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The Many Benefits of the Outdoor Wooden Playhouse

- Monday, 2 November 2015 No Comments

As parents the wooden playhouse may not be top of thoughts when it comes to life in general and keeping out kids happy more specifically. That is a real shame because the playhouse can offer us as parents a solution to a lot of our problems. With kids becoming more and more interested in sitting on their bottoms while playing the latest computer games getting outside is once again becoming the new fashion as parents the country over attempt to get their child moving.

When the wooden playhouse comes in is it offers a number of benefits that other games like computer games don't offer. Below is a few of the main reasons to get a playhouse for your garden.

Great for increasing activity levels

With obesity being another topic us parents worry about it is important to get kids out in the fresh air where they can run around and generally be active. What is particularly great about the playhouse is that it offers children a chance to play increasing their activity levels without even realising it. They are busy having so much fun that they just don't see it as exercise; no matter what age you are this is always going to be a good thing.

Entertain kids for hours

The playhouse no matter how simple it is can help keep a child occupied for hours especially when they get their imaginations going. The playhouse can turn into almost anything keeping a kid engaged for as long as you need them to be. Today's castle is tomorrows space ship for a child so you can be sure it will never lose its appeal.

Helps stimulate their imaginations

Moving on slightly from the last benefit the key to keeping them interested for hours is their imagination. This is something that like anything else will grow the more they use it so giving them an outdoor playhouse to play with will help develop it and thus keep them occupied for hours.

Helps tire kids out by bedtime

Following on from the previous benefit once the playing day is done the kids are tired and much easier to get to bed and most importantly to sleep. It can even help keep them asleep the following morning for those extra few minutes that turn a crazy early day into a just about manageably early day. All this is because they spent so much time playing the day before.

It is a great investment

The playhouse while originally costing you a few hundred pounds depending on what you buy shouldn't be seen as money you will never see again but rather as an investment that could actually help you save money in the long run. Summer holidays for example can now be spent in the garden rather than trying to find expensive days out for the whole family. This will quickly allow you to claw back the money you spent on the playhouse while still allowing your children to have a great time.

So you can see very quickly and very easily that the wooden playhouse allows you to keep your kids fit with a good imagination as well as helping you to get them to sleep and helping you save money in the long run. It really is a toy that has no down sides. Get one today and enjoy the benefits for years to come.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9210242

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Is Tutoring Beneficial or Harmful to Your Child's Education?

- Sunday, 1 November 2015 No Comments

In the recent years, parents have used tutoring as a means of educating their children. A research conducted by Eduventures - an educational firm-revealed that in 2005 parents spent $3.75 billion on tutors.

Tutoring may not be popular among some people. The motivation to find a tutor may not be wise especially since it costs money. This is one of the reasons why the tendency to tutor has come under a lot of criticism However, we cannot deny the fact that tutoring can a source of enrichment to the educational life of their kids. Some parents also enroll their kids in the tutoring classes as they feel that the kids may have not had enough learning during the allocated school time.

Responsibilities of a tutor

Tutors have various responsibilities and obligations, both to the children and the parents. Tutors are required to have the best interest of the children at heart. Bad news is that some tutors are only after monetary gain and this is why it is necessary to find a tutor who has the right interest of the kid at heart. Tutoring becomes a challenge because they are no clear guidelines or standard way of doing things.

Unlike teachers, educationists or trained child therapist who are professionally trained and they clearly understand their responsibilities.

It is prudent to understand that tutors work independently from teachers. Therefore, they should not exploit the anxiety that parents will most likely suffer from. It is the role of tutors to show the psychological and intellectual effects of tutoring of the children to independent parties namely the teacher and parents.

Right and wrong reasons for tutoring

Here are some basic reasons why parents may seek tutors for their children

The desire for them to excel

Some parents may have the feeling that their kids are not performing as expected. They can do better if the services of a tutor are sought.

Some students have organizational difficulties

Some kids may have difficulties in their organizational skills. They need the help of an independent party to help them improve on such skills.

Some students have the desire to perform exemplary in standardized examinations

Standardized tests like ACT and SAT have been given importance in the education sector. It is crucial for kids in school to pass this kind of tests as it will determine their educational future.

However, this may not be reason enough to support tutoring. Some children may not meet the expectations of the parents regardless of how many tutors are hired. There are many cases whereby parents have spent a lot of money on tutors only for the child not to join an elite high school or university. And for the few that will make it, they may not meet the expectations of those institutions during their schooling period.

In conclusion, the decision to tutor or not lies with the parents and the children. Some children may still perform well academically without tutoring. You can use tutor finder to get a tutor in your location.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9205733

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Teach Children Environmental Education Through Fantasy and Adventure

- Thursday, 29 October 2015 No Comments

As awareness is raised in the area of green living and organic gardening, many are realizing the importance of caring for the earth around us. In addition, it has become completely apparent that it is impossible to think that a handful of people can reverse centuries of neglect and abuse of our planet. One major goal of our society today should be to provide quality education to children and stress the importance of continuing this green living priority in the next generation.

As a parent, it can be difficult to find ways to introduce these environmental topics to youth in everyday life. Even with the vast resources of the Internet and print media, getting children to actively participate and want to engage themselves in matters relating to saving the planet can be a challenge. While setting an example for kids to follow is a key component to environmental education, introducing literature that uses fantasy characters to teach the same lessons will give your children added exposure. In addition, many teachers and parents have found that young adults will be much more passionate about topics that they associate with a lovable character or with a favorite story.

Because of this, there has been a rise of recent print and e-book releases specifically written in a way that connects young readers to Mother Nature. The authors of these stories use their literary gifts to hold the attention of young adult readers as well as capture the hearts of children. By incorporating characters and elements such as talking flowers and by giving emotion to the whimsy inhabitants of forests, gardens, and other natural habitats, they teach children a valuable lesson on caring for plants, the environment, and for our Earth in general.

The target audience for many of these stories are children ages 6-12. This truly reaches youth at an age that many other initiatives of the past seemed to miss. This is also said to be a critical time in life for instilling a solid foundation of good habits and practices in kids. Whether read aloud to a young reader or read alone by those more advanced, parents and children alike will love the way that fantasy and adventure are entwined so eloquently in these stories.

Environmental protection is our responsibility and we must take it seriously. By educating ourselves, our neighbors, and our children about its importance, we are taking a huge step to sustaining our planet and making a difference for the future.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7340266

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The First Step To Success Is Schooling - Choosing The Best School For Your Kid

- Sunday, 25 October 2015 No Comments

In Dubai school education is categorized under state board. Choosing the appropriate board depends upon a few criteria. In case you have a transferable job its better to choose the central board, as its uniform across the country. But, if you are planning to broaden the education horizons for your child and send him/ her overseas for higher studies.

Approach

A school which takes the holistic approach is always better than a school that concentrates only on academics. All round development of the child includes emotional development, social development, cognitive development and more. Every child is unique and a school that recognizes the individual worth of a child and fosters it, is by far a school to reckon.

Infrastructure

These days, schools are growing in leaps and bounds. Every other day you see a schooling popping up from nowhere and housed in small setups due to lack of space. When deciding upon your child's school, do check out the infrastructure of the school by personally visiting the school. Children need adequate space for learning as well as extra curricular activities. Check out for a wide spread campus, spacious and well equipped classrooms, laboratories, music, art and sports facilities as well as medical and food facilities thoroughly.

Security

Considering the heinous incidents against children in the recent years in India and Bangalore as well, one of the vital criteria remains safety and security of your child. These days, schools are equipped with CCTV cameras in and around the campus and have security personals as well. But, you need to confirm from the school authorities about safety and security standards and measures followed by them. Also, talk to people with kids studying in the school, track the past records and find out the security and safety information about he school. At the end, security is priority, so even if the schools has all the facilities but lacks in safety and security, it's not worth opting for.

Location

Always go for a school that is nearby your home or office. So that commuting issues don't arise and you are able to give your child adequate time by saving on the commuting time. A school next door also means also means less hassles and less worries. If both of you are working, a school with day care facility is always a better idea.

Budget is also one of the major deciding factors but if it ain't a problem, then these points would surely help you out on deciding upon an appropriate school for your child.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9197372

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Early School Start Times Jeopardize Kids' Well-Being and Academic Performance

- Monday, 5 October 2015 No Comments

Those yellow school buses are rolling again, and, in many cases, that translates into many parents having to drag their older kids out of bed-sometimes long before the sun has had a chance to rise. The reason: early school start times, coupled with the fact that most teens can't readily fall asleep until around 11 p.m. That then means that to get their minimum required 8.5 to 9.5 hours of zzz's, they need to sleep in until at least 7:30 in the morning.

As the National Sleep Foundation explains, "Our internal circadian biological clocks... regulate the timing of sleepiness and wakefulness throughout the day." Accordingly, teens can't help staying up late at night, so early wake-up calls are tough.

Specifically, "the biological wake time" for 10-year-olds is about 6:30, so their school day should start between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. However, by 16, kids don't naturally awaken until around 8:00, so high schools shouldn't hold classes until 10:00 or even 10:30 a.m. Moreover, since 18-year-olds generally don't stir until around 9 o'clock, they shouldn't begin until 11 or 11:30 in the morning.

Oh, if only...

Take Pennsylvania's prestigious Lower Merion School District, for example. While its elementary schools get it right by having youngsters arrive at 9, its middle schoolers get going at 8:30 every morning, while the high schoolers are already in first period at 7:30 a.m.!

And, since the sun doesn't rise around here in September until 6:28 a.m., loads of sleepy kids are standing at their bus stops in the dark.

Meanwhile, Lower Merion is fairly typical. When the CDC looked at nearly 40,000 public middle and high schools or combined schools, it found that:

• The average start time was 8:03 a.m.
• 42 states reported that 75% to 100% of their public schools started before 8:30 a.m.
• Louisiana had the earliest start time: 7:40 a.m.
• Alabama had the latest start time: 8:33 a.m.

Concerned, the CDC is now, for the first time ever, taking a stand and advocating for later start times. This comes on top of the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation last year that middle and high schools delay their start times until 8:30 or later. "Doing so," says the Academy, "will align school schedules to the biological sleep patterns of adolescents whose sleep-wake cycles begin to shift up to two hours later at the start of puberty."

Both organizations say that not enough sleep comes with many risks, including:

• Higher obesity rates
• Depression
• Car crashes
• Lower quality of life

And, as if that's not enough, adds William Perkins-Taft, the academic dean at Oakwood Secondary School, "We know if you miss an extra hour of sleep as a teenager, it's like drinking a shot of alcohol. And if you have a campus filled with kids who are doing that-well, it's clearly not the most conducive environment for learning."

Stunning, no?

To be sure, none of this is hot-off-the-presses news; it's actually been on the back burners for a while. Now, though, more influential groups are making their voices heard and none too soon, since research is proving that not enough shut eye also diminishes academic performance.

For instance, studies at the University of Oxford, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Nevada, Reno, determined that forcing students to get up too early in their circadian cycle, schools are, thereby, causing "severe and chronic sleep loss." The result: "Poor communication, decreased concentration and cognitive performance, unintended sleeps, decreased motor performance, increased risk-taking, and changes in mood patterns, specifically depression."

Nevertheless, and although in the company of yawning, inattentive students every day, many educators like things just the way they are. For instance, when about 6,000 Montgomery County, Maryland teachers were surveyed, 63% opposed changing bell times. Moreover, more than 50% of them were against starting even just 20 minutes later.

They have their reasons, as do many others, such as:

1. Getting older kids home before their younger siblings arrive.
2. Savings derived from staggering start times at the three levels, thus reusing the same buses.
3. The so-called "logistical nightmare" of changing bell and bus schedules.
4. After-school activities that would extend past sunset if started later
5. After-school jobs that are, for some, are a must.

So, in the meantime...

1. After school, provide a healthy, protein-rich snack and then get homework started soon thereafter and always with the hardest subjects first.
2. Once homework is all completed, get the school bag packed up and ready to go to avoid added morning stress rushing to find books and papers.
3. Make sleep a priority, encouraging consistent sleep and wake up times, not just on school days but weekends, too.
4. Before turn-in time, encourage reading or a warm shower/bath instead of screen time Facebooking, Instagramming, messaging, gaming, whatever.
5. Keep all tech devices, including smartphones, out of the bedroom; their bright light quite possibly lowers the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Plus, a recent University of Glasgow study found that, "While overall social media use impacts on sleep quality, those who log on at night appear to be particularly affected."
6. Delay wake time as long as possible, have a healthy but quick breakfast at the ready and the pre-packed book bag waiting at the door, complete with lunch or lunch money.

And finally, urge your district to modify its schedule to accommodate the health and welfare of the students in its keeping.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9183098

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Pumpkin Planters for Kids!

- Monday, 14 September 2015 No Comments

As the Halloween holiday approaches, pumpkins will be appearing everywhere! There are tons of ways to carve a pumpkin for a scary decoration, but pumpkins can also be used to beautify and create a fun fall planter project for kids! Read on to find out how to gather the kids and get started!

Gather the Supplies

To create your pumpkin planter project, begin with selecting a suitable pumpkin for each child. Choose a pumpkin that is a large enough size and that is round enough to accommodate your plants. Additionally, you will need to pick up some annuals that are appropriate for the autumn season, such as hardy mums. You will also need potting soil and basic gardening tools.

Preparing the Pumpkin

To begin transforming your pumpkin into a planter, start by cutting off the top and removing the insides, including the seeds and the flesh. Be sure to save the seeds for roasting into a healthy snack! Once the inside of the pumpkin is empty and clean, decorate the outside of the pumpkin however you choose. From paint and markers to glitter and embellishments, this is a great opportunity to get creative with your planter and make it special and unique!

Finishing Up

Once your pumpkin planter is all ready, add enough potting soil to fill the bottom one third of the inside of the pumpkin. You are now ready to place your annual plants into the pumpkin planter. Once you have your flowers in place, add additional potting soil around the sides and pack it down to fill the pumpkin cavity. You may also opt to add a thin layer of mulch to the top, for a nice finish and to help retain moisture.

Décor & More

A pumpkin planter makes a great outdoor décor item when placed on a porch, patio, or other outdoor area. Consider creating multiple pumpkin planters, in a variety of sizes and colored flowers, for even more fall beauty! Your planter may be left out for several days, and then when the pumpkin begins to soften and decay, the entire planter can be planted directly into the ground. The pumpkin will decompose and continue to feed the plant throughout the fall season or until the cold becomes too much for the plant.

There you have it! A fun and creative fall project to get the kids outdoors, learning and decorating with garden inspired ideas!

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9150340

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Summer Camp and Its Lifelong Benefits for Children

- Saturday, 12 September 2015 No Comments

It's easy to think of summer camp as just a place for swimming lessons, dodge ball, boating and arts and crafts, an easy solution to summer boredom for kids. Of course, all these things are true, and summer camp memories are made of canoe expeditions, swimming competitions, tie-dye t-shirts and rousing camp songs. However, while kids are having a blast playing games, making summer friends and learning new skills, they are also absorbing a host of vitally important life lessons that will last long after the last bus ride home from camp.

The Pluses of Perseverance

It's not always easy to set a goal and then battle on through hardships and setbacks to meet it, whether it's trying to finally swim the length of the pool, making it across the highest wire in the ropes course or mustering the courage to try a speaking role in the camp skit. At summer camp, kids have a safe, nurturing environment perfect for trying out new skills and learning how to keep going through initial failures to meet a goal. Maybe they get tongue-tied on stage at first and need a little prompting to keep going, or maybe they start to get discouraged at repeated failures to make it up to the next level of swimming classes. But many learn the rewards of finally succeeding with practice, perseverance and a bit of morale-boosting. Not only do kids benefit from the help of staff and other campers, but they can also learn how rewarding it can be to be the person cheering on a friend or camp mate who's trying hard to meet their own goals.

No "I" in "Team"

There are of course loads of games and activities at camp, and many of them have sneaky ways of helping kids learn to function as a team while they are having piles of fun in the sun. More obvious team builders include rope course activities, many of which are specifically geared to this all-important skill. However, there are a vast variety of ways camp encourages kids to figure out how to work toward a common goal with a group. Whether it's working together for a great opening night at the camp talent show, going all out in a color wars event or helping a struggling fellow softball teammate perfect her swing, camp is chock full of opportunities to learn there is no "I" in "team". Needless to say, this skill is highly valued everywhere in our society from school to the athletic field to the work place.

How to Make Friends and Influence People

Camp is a great place to learn how to make friends, a skill more difficult than it sounds for many. Some people are by nature out-going, but many of kids need to learn a few skills that build confidence and make meeting new people and making friends easier, whether at camp, in school or in the far-distant "grownup" world. Summer camp is where kids can shed whatever role they may feel pigeonholed in at home and reach out to all sorts of new people. Camp counselors are specially trained to help kids reach out to others and even how to cope with the inevitable occasional rejection. By the end of camp, most kids have a host of new summer friends that make the anticipation of next summer's fun even more enticing.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9163963