Cell phones are no longer something only the rich kids have at school. These days, kids without cell phones are the exception. Especially once you hit the middle school years. A recent study shows that more than 75 percent of kids aged 12 to 17 have their own cell phone. Trust me, there are Pros and Cons of Kids Having Phones. You, as the parent, have the duty to decide if your child will have a phone. There are some pros and cons to this discussion and we will touch on a few of those here. Here are several of the pros that I have found while researching whether or not a child should have a cell phone. Safety There is no denying the safety and security that having a cell phone offers. If there were to be an emergency, it makes it easier for your children to contact police or emergency services (as well as you). In addition, if a family emergency were to occur, or if your child were to become ill, you have a way to contact one … [Read more...]
Laser Pegs Educational Series
Disclosure: We were provided a free set of the Laser Pegs Educational Series for purposes of review and to leave with a kindergarten class. All thoughts and observations are entirely our own. We have talked about Laser Pegs on my Mom's Site (HERE), and this is a similar product. The battery-loaded base is still a storage case and interchangeable with other sets, but the "blocks" are larger for smaller hands. 39 games. That is what the box said and we checked it out when I took the set into the Kindergarten class that I work with. Everything from basic checkers to tic-tac-toe is playable and for the really adventurous, you can even practice words for spelling bees! I explained this to the class and then, shut off the lights so they could see the "laser" part of it. THAT really tripped their triggers! After I explained it to the class, we split into small groups and they took turns playing with the set. They made towers, checked out shapes, spelled words, classified … [Read more...]
Why You Should Travel With Your Home-schooled Child
There are so many advantages to homeschooling your children but my favorite perk would probably have to be the fact that because you are homeschooling them, they don't need to be in one spot at all time. Why You Should Travel With Your Home-schooled Child? This opens up opportunities beyond belief. I personally believe that you should take advantage of this and see the world. I think that every person in the world should have the opportunity to see new places and learn about the rest of the world, and I personally believe that seeing all of these sights as you are in school and learning about these things is the best time to do so! Today I will be sharing with you a few reasons that traveling with your home schooled children can really benefit them. Now, before y'all say anything - I know. Miss Sarah goes to public school. I am a firm believer that PARENTS are in charge of their child's education and we PARTNER with their teachers/schools. Traveling can be fun AND educational, … [Read more...]
Benefits of Reading To Your Children Before Bed
Edit Post Preview(opens in a new tab)Benefits of Reading To Your Children Before Bed When it comes to putting your kiddos to bed, we all sort of have our own unique routine. Some just simply lay our children in bed, turn out the lights and that's that. Some sit there and tell a story, some read a book to their children. This is what I am going to be talking about today. I am going to be sharing with all of you a few things that show benefits for your children. Now, I'm not saying it is mandatory or that it is wrong if you do not read to your children at night. I just want to share some new experiences with you that maybe you haven't thought to do and show you how this could be beneficial for you and your child! Benefits of Reading To Your Children Before Bed 1. Enhances Vocabulary and Speech: Children learn by example! If you read to them before bed every night it will encourage them to speak better and understand things better. Reading … [Read more...]
5 Homeschool Curriculum Options to Choose From
Homeschooling your kids can be a very daunting task. You have to choose a curriculum, pick up supplies, lesson plan and more. It’s quite easy to get lost while doing everything. When it comes to choosing a curriculum, there are literally hundreds that you can choose from. Each one offers different styles of learning and different topics. Some are religiously based, others not so much. These 5 homeschool curriculum options to choose from are usually considered homeschool favorites. Take a look and do your research to see which one is the best fit for your family. 5 Homeschool Curriculum Options to Choose From Abeka – Abeka is known as one of the best homeschool curriculums by far. They are very heavy on religion though so keep that in mind. Abeka usually starts their kids at age 2. One thing about the Abeka homeschool curriculum is that it is very drill based. You can choose homeschool with no guidance or their guided dvd program. Easy Peasy Homeschool – If you’re looking for … [Read more...]
Do I Really Have to Read Aloud with My Child?
Have you ever wondered: Do I Really Have to Read Aloud with My Child? Are you concerned that you are going to come across as "one of those" parents if you read to your children early? Or do you dread when your kindergartner is sent home with a new book nightly to be read aloud? Maybe you can feel the boredom or criticism from your older kids as you read to them. Instead of dwelling on these fears and bad feelings, move past them! Reading to your children has so many positive benefits. Experts speculate that illiteracy could be greatly reduced and possibly even eliminated, if parents would read three or more stories a day to their children. Children who are read to tend to be early, proficient readers themselves. They also tend to have a better grasp on language skills overall. Studies have shown that kids do not learn as well from videos as they do from a live, personal interaction, even if the videos and person are teaching the same things. With so much technology available to … [Read more...]
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