More Benefits from Physical Activity

The benefits of physical activity have been extensively discussed. We know that it promotes health and fitness, prevent illnesses and supports positive attitude. While being physically active is important at any age, it’s especially significant for children. Now we have additional evidence of its benefits: it promotes academic achievement. In a study recently published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, researchers have established the links between children who routinely engage in physical activities and their success in the classroom. While more studies are suggested to identify how one influences the other, we can safely assume that increasing children’s play time at home and in school –away from video games and other sedentary activities- would promote better health and school success.

You can find additional information about this report in Education Week.

MommyMaestra’s Favorite Holiday Books For Children

Monica Olivera (Mamiverse) shares this interesting list for our young readers.

MommyMaestra’s Favorite Holiday Books For Children

Preschool signs and symptoms of a LD

Are you concerned that your child might have a learning disability? Learn about the signs in this article on Great Schools:

Preschool signs and symptoms of an LD

Encourage your child to read!

Often kids associate reading as a part of school’s assignment and think of it as a task rather than an enjoyable activity they can do just for pleasure. As a parent you can help your child to see and appreciate reading from a different perspective. First of all, don’t use it as a punishment. Sometimes, parents assign reading as a consequence for something the child had not done or hasn’t done it right. That doesn’t contribute to see reading as a pleasant activity; instead, it sends children the wrong message that if they don’t behave they will be ask to read.  Second, find what interest your child. All children have different interests. Some are interested in sports, while others in animals, astronomy, insects, etc. The good news is that there are books for every topic: fiction and nonfiction books in every area that your child might be curious about. Third, use your child’s natural curiosity to foster his interest in reading. Instead of just providing an answer to a question, show him how to use books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and internet resources to find answers to his own questions.

Rather than spending lots of money in buying different kinds of books, take your child to the library and get him a library card. Make a habit to go to the library, every other week (if possible) and check out different kind of books for him to read on his own and/or with your help. Some libraries even offer the same version of the books in more than one language. I often encourage my Latino parents to check the books in both English and Spanish and take turn with their children reading both versions.

Remember that the objective of reading is to comprehend what is in the text. To promote reading comprehension ask and show your child how to use his imagination to visualize (make a picture in his mind) about what he is reading. As he reads, ask him to predict (tell what will happen next) later in the story. Then check if his predictions were right. Many stories offer parents the opportunity to tap into real life situations, thus ask your child about his own opinions: what could this character have done different, what would you do?

Set a time, as often as you can, to read to your child, to read with your child, and to listen to your child read to you. It’s also important that your child “sees” you reading: letters, newspaper, magazines, books, internet articles, etc. Use these opportunities to talk to your child why it’s important to read: be informed, learn about something, pleasure, and so forth.

Happy Reading!

Helping with Homework

Homework is an opportunity for children to review what they have learned in class, and for families to be involved in their children's education. In the early grades, homework help children to develop good study habits and positive attitudes toward education; in the upper elementary grades and beyond homework supports school achievement. In fact, several studies have shown that students who complete homework regularly score better on standardized tests and earn better grades.

As a parent, you can help your children with their homework assignments by showing them that you care about it. Children need to know that their family members think homework is important. If they know their families care, children have a good reason to complete assignments and to turn them in on time. Some of the things, you can do to show your children that you value education and homework are:

1.      Set a Regular Time

Having a regular time to do the homework helps children to complete assignments. The best schedule is one that works for your child and your family. Of course, it also depends on your child's age, grade level, and his/her specific needs. Your child's outside activities, such as sports or dance/ music lessons, may mean that you need a flexible homework schedule. Your child may study after school on some days and after dinner on others. If there isn't enough time to finish homework, your child may need to drop some outside activity. Let her know that homework is a high priority.

You might need to develop a schedule for all the activities your child needs to accomplish during the week. You may find it helpful to write out this schedule and put it in a place where you'll see it often, for example: the refrigerator door.

2.      Set a Place

Your child's homework area doesn't have to be fancy. A desk in the bedroom is nice, but for many children, the kitchen table or a corner of the living room works just fine. The area should be well lit and fairly quiet.

Your child may enjoy decorating a special area for homework; you can provide a container to hold pencils and add some favorite artwork taped to the walls to make homework time more pleasant.

3.      Provide Basic Supplies 

Have available pencils, pens, erasers, writing paper and a dictionary. Other supplies that might be helpful include a stapler, paper clips, maps, a calculator, a pencil sharpener, tape, glue, construction paper, old magazines, scissors, a ruler, index cards, a thesaurus and an almanac. If possible, keep these items together in one place (for example, a shoe box works just fine.) If you can't provide your child with needed supplies, ask his/her teacher if the school could offer you some assistance.

4.      Remove Distractions

Turn off the TV and discourage your child from making and receiving social telephone calls during homework time, (however an occasional call to a classmate about an assignment could be allowed.) Some children work well with quiet background music, but loud noise from the CD player, radio or TV is not appropriate. If you live in a small or noisy household, try having all family members take part in a quiet activity during homework time.

5.      Set a Good Example

Show your child that the skills he/she is learning are an important part an adult's life. Let him see you reading books, newspapers, news on the internet, writing letters, e-mails and shopping lists; using math to balance your checkbook or to measure for cooking, or for buying new household materials. Share with your child what you do at work, and how you use reading and math skills in your daily activities. 

Help your children to use everyday routines to support the skills they are learning in school; for instance, play  word and math games; help him to look up information about things/people they are interested in:  performers, athletes, animals, cars, sports, space travel, etc. While walking from school, to the store, to the park, etc, ask her questions about what she sees and hears. 

6.      Be Interested and Interesting

Make time to take your child to the library to check out materials needed for homework (and for enjoyment) and read with your child as often as you can. Talk about school and learning activities in family conversations. Ask your child what was discussed in class during the day. 

Participate in school activities, such as parent-teacher conferences, plays, concerts, open houses and celebrations. If your schedule allows it, volunteer to help in your child's classroom or at special events. Getting to know some of your child's classmates and their parents builds a support network for you and your child. It also shows your child that home and school are a team!

·         Source: US Department of Education

·          For more information visit: http://ed.gov/parents/academic/help/homework/homework.pdf