designed for young children but it is not until about age 6 that most children develop appropriate skill sets and attention span necessary to follow directions and understand the aspects of the game.
This does not mean children cannot engage in sports before the age of 6. Sports can be enjoyable for children from the ages of 3-5 but this experience should be more about fun and learning the basic fundamentals of the game.
If you do decide to sign your child for sports please make sure the league emphasizes the aspects of sportsmanship, safety and fun. If a child is having a great time playing the sport he/she will have success and want to continue. When harsh competitive rules are introduced at a young age the fun is removed and children lose interest fast. This is why at such a young age the most important fundamental of the introduction of sports is FUN!
Ways to Help the Environment Throughout the Year
Monday, April 29th, 2013Earth Day was on Monday, April 22nd and it is a day to support protecting our environment. On this day, there are many events that take place worldwide. It is so important to remember that not only on Earth day, but throughout the whole year that there are great things for you and your child to do in order to help our planet Earth. The children can learn about and help with the three R’s- reduce, reuse, and recycle. Another fun activity to do with your child is plant flowers, trees, and start a vegetable garden. If you would be traveling somewhere close, then walking, running, or riding a bike with your child will help the environment. Spending time picking up litter that is on the ground or in the ocean will help the environment as well as help protect the animals. It is so important to remember that even just the smallest action can help the environment as well as the animals living in the environment. The website below has fun games for kids from Earth Day.
Glue Ear Can Mimic Dyslexia
Wednesday, April 10th, 2013Glue Ear:
What is ‘glue ear’? This is a common condition in childhood. The tube can become obstructed by adenoids at the back of the nose, the air cannot enter the middle ear, and the cavity fills with fluid. The eardrum becomes dark looking. As time goes on the fluid becomes thicker until it has the consistency of thick glue. Often the only sign is deafness and children’s schooling may suffer and behavior may deteriorate.
Dyslexia:
Dyslexia is typically characterized by ‘an unusual balance of skills’. Dyslexia is a syndrome: a collection of associated characteristics that vary in degree and from person to person. These characteristics encompass not only distinctive clusters of problems but sometimes also distinctive talents. The syndrome of dyslexia is now widely recognized as being a specific learning disability of neurological origin that does not imply low intelligence or poor educational potential, and which is independent of race and social background. Dyslexia may overlap with related conditions such as dyspraxia, attention deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity) and dysphasia. In childhood, its effects can be mis-attributed to emotional or behavioral disorder. By adulthood, many dyslexics will have developed sophisticated compensating strategies that may mask their difficulties. (more…)
Did You Know the Benefits of Water Play for Children?
Monday, March 25th, 2013A lot of children enjoy water play, especially outside during the warmer months of the year! There are so many great benefits from water play. Water play helps a child with gross motor skills. During water play, the children may be running through sprinklers or filling buckets up with water and pouring the water out. Water play also helps with academic learning as well. As far as science, the children are able to learn about floating and sinking and seeing that different objects can sink and float. In math, children are able to learn about measuring a certain amount of water into a bucket, more and less by filling one bucket with more water and one bucket with less water. Water play also encourages creativity. The children are able to pretend and use their imagination, while playing with the water. Water play is a lot of fun and has so many wonderful developmental benefits for your child! I found this information as well as more information and more benefits of water play can be found at the following website:
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=374
March 2013 is Sing With Your Child Month!
Friday, March 8th, 2013Music Together is a wonderful group of teachers who have put together a program of immersion and cooperation in early musical education. From active dramatic play to musical experience and sing along, their program has educated parents, children, and teachers, about the importance of musical education in young minds. This March, they have announced their 25th anniversary! In doing so they are claiming March 2013 as “Sing with your Child month.” There website has links to wonderful activities and tools to assist you in joining in this wonderful celebration at home. This is a program based out of Princeton, NJ but it is internationally recognized for their wonderful work in this field. I highly recommend you check out their website; www.musictogether.com/singmonth for links to fun activities. (more…)
How to Help Your Child Learn to Ride a Bike
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013Spring is on its way and it is a good time to think about what age is a good age to learn to ride a bike, and how to help your child learn to ride a bike. I can remember back to my childhood and loving to ride my bike, which I still have a love for today! I can also remember the day that I learned to ride my bike without training wheels. My best friend rode her bike without training wheels to my house with her mom, and then I was determined to learn as well. My dad held onto the bike with me and guided me until I was able to balance and ride my bike all by myself! (more…)
Technology….Do the benefits outweigh the problems?
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013The short answer is YES! For a child, technology plays may roles: teacher, babysitter, playmate, and pacifier. Toddler/preschooler is the most popular age category in the education section in the iTunes app store. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long recommended that children under age 2 not be exposed to screen time at all. Parents of the world have not heard that advice: 90% of parents with children under age 2 let their children use electronic media. In fact, the AAP is continually reassessing their stance: “We now have to reconcile the fact that little kids (under age 2) are able to use these devices and learn from them” says Gwenn O’Keefe, MD, . (more…)
