by Amy Ryan | Math Strategies, Parenting Blogs
What math concepts in kindergarten do your kids learn?
Our children learn various math topics throughout their many years of schooling. For parents, keeping up can be overwhelming.
However, it is essential that we understand the major a concepts and ideas that they are tackling in school since this will provide us the means to help or guide them with their work.
Here are some of the major math concepts in kindergarten and some exercises to help your children reinforce their learning:
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Counting 
As simple as it seems, kindergarten students will begin learning math through counting numbers.
They will begin to recognize written and spoken numbers and even begin writing them on their own.
Also, they will also learn to count objects and compare different sets of objects.
To improve this skill, you can encourage your child to investigate different objects and count objects out loud.
Also, encourage them to move objects from one group to another. Let them use comparing words like less than, more than, the same as ect.
Kindergarten students are starting to compare and contrast three-dimensional and two-dimensional shapes.
In fact, they are now beginning to recognize different shapes and their attributes.
Therefore, this is the right time to encourage your child to find 3-D shapes in their environment like cones, cylinders, cubes, and spheres. You can also let them draw 2-D shapes, which is easier to do. For example, have them draw rectangles, triangles, squares, circles, and hexagons.
You may also encourage them to count corners and sides of everyday things like pipe-cleaners, sticks, clay, containers, and other objects in your house. This will develop their understanding and knowledge of the primary and complex shapes in the world.
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Addition and subtraction 
Kindergarten students should focus on developing their understanding of addition or “putting together and adding to,” and subtracting or “taking from and taking apart.”
Pictures or objects are often used to create a visual or moving model of scenarios involving addition and subtraction.
As parents, you integrate addition and subtraction in your stories.
For example, you can make stories about bunnies like this: Three bunnies jumped on the grass and three more bunnies hopped there. How many bunnies are there now?
Our children, even at this tender age, are more aware of their physical world. It is interesting to hear the ways they compare and describe it. They even sort, classify and group objects according to a variety of categories.
So, we need to encourage our children to compare two different objects based on appropriate language like: “this tree is taller than that tree” or “Sarah’s bag is heavier than John’s bag.
This will enhance their understanding of measurement and how to use appropriate language to describe and compare a variety of objects.
As you can see, a great deal of foundational knowledge and understanding of numeracy begins at a very young age, often without us even realizing.
All we need to do is encourage our children to continue to explore their interests and understanding within these math concepts in kindergarten, and their understanding and curiosity will grow naturally.
Guest Author
Amy has been a Math tutor for over 12 years, assisting countless students individually. She first started after completion of her own VCE year. Receiving an ATAR of 99.0, she felt that she had a lot to offer students in high school, trying to work out the best way to maximize their results.
She has helped students gain understanding, improve their study skills and work towards their goals in mathematics. Amy has also been a teacher since 2011, teaching students in all high school levels, including VCE Maths Methods and Further Maths. She is passionate about finding ways to help students increase their understanding and enjoyment of Maths.
Amy is available for individual tutoring in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and also runs Further Maths VCE Exam preparation and Study Skills sessions.
You can find her here at Math Tutors Australia.
by David Buhr | Parenting Blogs
To help contain COVID-19, many schools are shifting kids to online studying at home. Similarly, many mothers and fathers are being requested to work at home. These types of social distancing are needed to help slow the spread of the virus.
But, many families now face new challenges: how will we care for our children while working? How do we ensure our kids are learning well from home?
The first step: take a deep breath. Know that we are all in this together. And, together we can get through it.
It can be tempting to get children together for play dates or sleepovers, but this ought to be prevented. Social distancing works most effectively if all of us take part.
And, slowing down or stopping the spread of the virus will save lives. It is also no longer the time to go to grandparents or ask them to help out with child care responsibilities.
Here are some tips for online learning for kindergarten kids.
Keep social distancing.
Those who are over age 60 are at higher risk of severe infection with COVID-19. They shouldn’t increase that risk by being around children who can be sick with mild signs.
However, they will feel alone or disconnected at some point of social distancing. One tip for online learning for kindergarten would be to involve grandparents by way of Zoom or Facetime or Google Meet. They can read stories to students and help with online learning.
Make a daily routine.
It will be beneficial to speak with your kids about why they’re staying home and what your everyday structure will be during this time.
Let them help create an everyday time table which can hang on the refrigerator or someplace they can see it each day. Make sure to include breaks from schoolwork to relax and connect.
Here are a few ideas to help you create a daily schedule to make the most of online learning for kindergarten kids.
- Wake up, dress and have breakfast at the usual time.
- Start online classes for 20 minutes to 35 minutes.
- Determine where everybody can do their work most efficiently and without distractions.
- List the times for studying, exercising and breaks.
- For younger kids, 20 minutes of one online activity should be the guideline.
- Schedule time for nutritious lunches and snacks. Many schools are providing take-home school meal programs for students who need them.
- Include afternoon breaks as well! Go Noodle is a great online physical activity.
- Have dinner together with your family and talk about the day.
- Stick with everyday bedtime routines as much as possible throughout the week to make sure each person gets enough sleep.
It is best not to have the news on while children are in the room as it could increase their worry and anxiety (and yours!). If they do pay attention to the information, talk together about what they are hearing and correct any misinformation or rumors.
Make the most of screen usage.
While limits are still necessary, it is understandable that during this stressful time, kids’ screen usage will likely increase. Here are some ways to use the screen media for your kids positively:
- Contact teachers about academic online and offline sports your kids need to do. Preschool teachers might not have an online curriculum to share. However, good options consist of PBS KIDS who is sending out a daily newsletter with activity and learning ideas.
- Use social media for good. Check-in with your neighbors, friends and loved ones. If facilities are closed, find out if there are ways to help students who need meals or internet access for at-home.
- Learn together. It is a perfect opportunity to see what your children are learning. Kindergarten students need lots of assistance when it comes to learning. Taking an interest in the online programs is important for your child’s motivation and desire to keep learning while at home.
- Limits are still necessary. As usual there should always be limits for how much time kids can play video games as it is easy to want to keep them busy.
- Look for free resources for online learning for kindergarten. Most free kindergarten worksheets can be instantly downloaded and printed for your child.
- Online tutoring is also an option for struggling students.
Utilize effective apps and programs for online learning for kindergarten students. Here are a few favorites:
Starfall
ABCYA
Khan Academy
Staying at home may also feel like an inconvenience. However, it is an excellent way right now to protect our family, friends, and neighbors who may be susceptible. If anybody in your own home starts showing symptoms of COVID-19, call your doctor.
Author Bio
David A. Buhr has over fifteen years of experience in the field of education. He specializes writing articles on education-related topics on his blog. He is presently working at Smile-Tutor, a reputable presence in the education industry.
by Rachel Burns | Parenting Blogs, Teaching Blogs
Description: With the right DIY science projects, you will be able to introduce your children to the world of science. These projects will help them develop quick and rational thinking. Learn more in our comprehensive article. Start now!
Are you on a lookout for DIY science fair projects ideas for your kids at home? Then we have got your backs! We have compiled a complete list of the best 10 DIY science projects that you can do with your kids that cover a wide range of science topics ranging from chemical reactions to outer space.
With the help of these simple science experiments, your children will understand how the world works. These fun projects and experiments for kids will spark their scientific curiosity and great for budding makers, innovators, and scientists. Similar to how you choose the best water table, you need to look for the right science experiments.
1. Insect Hotels
Insect hotels are perhaps one of those easy DIY science projects that you can pick for your kid and participate along with him/her. The objective here is to create a hotel for insects and checking which insects have made this compartment their home. Once you create this box, all you need to do is place it outside (near the garden is the best option). This will teach your kids about zoology.
Materials needed
- Items such as bits of wool/yarn, dried leaves, small rocks, bark, sticks, etc.
- A hot glue gun with glue
- A box with multiple compartments
2. DIY Lava Lamp
This is a DIY experiment is fun and easy science projects for kids. Your toddler will mix antacid tablets, food coloring, oil, and water to create their own lava lamp (temporary, of course). This happens because water and oil do not mix, and the antacid creates globules from the oil. The food color adds coloring.
This experiment is perfect to start on your kids about chemical reactions.
Materials needed
- Antacid tablets
- Food coloring
- Vegetable oil
- Water
3. Magnetic Slime
A scientific take on the silly putty and Play-Doh game, magnetic slime is a game that is quite fun to play. Additionally, it will also teach your kids about the basics of magnetism. While the ingredients might not be used in your household, you can easily find them online or at general stores.
Once all the ingredients are well-mixed, you can make use of a neodymium magnet to move the magnetic slime around without having to touch it; a neodymium magnet is used since regular magnets won’t be strong enough.
Materials needed
- Neodymium magnet
- Iron oxide powder
- Adhesive glue
- Liquid starch
4. Baking Soda Volcanoes
Baking soda volcanoes are one of those projects that are quite popular as class science projects for kids. It is tough to beat the excitement of seeing a volcano erupt within the confines of your own home. This experiment can be as simple or in-depth as you wish.
For the eruption, all you need are vinegar and baking soda. If you wish to add more power to the eruption, you can add dishwashing detergents. If your kid is creative, he/she can make the volcano as lifelike as they like. And might win prizes.
Materials needed
- Food coloring (Optional)
- Items to place around the volcano (Optional)
- Aluminum foil or play-dough to create the volcano
- Soda bottle or a large mason jar
- Water
- Dishwasher detergent
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
5. Tornado In A Jar Science Projects
This is one of the most straightforward science experiments that you can teach your kids. It will not take more than five minutes of your time, and you do not need a lot of materials as well.
However, once the experiment works out in the right way, your children will be amazed by their own miniature tornado. They will be able to see the vortex clearly, and the strength of the wind will depend on how quickly you swirl the jar around.
Materials needed
- Glitter (Optional)
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Water
- Mason jar
6. Colored Celery Experiment
Yet another classic science experiment done by school kids, this celery science experiment will quite easy to demonstrate and will also provide your children with a great visual understanding of how plants transpire and get their nutrients and water.
All you need to do is plant the celery stalks in cups filled with colored water. After a day, you will observe that the leaves of the celery plants take on the color or the water. This happens because the celery stalks contain small capillaries that transport the nutrients and water throughout the plant.
Materials needed
- Food coloring
- Water
- Glass jars
- Celery stalks
7. Edible Rock Candy
This is one of those funny DIY science projects that will take at least a week to work; however, once they do, you and your kids will be able to eat the results. Once you create a sugar solution, you can fill them in jars. Once done, you can dangle strings in them that will soon be covered with crystals. Since the experiment involves pouring and heating, it should be done under adult supervision.
Materials needed
- Candy flavoring (Optional)
- Food coloring (Optional)
- Small skewers or strings
- Clothespin
- Large saucepan
- Sugar
- Water
- Glass jar
8. Water Xylophone
With the use of some necessary materials, you will be able to create a musical instrument from scratch. Additionally, it will also teach your child about sound waves. All you need to do is fill some glass jars with varying water levels.
After you line them up, ask your kid to hit each jar with a wooden stick. Make them understand how the pitch differs in each jar. This is because sound travels differently in water and depends on how full the jars are.
Materials needed
- Skewers/Wooden sticks
- Water
- Glass jar
9. DIY Solar Oven
This is one of those DIY science projects that you can do with your kids. Once it is ready, you can make use of solar energy to melt cheese on a pizza. While the food gets cooked, you can take that time to explain how the sun rays are used to heat the food.
Materials needed
- Tape
- Black construction paper
- Plastic cling wrap
- Glue
- Ruler
- Permanent marker
- Box cutter or knife
- Aluminum foil
- Pizza box
10. Sidewalk Constellation
If you can create this experiment successfully, you will see the Orion’s Belt and the Big Dipper in broad daylight. Ask your children to draw the lines of constellations on the sidewalk; they can make use of constellation diagrams for guidance. Next, place stones on the stars’ location. Then, you can see where the constellation they drew will be in the sky once you take a look at the astronomy chart.
Materials needed
- Diagrams of constellations
- Small stones
- Sidewalk chalk
Science Projects—Conclusion
The above are some of the many different science experiments that you can do with your children. They are quite fun and will provide them with valuable insight into how the world works once they understand how to make a science projects.
What do you think?
Author’s bio:
Rachel Burns is a young mother, photographer and freelance writer with an interest in education. She blogs as a hobby and plans to write a book about parenting next year.
by Carrie Spencer | Parenting Blogs
Nearly 50 percent of parents feel their kids are addicted to their cell phones, and a staggering 62 percent of parents say their children have even used them to watch inappropriate videos on YouTube.
These statistics don’t just represent teens, either. “Tweens” aged 10 and under were also included in this research. What makes this even more disturbing is that the evidence from these studies suggests this electronic connection can cause depression, a decrease in attention span (which can elevate symptoms of ADD), and obesity.
A poll conducted by the Nature Conservancy in the US indicates 49 percent of kids don’t go outside because they aren’t interested in nature — but as a parent, it’s your responsibility to get your kids more excited about spending time outdoors. Here’s how you can do just that.
Install a Swing Set in Your Backyard
Installing a swing set or play-set is a great way to lure your kids outdoors while keeping them active and promoting social interaction with others — it can even have a calming effect!
There are several models that have additional bells and whistles such as slides, rings, and playhouses, so if you want to keep your kids from becoming bored, this may be a good direction to go.
Go for a Family Bike Ride
Making outdoor time a family affair can emphasize bonding time instead of making your kids feel like you’re forcing them to spend time outside.
Riding a bike is a great way to see a lot of territory quickly, so you can choose a different route each time to keep things interesting. However, if everyone doesn’t own a bike, you can adopt the same ritual by walking or rollerblading.
Cruise through a forest preserve or park (national or local) if you live nearby to one, and pause for a picnic. Use this time as an opportunity to discuss the various elements around you, such as the different types of trees and birds.
Get a Dog
When you own a dog, there’s no escaping the outdoors. Install a fence in the backyard and encourage your kids to play with the pooch — just make sure you get a breed that’s good with children.
If you have teenagers, encourage them to take the dog for a walk. Alternatively, take one together as a family if you have little ones.
Just keep in mind that owning a pet is a big responsibility, so make sure you’re ready to commit for the long term before bringing a furry friend into your home.
Fly a Drone
What better way to combine the fun of tech with being outdoors than piloting a drone with your kids? Drone flying has educational value as well because kids can improve their risk-assessment and fine-motor skills.
Look for kid-friendly models because not all drones are suitable to be operated by children.
Head Out at Night
Outdoor time is not reserved for daytime alone. Head out at dusk and capture a sunset. Monitor what’s happening within the solar system and view the moon or a meteor shower — or get a chart and try to identify the constellations.
Create Activities
Whether you stay in your own backyard, go camping, or head to a nature preserve, get creative by presenting your kids with some educational, yet fun, outdoor activities.
For example, leaf and bug identification, birding, observing different flowers, etc. Providing you’re not in a protected area, let your kids collect various items so they can make a collage at home.
In an effort to make it easier for you to encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors, establish rules about electronics — but make sure you follow them, too.
Scheduling tech-free family activities can help with this transition. Once your children get into the groove, you’re liable to see improvements in their personality and health. Just remember to make sure outdoor time is coupled with proper sun protection.
by Andy Earle | Parenting Blogs, Teaching Blogs
What is unstructured play, and why is it so crucial for my child?
Unstructured play is something that is important for your child in order to develop their confidence and sense of self. There are no set rules or restrictions during unstructured play, but it nonetheless stimulates the brain and is most likely something your child will have fun doing!
Here is a more detailed explanation of unstructured play, along with more specific details of why it is good for your child to engage in.
The difference between structured and unstructured play:
The main difference between structured and unstructured play are the (lack of) rules and guidelines. If your children are playing a certain game with predetermined rules, like hide and seek or tag, it is considered to be structured play.
Conversely, running around the park or playing make-believe would be considered unstructured play. Both of these activities require a “figure it out as you go” attitude, with no rules or ultimate goals aside from having fun.
Another example of structured play might be following the instructions that come with a construction or block set. While instructions like this are sometimes good, at times they can also restrict the creativity of your child.
However, this activity could easily transition to unstructured play if your child chooses to ignore the directions and create their own model.
Benefits of no-rules and free play:
There are undoubtedly many benefits that come with your child partaking in unstructured play. Here are some of the best.
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Physical interaction and exercise
The initial development of a child requires freedom and exposure to the world. By letting them play freely and explore nature, they are more likely to become curious about the world around them and develop an analytical and critical eye for problem solving.
While leaving out rules in their playtime, they are also able to grow physically stronger. Many rules in games may limit performance and physicality,
Without those rules your child can build muscles that would otherwise lay dormant. Sports are obviously rule-heavy ways of playing, but it might be beneficial to let your child stretch their physical and creative muscles by trying to come up with a sport without rules!
It’s important for children to develop their cognitive abilities early. Just like anything else, healthy habits early on make the brain grow stronger. Mental progression occurs when people are enthusiastic and interested in what they’re doing, and what’s more fun for your child than playtime?
Unstructured play can increase their creativity and decision making abilities by forcing them to find new methods, solutions, and rules every time they play. Further, playing the same game with new rules every time is a healthy activity for the flexibility of your child’s brain.
It will help them better adjust to and accept new situations in their life, as well as improvise when plans go awry. Developing a flexible brain like this is important for children, as it prepares them for the unexpectedness they will face later in life.
Being controlled or watched all the time can be irritating and annoying for your child, which might limit their expression or cause them to act problematic.
You want your child to be expressive by identifying their strengths and passions. Continued guidance and coaching are good in moderation, but too much can damage your child’s sense of independence.
If they feel they are too restricted, they might lash out and rebel. The essence of unstructured play is to allow freedom while expressing their natural talents and discovering new ways of solving problems.
If your child feels like they are constantly being controlled and restricted, they may end up dealing with issues like anxiety and depression later in life.
Unstructured play helps alleviate this pressure by creating a relaxed, constructive atmosphere in their free time.
Conclusion
The physical and mental capabilities that emerge in childhood need an environment to thrive in. Rules, like much else, are good in moderation. But, I highly recommended that you allow your child opportunities to engage in unstructured play.
Free play is always beneficial and often more fun than orthodox, rule-based activities. Unstructured play helps your child to create new creative scenarios and ask questions that rule-based games may not provide an opportunity for.
It supports a strong imagination, physical coordination, and helps develop important cognitive skills that your child will need later in their life.
Author Bio :
Andy Earle is a researcher who studies parent-teen communication and adolescent risk behaviors. He is the co-founder of talkingtoteens.com, ghostwriter at WriteItGreat.com, and host of the Talking to Teens podcast, a free weekly talk show for parents of teenagers.
by Carrie Spencer | Parenting Blogs
Are you an educator looking for creative ways to improve literacy in your classroom? Or, perhaps you are a parent who wants to help boost your children’s reading skills?
Music is the perfect way to help children enhance their reading and communication skills while having fun learning about one of society’s favorite forms of art – and the best part is, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Below are some wallet-friendly ways to improve literacy through music, as well as the benefits it can have on their entire lives.
Connect Music and Literacy
You may be surprised at the ways in which music and literacy are connected. Lyrics to your favorite songs are actually a form of poetry, weaving a story with every word.
Music is also used in movies to help tell a story, further connecting literacy with music. Ask students to participate in listen-alouds, where they can draw parallels between lyrics and stories.
Also, have them listen to a song and describe how they feel. You can even suggest some new words to help them with their descriptions. Getting children to use words in a tangible way like this will help them develop better verbal communication skills and a stronger vocabulary.
You can also ask kids to read lyrics to popular songs to deepen the connection and improve literacy through music.
Playing an Instrument can help.
Listening to music is a fun way for students to work on their literacy skills, but playing music may be even better for their brains. One study suggests that learning a musical instrument improves reading and language skills, especially for disadvantaged students.
The Northwestern University neurobiologist running the study, Dr. Nina Kraus, previously discovered that affluence greatly impacted students’ ability to learn, with lower-income students having more learning difficulties than their wealthier peers.
But, when those same lower-income students were given music lessons, the learning playing field became much more level. In short, no matter the income, learning an instrument is good for children of all incomes and backgrounds.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take a lot of money to introduce kids to instruments. You can watch tutorials for free online, or visit a local symphony or philharmonic, many of which perform free concerts during certain times of the year, to let them experience music in a live setting.
Find the right tools.
So, how can you harness the power of music for your own students or children?
To start, you will want to pick up some essential gear. Speakers, instruments and other tools can make your music lessons more fun for kids.
But, buying additional supplies can get expensive, especially for already underpaid educators or budget-conscious parents. Luckily, many retailers, like Walmart, offer deals and sales that can help alleviate some of the costs.
You can save even more at Walmart by earning cash back by signing up for a Walmart MoneyCard or shopping through Rakuten. If it’s a musical instrument you are looking for, consider searching at a local music shop or looking for a used instrument.
It’s also smart to begin by renting musical instruments, especially for children who have not quite figured out what they want to play, or for younger kids who change their mind often.
Provide positive encouragement.
Whether it’s struggling to read or picking out their first tune on a guitar, children can benefit greatly from a lot of constructive feedback.
Just be sure to keep things positive.
Positive reinforcement can go a long way in inspiring children to do their best in school no matter what subject they are studying. This is especially true for students who have learning disabilities that make it harder to read.
Learning disabilities can already make students feel different from their peers. If you are teaching music and literacy lessons to these students, being overly critical or negative could do further damage to their ability to learn.
So, as you introduce lessons to improve literacy through music, keep a positive tone. Use rewards and praise (which you can do on the cheap) to let kids know when they are doing well.
Music can do more than provide a soundtrack for our lives. When used in the classroom or at home, music can help children and young adults learn how to read and communicate more effectively. It may even help spark a new passion.
