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Educational Toys and Early Childhood Education

January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

11322248142_p3140028.jpgEarly childhood education is basically defined as children learning through play. It is important that parents begin educating their children from infancy to six yeas of age through interaction and introducing educational play which will aid in the development of these crucial areas…

Physical Development: Developing fine and gross motor skills. Basically movement is the key, crawling, walking, running, climbing, throwing, touching and eye-hand coordination.
Social Skills: Teaching children how to interact with others, how to share and co-operate with others, how to build strong relationship that will last as well as social etiquette and good manners.
Emotional Development: Building self-esteem, self-awareness, self-confidence, as well as recognizing and understanding various feelings and emotions.
Language Development: The expression and or vocalization of symbols and sounds as perceived and interpreted by an individual through the growing and learning process.
Creativity: Developing unique and special abilities and talents in your child
Cognitive Skills: Developing the ability to learn and solve problems, understanding the world around them, their environment and gain knowledge.

This may sound like a task that is overwhelming for the average parent and parents may be under the impression that they need an advanced education in early childhood development to help their children grow in these areas, but this is far from the truth.
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Learning Baby Toys – Educational Toys For Preschoolers

Buying educational toys for babies can be one of the most enjoyable shopping experiences ever. After all, the parent who is not interested in their baby having a good time and learning simultaneously, is rare. How Early Childhood Education Can Shape a Child’s World

It is no secret that education is the key to a successful feature. Parents clearly know this which is why selecting the right school with excellent grades is so important. A child’s first impression of schooling and education can and will shape your child’s view on whether or not they enjoy learning. It is strange to think that your child, who is learning and showing you their achievements on a daily basis, is scared of learning, or rather failing at school. Do Educational Toys Promote Early Childhood Development? (Developing Creativity, Part V)

Early childhood creativity is more unique than other developmental skills. It’s unique because it cannot be scripted. It is a process of individual self-expression that has no rules or boundaries. Although all children are creative, they develop at different rates and so it will be with their creativeness. Do Educational Toys Promote Early Childhood Development? (Part VI, Cognitive Skills)

The Theory of Cognitive Development was first developed by Swiss psychologist and natural scientist Sir Jean William Fritz Piaget and published in 1952. Although his theories may be some what controversial, nevertheless his studies of children has laid the foundation for today’s advances in cognitive development which provide parents with the tools that will help their children get off to a good start on the path of growing and learning.Certainly knowledge of this caliber would be a great asset, but children in this age group actually grow and learn through their playtime.
Years of research shows that educational toys actually promote and aid in the development of the above crucial growth areas.
Specific types of experiences stimulate various areas of the brain, which, in turn develop a child’s physical and mental abilities. However, any toy will provide some educational and developmental benefits. So parents must keep in mind that not every toy that claims to be educational is in fact educational and may not necessarily develop these crucial areas of early childhood development. Even the most successful educational toys have their limits. Educational toys are most effective when parents provide quality interaction with their children.  
The educational and developmental success and advances of any society depends upon a parent’s desire and ability to foster the health and well-being of their children, the next generation. In other words, parents have a responsibility to their children to prepare them for what lies ahead. When parents fail to provide chil­dren with what they need to build a strong foundation for healthy, productive and successful lives, the future is at risk.
We all must remember that today’s children will become tomorrow’s adults, which also means tomorrows parents. So parents, spend time with your children, introduce educational toys into their playtime and have confidence that the investment you make in your children will produce successful, productive parents of your grandchildren. 

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Early Education – An Answer to a Mother

January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

01322248263_dsc-0019.jpgS_____, you ask what I recommend for your infant daughter and her education. I take that as an invitation to share my thoughts that come from both understanding and experience. You intend to homeschool, which tells me you do not buy the hype of modern education, that is good.
The best way to prepare any child for learning and for life is to read to her. Read regularly, read with expression and delight, read fascinating stories, read a wide range of stories. You would be amazed at the pile of books it would be that we have read out loud to our children – the longest being The Lord of the Rings.
The second important thing is to give her imaginative, hands-on play, especially outdoors. Building forts or fairy houses, dressing up in period costume, (maybe not when she’s this little) doing interesting things with hands and dirt and objects, climbing trees.

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Traditional Education For Children

There are many types of education that can be provided to children during the early stages of life. The more traditional education opportunities are pursued because it is required by Law, but some educational endeavors such as pursuing and completing a college degree program will continue on a volunteer basis when the child is much older. Funded Education Programs For Children

Every child in the United States deserves a good education and there are many groups and organizations that are dedicated to making that fact become a reality. Low-income families are often given the lowest priority on waiting lists at private schools but are at the top of the Government funded… College Grants For Single Mothers

College grants for single mothers are a great way to get grant funding as a single mother. The more you look around for grant funding, the better your chances are of actually getting a grant. What Can a College Scholarship Do to Help Mothers?

A college scholarship can be the only means for a mother to get back to school. Let us remember that mothers have a lot of responsibilities at home. You have to take care of children as well as think of the bulls that come every month. This does not put them in any situation and think about going back to school.Always minimize electronics and media. Some television is not bad, but it’s not that good, either.
And third, as she gets older, give her broad experience. Make it normal to go see a Shakespeare stage presentation or a period costume foray such as Dicken’s on the Strand at Galveston (we have gone all dressed up, it was so enjoyable), or any of a number of such things. Give her a broad experience of the world and culture. Kids who grow up surrounded by other kids their own age (modern education) will despise all these things by the time they are teenagers – that is the de-socialization that takes place in the modern classroom.
And keep your daughter away from such continuous environments. Playing and learning with other children is always good, but not the endless hours that modern education demands.
You want social experiences for your daughter? Invite another homeschool-minded mother of a child your daughter’s age to your home and let them play together while you watch and visit.
Then, there is no reason to rush formal education. It would be better if a girl did not begin until age 7, and a boy until age 8, unless they ask you to teach them to read (which they very well may do, quite out of the blue). A child, especially a boy, who starts later, will almost always catch up with those his age who started early in just a short time and surpass them. Learning is now easy for him, and he has no reason to hate it. Forcing kids to learn things they are not ready for because that’s what “the program requires” is the creator of the most powerful lesson I saw learned in the public school. It is an almost universally successful learning outcome – learning is to be despised.
There are some sound principles inside the “unschooling” philosophy. I also know the value of discipline in learning, but both – guiding by interest and requiring discipline when it counts – are important.
Finally, when you do teach your daughter to read, and this should be a joy that all mothers share, then I recommend “The Writing Road to Reading.” It is a sound program, based on reality. My wife used it with great success, with others as well as our own children. Around the time you see your daughter puzzling over the words in books, having discovered that they mean something and curious what it is they mean, get “The Writing to Reading” package from http://www.spalding.org/
Learn the system yourself, first, then, when she sees you working with the sounds (somewhere between ages 5 -7) and asks “What’s that, Mommy?” you know she is ready for school. 

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An Early Education Degree Starts Many Good Careers – Education – College and University

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

21322248259_6b38re2.jpgConsidering a degree in education? There are a few options as far as majors. You can choose to major in elementary education, school administration, or secondary school. All lead to very rewarding careers; however, if you prefer working with small children, such as preschoolers, you may want to settle on an degree in early childhood education.

Coursework in an early childhood education program can involve teaching theory, as well as the subjects that will be used in teaching preschoolers. There will be classes in the basics — language development, reading, and math. In addition, since children have to use computers at an early age now, future teachers will be given classes on that too. To work best with children, an understanding of child psychology is provided as well.

You can get an Associate’s degree in early childhood education at many colleges. Sometimes a certificate is even enough, but two years worth of education on children is very beneficial. An Associate’s degree will prepare you for entry-level work with children at daycare centers and preschools. All childcare centers have different requirements, but an Associate’s degree should get you in the door of any school as a qualified teacher.

You can go for a Bachelor’s in early childhood education, but you are not obligated. An Associate’s degree will allow you to operate to the fullest within the field, so a Bachelor’s degree is just additional. However, you will have the opportunity to learn more about children and possibly teach even better. In addition, should you decide to quit preschool teaching, you could use your degree to teach elementary school or become an administrator.

If you are considering this field, you should understand what these educators do. They have a very difficult and important job, which includes caring for and teaching classes comprised of three to five year-old students. It can be very stressful, but also very rewarding. They will be one of the first people to teach these tiny children everything they will need in their lives, including language skills, literacy, and even computers. They will introduce children to books, music, and even art.

This is a good field to enter because there are many jobs available. Qualified teachers are in heavy demand because of the large amount of turnovers. They are also in demand because, as reported in the Bureau of Labor, the career is expanding larger than most. Preschool is becoming of higher importance now because of its educational benefits and because of parents’ higher needs for childcare. It is an important and reliable job to have right now.

It is unfortunate considering all the hard work put into a career in early childhood education that the educators get paid so poorly. As a preschool teacher, you can expect to earn an average of $23,870, as reported in the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, with advancement, you could earn a higher salary, up to $45,000.

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