| IntroductionAs a parent who wants the best | | | | research on |
| for your children, there are | | | | |
| | | | possible destinations, sites of interest, |
| undoubtedly many things that you already do | | | | driving or flying |
| every day to | | | | |
| | | | routes, and how to dress appropriately for |
| help your children succeed in school. The | | | | the climate of |
| purpose of this | | | | |
| | | | your destination spot. If you're thinking of |
| article is to provide some practical ideas | | | | buying a new car, |
| for you to try. Some | | | | |
| | | | let your kids take part in your consumer |
| of these suggestions may be new to you, many | | | | research, |
| will be | | | | |
| | | | comparing different car models according to |
| familiar, and some are just plain common | | | | a variety of |
| sense but, | | | | |
| | | | pertinent criteria.Nurture good study habits |
| hopefully, they will all serve as reminders | | | | and self-discipline. Set aside a |
| of the many | | | | |
| | | | regular, daily study time for homework in a |
| simple steps you can take that are too often | | | | quiet, well-lit |
| taken for | | | | |
| | | | room. Be sure that your kids have a study |
| granted or forgotten about, due to the | | | | environment that's |
| hectic pace of | | | | |
| | | | sound physically, as well as conducive to |
| everyday living.Read to your kids, whatever | | | | mental |
| their agesFirst of all, read to your | | | | |
| children. We all know that this is | | | | concentration. A quiet room is important, |
| | | | but so too is good |
| important, but I'd like to point out that | | | | |
| reading aloud should | | | | lighting, a chair that provides good back |
| | | | support and access |
| begin in infancy. It can contribute to your | | | | |
| baby's developing | | | | to all the materials that your children need |
| | | | to complete |
| attention span and receptive language | | | | |
| skills. In addition, I'd | | | | projects. Supply them with pencils, erasers, |
| | | | rulers, and so |
| like to encourage parents to read to growing | | | | |
| children, even | | | | forth.Encourage kids to keep their desk or |
| | | | other study area neat |
| once they are able to read on their own. | | | | |
| Don't stop once your | | | | and well organized. This will prevent lots |
| | | | of time-wasting |
| kids are in elementary school for, whatever | | | | |
| the status of | | | | searches for materials and will really pay |
| | | | off as your |
| their reading skills, hearing a good book | | | | |
| read aloud is an | | | | children get older and their school |
| | | | assignments become |
| experience apart.Being read to allows | | | | |
| children to focus more on the | | | | more complex. Good organizational skills, |
| | | | which include the |
| descriptive passages and the action, rather | | | | |
| than having to | | | | arrangement of physical objects, plus the |
| | | | logical structuring |
| struggle with understanding every single | | | | |
| word. It also | | | | of the steps involved in completing any |
| | | | given project, can |
| allows them to hear great children's stories | | | | |
| that are beyond | | | | last a lifetime.Take an interest in your |
| | | | kids' day-to-day school lifeTake an interest |
| their current reading level, and it's a | | | | in your children's school projects. |
| wonderful way for a | | | | |
| | | | Encourage them to show you reports they've |
| family to share a magical experience. Choose | | | | written or |
| a children's | | | | |
| | | | pictures they've drawn. Make them see that |
| book that can also be enjoyed by you as an | | | | you care about |
| adult, and have | | | | |
| | | | what they're doing and about how they're |
| a family reading session each evening or | | | | doing, but don't |
| each week. A | | | | |
| | | | make them feel like they're constantly being |
| classic children's story, such as "The Wind | | | | monitored or |
| in the Willows," | | | | |
| | | | judged. Don't add pressure, just give them |
| or the Harry Potter books might be perfect | | | | plenty of support, |
| for your family, | | | | |
| | | | encouragement and praise for jobs well done. |
| depending on the ages and interests of your | | | | Provide them |
| children.Encourage independent reading and | | | | |
| library useOffer quality children's | | | | with the resources they need (such as |
| literature to your growing children and | | | | Internet access, |
| | | | |
| encourage them to read on their own - at | | | | library time, books and magazine articles) |
| their own level and | | | | to do a good job |
| | | | |
| at their own pace. Fiction and nonfiction | | | | on school assignments, but... resist the |
| can both open up | | | | temptation to do the |
| | | | |
| new worlds of knowledge and experience and | | | | school projects for them.Take the same |
| help prepare | | | | approach with everyday homework. If your |
| | | | |
| kids for success in school and in adult | | | | child's having trouble with a math problem, |
| life, and don't forget | | | | review the rules, |
| | | | |
| that online children's stories are an | | | | explain the procedures, and check the |
| exciting new resource to | | | | results, but don't just |
| | | | |
| add to your reading repertoire.Take your | | | | give a child the answers. The learning |
| children to the local public library. Be sure | | | | process is more |
| that | | | | |
| | | | important than a list of correct answers to |
| each member of the family has his or her own | | | | hand in to the |
| library card. | | | | |
| | | | teacher.Go that extra mileAmong the most |
| Help your children see the public library | | | | precious gifts that you can give to your |
| not just as a place | | | | |
| | | | children is your time. Put them first and |
| associated with homework and drudgery, but | | | | make time for them. |
| rather as an | | | | |
| | | | Build a happy, stable home environment, full |
| exciting doorway to interesting information | | | | of love and |
| and adventure. | | | | |
| | | | security, and you've already gone a long way |
| Encourage library book borrowing related to | | | | towards |
| any special | | | | |
| | | | helping your children thrive and succeed |
| topic that interests your kids - from | | | | both in school and |
| astronomy to adventure | | | | |
| | | | in life. Be involved in the big and the |
| stories, from fact to fantasy.Get your kids | | | | small events that make |
| to participate in some of the special free | | | | |
| extra | | | | up their daily lives. Offer your support, |
| | | | encouragement, |
| activities and programs that are regularly | | | | |
| scheduled in | | | | resources and love. Be there for them, no |
| | | | matter how busy |
| many public libraries, like storyhours, | | | | |
| craft projects, films, | | | | your professional life is or whatever other |
| | | | commitments you |
| and summer reading clubs. Take your children | | | | |
| to | | | | have. Before you know it your children will |
| | | | be grown up and |
| museums, concerts, puppet shows and the | | | | |
| like. Expose | | | | what they'll become depends largely on you. |
| | | | For their sake, |
| them to any forms of entertainment and | | | | |
| cultural enrichment | | | | as well as for your own, make the most of |
| | | | their childhood.There are no pearls of wisdom |
| that you may be lucky enough to have access | | | | here, just a refresher course |
| to.Develop effective research skills and good | | | | |
| study habitsHelp your kids develop research | | | | in things that we've all heard a million |
| skills that will serve them | | | | times, but don't |
| | | | |
| well, not only on school projects, but later | | | | always stop to take them to heart. They're |
| in daily life as an | | | | so important that |
| | | | |
| adult. For instance, if you're planning a | | | | they deserve our attention, to periodically |
| family trip, let the | | | | remind us of what |
| | | | |
| kids conduct library and Internet-based | | | | really counts in life. |