How to Teach Your Kids Their Address and Phone Number

Everyone knows how important it is for children to memorize their address and phone number. This is true not just for convenience, but also for safety. Children often learn best when there is some sort of game involved, and there are many fun ways you can teach your child his or her address and phone number.

1. Make a Map of the Neighborhood

Have your child draw a map of the neighborhood, or draw one together. Place your address and phone number on the house. Put other important or fun locations on the map as well, like the school or a best friend’s house.

2. Put It to Song

Make up a song comprised of the address and phone number, or find a variety online. A common choice is Frere Jacques.

3. Make a Sequence Activity

Separate your address and phone number onto separate index cards, like so:

• House number
• Street name
• City or Town
• State
• Zip Code

Place the index cards out of order, and then have your child put them in the correct order. You can also do this with just the telephone number, by placing each number on a separate card.

4. Practice in Real Life

Have your child practice punching the numbers on a cell phone or house phone. You can also teach your child the correct buttons to push, like “send,” in order to complete the call.

5. Use an Abacus

An abacus, or any other type of manipulative, is a great way for your child to practice and visualize your phone number. It’s also a great counting exercise.

6. Make a Mailbox

Create a makeshift mailbox out of a cardboard box, or purchase a play mailbox. Your children can send each other letters through the mailbox after addressing the envelopes.

7. Turn It into a Craft Project

A fun 3-D alternative to a map is a small, standing house. You can make it out of cardboard or anything else that will stand upright. Kids can design the front to match the house, and then add the street number. You can also put up a marker next to the house with the street name.

8. Create a Game

Make a phone number game from popular games like hopscotch and BINGO.

Use one method, or mix and match. The possibilities are endless for teaching your child his or her phone number.

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Tips to Help Get Through the First Day of Day Care

The first day of day care is an exciting and often scary transition for families. To help both children and parents alike navigate the big day, Successful Parenting Today has put together our best tips for a great start to day care!

Prepare Your Child for the Big Day

The process of preparing your child for day care should begin well before the first day. Visit the day care center at least once with your child, and consider shadowing a class for a day if the center allows it. Go over the day care schedule with your child as many times as possible. And don’t wait until the first day to begin your new routine—adjust bedtime and wake-up time at least a few days before day care begins. Knowing exactly what is coming will help your child to feel comfortable and confident. Basically, the fewer surprises the better!

Allow Plenty of Time and Help Your Child Settle

Allow plenty of time to get ready for day care, so that your child doesn’t feel rushed on the first morning. Give her time to pick the right outfit, eat a good breakfast and adjust to the big day. Make sure that you also arrive at the center with plenty of time to spare, so that you can spend some time helping your child to settle in and become familiar with the surroundings.

When the time comes to say good-bye, it’s best to make a quick and final exit. You may prepare a routine ahead of time, so that your child knows you will be leaving after a big hug and a high-five. Even if there are tears, try to leave without coming back so that your child can begin adjusting and bonding with the caregivers. Trust your day care providers (your confidence will help your child feel safe) and give them a call if you need reassurance.

Transition Back to Home

A successful first day doesn’t end with a smooth drop-off. It’s also important to help your child transition from day care back to home, and the first step is returning on time. Knowing you will be there to pick them up at the same time every day helps kids feel at ease.

After the stimulation of day care, returning home can sometimes be difficult. Planning for a special activity or treat at home can help with this transition, and also be an opportunity to bond with your child after spending the day apart.

While the first day of day care sets the tone, the transition to this new lifestyle is not complete after one day. Your child may still have fears or concerns, and it is important to listen and to reassure them that these feelings are normal. Stick to the routines you have established in the upcoming days, until you and your child have fully adjusted to this major life change.

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Teach Your Kids to Write Stories

Teaching a child creative writing without taking all of the creativity out of the equation can be tricky but the results are worth the effort when you get to read a short story that shows how witty and creative your child can be.

Tips for Inspiring Creative Writing for Kids

• Teach the techniques, but encourage free thinking.
• Do not fix every little issue with grammar at first.
• Read often with your child, and encourage them to read on their own. Discuss how certain books made them feel. What would they do different than the main character? Would they have changed the story in any way if they were writing in. Encourage them to occasionally look at great writing as a participate after they enjoy the reading for the sake of it.

Techniques to Cover

• Establish that there is a beginning, middle, and end of a story. Reading short stories out lout and discussing which part fit where is a great informal way of establishing a storyline.
• Identify the characters, and ask your child what makes them appealing, what makes some of them good, bad, scary, funny, and unlikable.
• By reading out loud show examples of how an author shows location of a story and how they build a setting. Point out context clues such as the weather, scents, place names,and landmarks.
• Ask your child about the problem in a story, and ask them to orally tell you the solution giving in the story. Discuss how the story ended, and ask them if the author left and questions unanswered.

How to Start

To keep your child from being nervous about actually putting pen to paper encourage free writing at first just to warm up. Journals are great for this. They need to feel that they can write anything without worrying about judgment on context or grammar to really get creative.

• Once they are comfortable with passing their words from mind to paper, start helping them come up with ideas. You can make an idea box with random words such as blue, soccer, Paris, hot, banana, lizard, and they have to draw three words and make them key elements in their story.
• Grammar matters, but at first you may want to keep it separate from your creative writing sessions so a creative child does not get discouraged from writing.
• When creative writing comes more naturally you can start going over the editing process and work on improving syntax to produce a eventual perfect final copies of the best works.

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Baby Signing And How It Can Help Open Communication

Sign language was typically reserved for the deaf and those who communicate with them. Recently, baby signing has become a popular choice of communication for parents.

Quite often, before a child reaches two, it can be quite frustrating to communicate. The child does not typically have a full range of vocal communication to express what he or she needs. Parents often become frustrated when they do not know what their child needs. Even worse, if the child is hurt or does not feel well. This is where baby signing can help.

Improving Communication Skills

Research has shown that baby signing not only improves communication skills, but it can improve cognitive skills as well. Toddlers who learn and use sign language as babies, have a larger spoken vocabulary list than other toddlers. Recent research has shown that babies who sign score an average of 12 points higher on IQ tests than babies who do not sign. Babies who learned sign language are better readers when they enter kindergarten, according to recent studies.

Baby Signing Books

While there are many books dedicated to sign language, it is best to use books geared towards baby sign language. Keep in mind that babies are still learning motor skills, some advanced signs will be difficult to master. A book geared towards babies will only have signs that they can easily express.

When To Start Teaching Baby Sign Language

The best time to start teaching baby sign language is around eight months. Many parents will start to use sign language around six months, this way the baby will begin to recognize some signs. At eight months, most babies can use their hands well enough to sign back.

It is best to only start with one or two words, this way the baby will not be overwhelmed and reject the idea of signing. Pick a word that your child would use often. Some babies love extra food, ‘more’ would be a good first sign for them to use. Other babies like to drink plenty of juice and water, ‘drink’ would be a good sign for them.

Repetition Is Key

When you use the sign, use it repetitively. Sign and say the word together. Use the sign and word in different sentences. It may take several times before your baby is able to pick up on the sign, do not become discouraged. When they do attempt the sign, shower them with encouragement.

After your baby has mastered two signs, you can add one sign a week. Soon you will be on your way to communicating with your baby!

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Learn Some Solid Tips About Homeschooling Here

Because of the countless problems characterizing many public school systems at present, homeschooling has presented itself as an increasingly viable option to many families. The process of educating one’s children at home does, however, pose a significant number of challenges, even to the most devoted parent. By studying the advice that follows, it is possible to gain an understanding of the fundamental principles that will lead to ultimate success.

Assign your children chores for the month. If you give out assigned chores for the entire month, they know what is expected of them for the next thirty days. If you use a daily or even a weekly chore sheet, they could easily become confused on what is their responsibility to take care of for that time.

Limit the distractions in your workspace. This does not mean that you have to have a classroom. Simply, shut off the ringer on the phone, turn off the television and if the computer is not used for school, shut it down. The fewer distractions you have to compete with, the smoother your lessons will go.

Find a support group of other homeschool parents. When you teach your child at home, sometimes you may feel isolated. The support group can help you deal with problems and issues that are complex. You can benefit from the sharing of different perspectives and approaches, and you can apply these to your own curriculum.

Homeschooling is viewed by a growing portion of the population as a potentially ideal answer to the ills plaguing public educational systems these days. The key to achieving real success when educating children at home is to spend the time needed to gain as much information as possible about the process. With any luck, the preceding article has done a good job of offering the sort of tips and advice that can smooth the process for dedicated parents everywhere.

Helpful Tips For A Better College Education

College is not always an easy experience. There are a lot of things that will make your time there much easier and more productive. If you are looking for things you can do to make your college career one that is successful, the following article can help you out.

Don’t worry about choosing your major right away. Most schools give you until your junior year to select a major, so you should take time to explore different options and figure out what you most enjoy and might want to make a career out of before you select your major.

Make sure to make time for both socializing and academics. Some students spend all their times in their dorm rooms studying, which can be depressing and lonely, while others are so social that their coursework suffers. You should get out of your room and do something fun at least once a week and devote at least an hour a night to studying for each of your classes to help you stay balanced.

Find a bank that offers free savings and checking accounts. Look around and go with an establishment that works often with students and doesn’t charge you extra for a bunch of little things. Ask questions and find out if you can bank online so that you can manage your money when it is convenient for you.

To save time and money, use the college’s bus system. Taking a bus to school probably won’t take much longer than driving your car. You save time because you are not looking for parking. By using the bus system you can save money on gas and parking permits. It is also great for the environment.

If you’re going to a different state or wish to live on the campus, carefully think about whether or not you should bring your vehicle. It is hard to find parking in a big city. You have to pay for parking, registration, insurance, and gas, and this might be difficult if you do not have a job or are only working part time.

It is important to choose your classes wisely. Try to avoid taking a lot of classes that you are going to have to devote a lot of time and attention to all at once. Instead, alternate these harder courses with easier ones to make your semester and college experience a much easier one.

As you can see, there are quite a few things you can do to help make your time in college as productive as possible. Use the tips shared in this article and you will find that your time spent getting your education will be well spent and give you the degree that you desire.

Student Loans: Advice For College Students

Are you interested in attending school but due to the high costs involved you feel it might not be possible? Maybe you’ve heard of student loans, but are unsure on how to go about applying for them? Don’t worry, the following article was written for people who would like to attend school and need a student loan to make it happen.

Never ignore your student loans because that will not make them go away. If you are having a hard time paying the money back, call and speak to your lender about it. If your loan becomes past due for too long, the lender can have your wages garnished and/or have your tax refunds seized.

Be careful when consolidating loans together. The total interest rate might not warrant the simplicity of one payment. Also, never consolidate public student loans into a private loan. You will lose very generous repayment and emergency options afforded to you by law and be at the mercy of the private contract.

Try shopping around for your private loans. If you need to borrow more, discuss this with your adviser. If a private or alternative loan is your best bet, make sure you compare items like repayment options, fees, and interest rates. Your school may recommend some lenders, but you’re not required to borrow from them.

Exercise caution when considering student loan consolidation. Yes, it will likely reduce the amount of each monthly payment. However, it also means you’ll be paying on your loans for many years to come. This can have an adverse impact on your credit score. As a result, you may have difficulty securing loans to purchase a home or vehicle.

As you can see from the above article, attending school is now possibole because you know how to get a student loan. Don’t let your lack of financial resources hold you back any longer now that you understand the student loan process. Apply the tips from the article to make getting approved for a student loan possible.

Homeschooling 101 – Find Great Tips Here!

The prospect of educating one’s children at home can be simultaneously thrilling and frightening. The truth is that in order to approach the possibility with confidence, a good deal of advance knowledge and information should be obtained. Continue reading the article that follows to get some great advice about how to avoid common homeschool pitfalls.

Utilize local resources to find resources you need. You can find resources for homeschooling at garage sales, curriculum sales and even homeschool groups on sites like Yahoo and Craigslist. Don’t worry if they are gently used. A workbook with a few scribbled pages can still offer plenty of workable materials for class.

Don’t forget the ‘social’ side of school. A child gains much more from school than simply academics. Make sure that your child is involved in activities that a school offers such as sports and music. This can be achieved by meeting other homeschool parents and organizing extra curricular activities at the end of the school day or the weekend.

Finding time to cook at big meal at the end of the day can be tough when you are homeschooling children. Plan your meals ahead of time and precook as much as you can. Baking a lasagna during the weekend and freezing portions can really be a lifesaver during the week when you don’t feel like cooking.

If you must focus on two things, in particular, focus on reading and math. These subjects can be difficult for some children to learn. They are also going to be the most-used subjects throughout their lives. A solid mathematics and reading foundation will help them throughout the rest of their schooling and lives.

Remember that a structured day does not have to be rigid. Plan lessons in advance and stick to a schedule. At the same time, be flexible enough that you can change your plans as needed. Impromptu field trips or unexpected difficulties with a lesson may change your plans, and that’s just fine.

While many modern homeschooling programs come with a recommended schedule, be sure to check your state regulations before planning your curriculum. Many states require that homeschooled children learn on the same 40-week schedule as their public school counterparts. In states without such regulations, you will have more flexibility in planning the schedule.

There can be no doubt that homeschooling is a scary, exciting and potentially extremely rewarding process. The best way for any parent to approach the process wisely is to study the topic extensively before deciding to choose this route. With any luck, the piece above has provided some useful tips to make the choice as clear as it can be.

Simple Tips And Advice To Get Started In Arts And Crafts

Crafts can be good for your whole family. You just need basic knowledge and materials. Once you read this piece, you will be prepared. Then, you will be limited only by your imagination.

You can use many different things for arts and crafts. Paper goods that are generally discarded are great. Toilet paper or towel rolls are excellent supplies. Magazines and newspapers can also be used. Remain creative with what you usually toss out by using it in your projects instead.

Keeping your arts and crafts supplies organized can lead to a more pleasant experience when working on projects. Invest in good storage boxes, organizers and cases especially for smaller items. Supplies like beads and glitter can easily be spilled or lost. When you bring home new supplies, immediately transfer them into storage or organizational boxes.

If you are a fan of art and craft projects, you should use the Sunday circulars to your advantage. There are many stores that offer great deals on art supplies, and you won’t know about them unless you go through the sales papers, so don’t throw those circulars to the side.

When you are building a Pinewood derby car, make sure that you drill holes carefully in the bottom of the car, near the front, to load your weights into the body. Having the front part much heavier pulls it down the ramp faster, making your car more likely to finish in first place.

By applying some peanut butter to the outside of a pinecone, you can start making a cute bird feeder along with your children. Roll the cone in birdseed while your peanut butter still feels sticky. The seeds adhere to the cone, even after drying, so if you hang it from a tree with a string, then you can just enjoy watching birds feast in your yard.

Now you know what comes next. You can craft any item you want to. Get your family involved as well. You can enjoy your time and the completed project.

Advice For College: Admissions, Exams And Everything Else

Each falls many young people are faced with the challenges that college life presents. Many of the responsibilities that were previously done by a student’s parents are taken on by the young adult. By following some common sense advice, this transition can be a smooth one. Read on to learn a few tips about college life.

Do not choose a college or university because it is popular, because your friends or relatives went there or because you are a fan of their football team. There are other important factors you need to take into consideration such as your funding, the kind of career you want or the area where schools are located.

When you are choosing a major, do not simply think about money. You do not want a career in something that you find boring or uninteresting. A good choice is a major that will keep you interested fifty or more hours a week for the rest of your life. Explore your interests.

Join organizations around campus. You’ll have a better looking portfolio when other see you have interest in multiple things. Make sure you only take on what you can handle so your grades don’t slip.

Buy your school books a couple weeks before the term begins. Spend an hour familiarizing yourself with each of your books. If you have access to your course syllabus, check it out and see where in the book your class will be starting. This way you can get a bit of a head start.

Make the effort to get to know each of your instructors. Use office hours to visit each instructor at least once during the term. If the instructor is teaching a class in your major or intended major, spend more time in office hours. When you need a letter of recommendation, it will be easier if your instructors know you.

Once you start college, you should schedule an appointment with your adviser to set up a study plan. Your academic adviser will help you choose your classes, your activities and make plans for your future. Meet with your adviser on a regular basis to talk about your progress and make sure you stay on the right track.

College life is a time in a person’s life that is usually remembered fondly. There is no question that college is a great challenge, and demands new skills from a young adult, but it is also a lot of fun. These tips should help a young person make the adjustment to campus life a smooth one.