by Andy Earle | Teaching Blogs
While most parents support an “honesty is the best policy” approach to raising their children, it’s often hard to make good on the promise. Difficult situations arise, and sometimes it’s easiest to push off those hard conversations until your child is older.
When a relative passes away, when financial strain takes its toll, or if you and your partner go through a separation, it might seem easier to tell a fib and save the hard conversation for when your child is older.
Lying also might seem like a good solution for smaller issues like holiday traditions, missed sports matches, and broken promises.
But, while telling a “little white lie” might seem harmless, especially when your child is young, it actually occupies an ethical limbo that usually ends poorly.
Here’s the truth about telling white lies and why you should avoid them at all costs.
There Are (Almost) No “Good” Lies
Odds are, you’ve lied to your child in some way or another over the years. The good news is, you’re not alone. Studies have shown that almost all parents, across all cultures, lie to their children for various reasons.
These lies range from telling your children you’ll buy them something “later,” supporting mythical fictions like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, or that your kindergartner’s drawing is “good,” when really, it’s awful. These are surely good lies, right? Well, not always.
Researchers at UC San Diego published a paper outlining a concept called “prosocial” lying. It explains a lot about why parents might lie to their kids.
The study found that when a person cares about someone else, they’re more likely to tell a prosocial lie—that is, a lie that’s told in order to avoid causing emotional harm. However, while it might delay some hard truth or traumatizing fact, white lies are only temporary solutions.
It’s much better for you to be honest with your child from the outset. Here’s why.
What Happens when You Lie
Kids can tell when they’re being lied to.
No matter how sly you think you’re being, kids have an innate sense of being able to tell when something is true or not, and even if they believe you for the time being, it won’t be long until you’re unmasked.
When they find out you are telling white lies, it’ll be much harder to explain yourself than if you’d just told the truth in the first place.
Lying to your child at a young age also creates a whole bunch of negative side effects. When you lie to your kid, even if it’s something small, you’re demonstrating that you aren’t trustworthy and that lying is sometimes acceptable.
You have no control over what your child internalizes. This means, while you might not think twice about telling your kid you didn’t eat their Halloween candy (when you really did), they might see the candy wrapper in your waste bin and take it to heart.
They’ll remember the time their parent betrayed their trust, and use it as a justification for their own lies and deceits. By the time they’re teenagers, this might escalate into lying about drugs, sex, and underage drinking.
It’s best to be honest as often as you can to create open pathways of communication between you and your child. This can be tough, so here are some alternatives to telling white lies that nonetheless make those difficult conversations a little easier.
Alternatives to Telling White Lies
Apologizing
It’s always tough to admit when you’re wrong, especially to your kids, but it’s absolutely worthwhile. If you have the heart and humility to admit to your child you were wrong about something or that you handled a situation poorly, it’ll work toward building a great sense of trust between the two of you.
They may be initially hurt by whatever it is you lied about, but they’ll grow to respect your honesty and return it in kind.
Metaphors
Stories are some of the most powerful tools we have to connect with each other, and metaphors are one of the greatest ways to soften the blow of hard truths.
Death, divorce, financial burden, and illness are all things children will have an easier time understanding if you use appropriate imagery and explanations. Children’s stories are great places to look for ideas, but here are a few of my own:
- Depict illness as a monster, but one that can be beaten.
- Explain death as picking flowers from a garden—the most beautiful ones go first.
- Getting divorced is like planting a tree—the base is still there, but branches grow apart.
Say “No”
It’s perfectly acceptable for you to refuse to answer your child. You’re the adult, and there are some things you know that your child doesn’t need to.
If they ask you uncomfortable or difficult questions about money, sex, drugs, or anything else, feel free to respond saying, “I’ll tell you when you’re older,” or “That’s something for grown ups to know.”
It’s fine for you to set boundaries between you and your child, and if you don’t have something true to say, it’s best not to say anything at all.
I hope this advice has been helpful! Next time you find yourself about to lie to your child about something, ask how it helps. I’m willing to bet it doesn’t—it just waylays some harder truth.
If you can, find a way to tell your child the truth whenever possible and develop the sense of trust you want to have with them.
Author Bio
Eric M. Earle is the founder of Tutor Portland. He used to struggle with mathematics himself, but became the premier math tutor in Portland, Oregon. He focuses on improving students’ math grades to better their college acceptance rates.
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 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 KinderMomma | Humor, Teacher Issues, Teaching Blogs
So, you want to know how to teach kindergarten? Just follow these 30 easy steps, and it will all come together nicely.
1. Write a detailed plan to give to your administrator one week ahead of time.
2. Change plan to reteach today’s lesson tomorrow, the next day and the next.
3. Change plan again to accommodate more hands-on activity for the upcoming full moon.
4. Begin daily calendar activities.
5. Listen to a student respond that today is Octember 3rd, and in 120 days it will be her birthday.
6. Call on other students who talk about their Uncle Joe’s birthday, what they are getting for their birthday and how they wish their birthday was today.
8. Try not to react as one student tells you that a word that begins with the letter D is doggy doo doo.
10. Try to remember that the sight word, “but” must always be used in a complete sentence to eliminate fits of laughter.
12. Break up arguments over who gets to use the pencil with the good eraser.
13. Tell students to slowly say again the words that they want you to help sound out because you have no idea what it is they are trying to say.
14. Decipher pictures that somehow always resemble a male’s private part.
15. Tie the same kid’s shoelaces for the 10th time in 30 minutes.
16. Practice going over to the carpet 20 times until the students walk without doing cartwheels or pretending to slide into third base.
18. Redirect student who is cutting his math cut and paste worksheet into one million minuscule pieces.
19. Have students line up for lunch. Reiterate that this is not a race.
20. Have students who thought that this was indeed a race try lining up again.
21. Discuss that cutting in line isn’t appropriate and that in the long run, it really doesn’t matter who is first.
22. Console the kid who is crying because he is not first in line.
23. Take time out for yoga breathing and poses to cool down after lunch recess.
24. Send student to the nurse’s office who was, in fact, kicked in the face during the Downward Facing Dog pose.
25. Rotate Daily Five Centers.
26. Explain to students the directions every 10 seconds until centers are over.
27. Stop centers when students voices are no longer considered “inside” but instead “outside at a heated protest” voices.
28. Mutter to yourself something about “kids these days.”
29. Dismiss students, and answer questions from the parents who did not read the weekly newsletter.
30. Sigh a huge breath, and look for all the missing glue and marker lids that disappear like socks in the night.
by KinderMomma | Math Strategies, Teaching Blogs
About six years ago, my administrator told us at a staff meeting that we would be required to use Number Talks daily in our classrooms.
Cue the eye rolls and whispering among teachers, including myself.
Another program that many of us knew nothing about is to be implemented.
And…. we would be observed twice a year on our number talks lesson.
Wonderful!
How would Number Talks in kindergarten even work?
After Number Talks professional development and lesson implementation, I soon saw the value.
My students are talking about numbers and thinking out loud.
They are sharing strategies and modeling reasoning.
Students are learning from students. What could be better? Quickly, I became a Number Talks in kindergarten groupie.
What is a Number Talk?
A Number Talk is a short conversation between teachers and students about how to solve a problem. The focus isn’t on the correct answer but on the mental math strategies students use.
This is a great way to encourage “meta-cognitive strategies.” (thinking about one’s own thinking)
How to start in kindergarten?
Begin at the beginning. In kindergarten, subjects must be broken down in the simplest forms. If not, chaos will ensue.
This is exactly the goal of Number Talks in kindergarten. Number sense is developed by breaking down a number into a simple form.
Students need to understand what a number like “5” actually means.
There are many different ways to “do” Number Talks in kindergarten. Some books will tell you exactly what to say and what not to say.
I believe in “doing” what works for the students and the teachers.
The best way to start is with dot cards. They can be easily made with book rings note cards and bingo daubers. 
I like using these cards best because I can use different colors. This helps encourage the spontaneous grouping of numbers by students.
Start with cards with one-five.
I do two or three cards a day.
Example of a Number Talks in kindergarten with dot cards:
- Kids are seated in a half circle.
- Show the students a number card.
- Ask the students, “How many do you see? Put your thumb over your heart when you know. Raise your hand if you would like to share.”
- “Oh, you see five. Give me a thumbs up if you agree. Give me a thumbs down if you disagree.”
- “Who would like to share how they figured it out?”
- “Does anyone have a different way they figured out the answer.?”
Extensions:
Fold the dot cards to teach one and two more. One half shows an array of dots for the number five and the other has one more dot on the other side. 
First, ask how much is one more than five, and let the students talk about how they figured that out. Then, open the card and let them count to check.
Two more than five can also be done in the same manner.
Partner Sharing
Often times, students will just agree with someone that shares. During the number talks in kindergarten, I tell my students to turn to a shoulder partner and share their answers and their thinking.
Insecure students are more likely to share in a one on one grouping. Also, this enables the teacher to walk around informally and hear the math talk.
Number talks in kindergarten are more than just dot cards.
Five and six-year-olds can get bored with only dot cards being used. Sometimes, teachers assume that Number Talks have to be done separate from the math lesson for the day. Number Talks can be incorporated into any math lesson. It is just basically posing a problem and having students share their reasoning to figure it out.
I like to mix it up a little bit.
Unifix cubes and other manipulatives help to build necessary number sense and teach math vocabulary.
Example:
Teach number relationships: Start with a tower of two cubes that are the same color and add one cube that is another color. 
Vocabulary such as one more than two is three and one less than three is two. The visual gives students a great opportunity to discuss the groupings and relationships between colors of cubes.
Using two towers of cubes with each showing different amounts allows for visual comparisons between the two different towers. 
Students can see that the blue tower has one more than the yellow tower when you match up each cube side by side.
This is a great representation to show less than and greater than.
The Abacus or Rekenreks can also be a great tool with Number Talks in kindergarten.
Teen Number Talks in Kindergarten
I love to use ten frames and unifix cubes when I teach about teen numbers
Posing a problem like, “How would we show the number twelve using our ten frames and cubes?” gives kids the chance to strategize and come up with a plan.
Students can turn to their partner and share. Afterwards, students can explain their thinking to the class.
Other questions that can be asked to develop relationships between numbers and math vocabulary are:
Can you show me a number that is one greater than 12? 
How can you figure the number out without counting each one?
Vocabulary that can be used is: ten frame, greater than, less than, fewer and more.
Number talks in kindergarten are valuable.
I started out thinking that Numbers Talks would be just another strategy to learn that really wouldn’t benefit my students.
Wrong!!! Very wrong!
Number Talks in kindergarten teaches kids to talk about math and learn new strategies from their peers. It can easily be incorporated into daily lessons.
Number Talks doesn’t have to be something that is completely separate from math activities. Talking about math is natural. It should be included in every lesson.
All teachers need to think of is a good math question that students can take a little time to figure out. That time teaches students to take control of their learning and successes.
by KinderMomma | Teacher Issues, Teaching Blogs
It is said that teachers are the worst students. This is often because they feel as though their time is being wasted in teacher staff meetings and better spent in their classrooms.
Time is extremely important to teachers: They don’t have much.
Here are many ideas that will prevent teachers from looking toward their phones for engagement instead of at their fearless leader during a teacher staff meeting.
There is only one thing that may make a teacher’s heart beat a little faster than a Friday right before the final bell and that is Free Food.
A full Las Vegas buffet might not be possible at every single meeting, but even having a few Tootsie Rolls in the middle of the table helps to instantly raise morale.
Bring in a Keurig so staff members won’t have any problem being alert and focused. The effort and thought alone goes a long way during teacher staff meetings.
A teacher staff meeting is never the time to admonish faculty for not following directives or procedures. Often, administrators direct a complaint to the whole staff when it is intended for a few people hoping “they” get the message.
Also, singling out grade-levels who perform poorly on standardized testing is divisive and harmful to morale.
Correcting staff is always better accomplished with private conferences. Staff meetings are for general information and team building, not for calling out a group of individuals.
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Run an efficient teacher staff meeting
Having an agenda and sticking to it is always the best practice.
We all know that there is that “One Teacher” who always wanders off-topic or asks a question just as the meeting is about to be dismissed.
Saying something like “Come see me after the meeting to discuss” or “We are running a bit behind” keeps the meeting focused and more productive.
It is important to involve “teachers” in teacher staff meetings. This doesn’t necessarily mean Icebreakers.
Teachers are so exhausted they don’t automatically feel like moving around and playing games.
Diane Levitz, a principal at West Elementary, says that “teachers love to leave a meeting just like they leave a conference — with something valuable they can take home.”
Have teachers share something a partner teacher did in their classroom. Teachers are more likely to want to share an instructional idea their colleague has than their own ideas.
Also, involving teachers in important decisions like choosing textbooks and instructional materials helps with building relationships. Teachers know which materials work best for their students.
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Build morale with positivity.
Positive aspects of teaching and learning should always be shared and appreciated.
This doesn’t essentially mean choosing the “Best Teachers” for that praise. This practice can often divide staff.
One great idea that principal Ken Rogers had was to have teachers write down positive characteristics of fellow teachers, mentioning some of their amazing work.
He picks a name, and the one chosen receives an award to keep in the classroom until the next meeting.
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Create an inviting atmosphere.
Create an atmosphere for staff meetings that is inviting to teachers.
Having teachers walk into “Because I’m Happy” or even “The Eye of the Tiger” can change the mood of the room instantly.
Add a Scentsy or plug-in to add to the relaxation effect.
Room temperature is also important; teachers waving their hand-outs in front of their faces, instead of reading them, is counter-productive.
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Focus on the concerns of teachers.
Being in touch with the needs of teachers builds relationships. Ask them what results they want to achieve from their teacher staff meetings.
Do they want to share concerns about student behavior or have guest speakers come in to talk about specific topics? Do they need strategies to deal with time management and personal stress?
They will tell you.
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Cancel unnecessary teacher staff meetings.
If a memo or an email can cover the entire content of a staff meeting, then call it off. Minutia can be sent out in an attachment.
Often, administrators worry that no one will read the information.
The same teachers who will read the emails are the teachers who will pay attention at the staff meetings.
Actually, more will probably read the info because they can do it on their own schedule.
Hook em now!
Start on Day One to engage teachers with staff meetings. They won’t have that same feeling of dread if they know meetings will be productive and useful.
Faculty may even look forward to meetings, especially if Krispy Kreme is waiting for them at the door.
Read also about tips for effective professional development here.
