Holidaying with Kids

When it's May, holidays pop into our minds. It creeps into chats, discussions and arguments. Everyone loves a good holiday, but we might all differ in our definition of a ‘good holiday’. The ideal holiday is always one that caters to all of us in small ways. At the end of a holiday, we must all have great memories to keep.

Kids in the Boot by Ben Francis

With kids, it’s all the more difficult. Younger kids have less patience, while older kids enjoy a variety of things. Here are a few things you could try:

Treks: Typically younger kids have no patience for treks which last more than an hour, while older kids are quite comfortable walking for a couple of hours. Many teenagers who enjoy the outdoors can do full-fledged treks on their own.  

City Trips: One has to pick a good kid friendly city, which is friendly to everyone in the family. Generally such trips can include museums, parks, shops, fun eateries, a Zoo if the city has one, the riverfront(again if available) etc.

Road Trips: These can be great fun. It gives families the option to stop and go at their leisure. Younger kids love these breaks. It could be at a park or a restaurant or just an open field. If you are driving along the beach, it’s fun to stop and play a bit before continuing. Here’s more on kid friendly road trips.

Theme Park Trips: These can be great fun, but generally include staying within the theme park premises. After one or two visits, older members of the family might find it boring, but there's always the room to laze in.

Trips are a good way to bond with relatives. It's good to visit them or meet at some place. With nuclear families, trips might be the only time cousins get to meet. So what are you doing this summer?

Your Child and Social Networking – How to Get off on the Right Foot

Everyone’s talking about and on social media – posting selfies on Instagram, tweeting opinions in 140 characters, liking and sharing statuses and videos on Facebook and building professional networks on LinkedIn – we seem to do everything with one eye cocked on social networks. Why should kids be any different? They come with their share of sociability after all, and a need to talk about everything they see and experience, so it’s natural that your child should be curious about whatever social network happens to be currently popular among his or her friends and school mates. As our family lives are affected by social media, we need to know more about it.

“The kid never stops txtn” by Alex Gaylon licensed under CC BY SA 2.0

Networking for Kids – The Need for Vigilance

More than 70% of tweens and teens below 17 are active social networkers and more than 5 million Facebook users are not yet 10. These statistics strike terror into the heart of the bravest parents and rightly so. Toddlers with Twitter handles may be cute but most children are poorly equipped to deal with the predators, stalkers, pedophiles and cyber bullies that populate the underbelly of the virtual world. Burying your head in the sand and refusing to recognize the dangers of social networking simply don’t work. Here are 3 important tips you can use to make it a safe, age-appropriate and pleasant experience for your child.

1.      Allow them to explore kid-friendly websites

Just because they’re under 13 doesn’t mean you should bar your kids from exploring the virtual world. There are plenty of kid-centric websites that offer fun educational games and Role Playing Games where players can chat and interact with like-minded peers. These websites are designed to keep kids safe by blocking the exchange of personal information, inappropriate language and real life contexts – all potential sources of danger your child will definitely encounter on social networking sites meant for adults. Just make sure you do your research before allowing him to sign up. Steering your child in the right direction is as important as steering him away from the wrong one.

2.      Set up limited accessibility

Allowing your child to join social networking sites is fine. What is NOT fine is letting him have unlimited, unsupervised access to social media. Too much screen time can be detrimental to schoolwork, hobbies, real life friendships and family ties. How much is too much? 30-45 minutes a day is more than enough for teens, tweens and younger children. Set and manage the websites your child can visit; monitor his requests and set appropriate restrictions on games and apps. If he uses mobile devices, install parental control aps. Some social media sites have child-friendly privacy settings but you can’t afford to let your guard down.

3.      Make them aware of online dangers

Social networking is a great way for kids to connect with family, friends and class mates. But cyber bullying, identity theft and stranger danger are very real threats that come with the territory. And sometimes, online “friends” can be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Teach your child to take these precautions when he’s online:

·                         Not post his full name, address, school or date of birth
·                       Accept friend requests ONLY from people he knows in the real world
·                       Upload ONLY appropriate pictures, videos and posts
·                       Report bullies immediately

4.      Play Multi Player Games with them

A good way to ease them into the online world is to play along with them on Multi Player Games or Cooperative Games. There are special “Parent” Accounts which can be used. A good thing to do is check the age suitability of the content on a game. Games which involve cooperation in playing, mirror real life and builds a sense of sharing. Inbuilt controls in games, allows parents to make sure that they are around while it’s played. Sites like Common Sense Media have game reviews which are very useful.  

The most important precaution you can take to keep your child safe on social media is to talk to him about it; the earlier the better! 

5 Outdoorsy Activities for Spring

GeorgeLouis at English Wikipedia [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

It’s spring and it won’t last, even if it’s not warm enough as yet in some parts. Let’s make the best of it and spend time outdoors. Get the family out and more importantly get the kids to play outside. Here are 5 outdoorsy activities for this spring:

1. Take a walk in the woods. No woods? No problem. If you live in a city, check out the urban wildlife. There are always those plants and critters which brave the concrete and crowds in our cities. Spot them. Observe them. Take pictures.

2. Try a new outdoorsy sport. Hesitant? That’s not unusual. Perhaps you should try it with a friend? 

3. Have kids? Well, get them to sit outside in a nice shaded area and try a craft. It’s the outdoors – clearing up messes is easier! 

4. Have a picnic! Yes, a nice old fashioned picnic. Make some simple food and carry it to a place where you can have it at an unhurried pace. Hey, don’t forget to carry some water or other fluids. 

5. Meet family and friends. It’s a good time to catch up with family and whatever’s been happening in their lives. Put a table out and enjoy something cold to drink, snacks and chit-chat. It’s important for both you and your family to socialize, don’t overlook it.

 Well, that’s a short easy list to follow. Go on, enjoy your spring!

English Games to Practice Phonics with Kids

For the time-strapped parents, here are 4 5-minute English games to practice phonics with your preschoolers at home.

Alphabet Cookies

This is an English activity that will taste good too! Employ kids to make the cookie dough. Have them measure 2 cups of softened butter and 1 ½ cups of caster sugar in a bowl. Give them a plastic ladle with a blunt and comfortable handle to mix the ingredients. Help them fold in an egg yolk 2 tsp vanilla extract and briefly beat until it’s of a firm texture. Sift 3 cups of plain flour and give them to the kids to mix with the dough. Have the kids use their hands then to mix and press the dough. Begin the lesson with them when the cookie dough is ready. Dictate letters and have them make the letters with the dough on a pre-buttered and pre-heated baking tray. Bake them then and you will have alphabet cookies to go with your coffee and milk for the kids!

The Name Game

After learning single syllabled words, it’s her own name that the child learns to write. Here is an English game with names. Cut out a few more squares from white paper than as many letters in your child’s name. Write a letter each from her name and a few more random ones on the squares and tuck them away in an envelope. Hand over the envelope to the child and ask her to form her name from the letter cutouts in the envelope. Praise her performance at the end of it.

The Spring Game

Besides practicing syllables with your child, this English game will help them practice reading too. Find out 10-20 spring related words. Take an A4 sized white paper and fold it into half lengthwise. Write the second syllable of the spring words on the left fold and the first syllable on the right. Have them choose the correct syllable from the right and write it on the left fold to complete the words.

The ‘E’ Game  

Besides practicing phonics, you child will learn new words while playing this English game. Give her several cutouts of the letter ‘e’ and write down a list of words that will make complete and meaningful words with ‘e’ in the end and another set that will not make words with ‘e’. Have her glue ‘e’ next to the words that she feels make sense with an ‘e’ in the end.

Have fun exploring the funny world of the English language!

5 Essentials in a Virtual Pet Game for Kids

Your child is interested in owning a virtual pet, and you’re wondering which game to introduce him to. Out of the hundreds of virtual pet games out there, it isn’t easy to predict which ones he is more likely to enjoy. However, you can certainly make an educated guess based on the popularity of the pet games available online.

“Healthy Foods” by Kevin Jarrett is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Of course preferences vary from one child to the next, but there are certain features that most kids seem to enjoy in an online pet game. Here they are, listed in no particular order.

A virtual world

It’s all very well to feed your virtual pet and play a couple of games with it for an hour or two, but after that things get repetitive. On the other hand, kids find great pleasure in exploring a whole new virtual world with their online pets. In some games, the virtual world mirrors the real world. Pets run around in parks and visit restaurants or splash in water. In other games, the virtual world is an imaginative one with places that you would never be able to visit in real life. You may be able to explore arctic islands, visit lands from the past or journey to the center of the earth with your virtual pets. Either way, these virtual worlds add a great deal of fun and adventure to the pet games. While most popular pet games have 3D virtual worlds that you can walk through, Neopets was one virtual pet game that did extremely well in spite of only having a 2D version of their virtual world.

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      Exotic pets

If your child could choose between a pet dog and a pet dragon, which do you think he would choose? For many kids, part of the excitement in owning a virtual pet comes from the range of options available to choose from. Without worrying about the amount of space available at home, the kind of food the pet would require or the kind of care the pet needs, kids can opt to adopt dolphins, tigers, griffins, dragons and even monsters. Some games take the action one step further by allowing players to ride on the backs of their winged pets.

      A creative outlet

Everyone has an innate desire to create something of their own. Many times, all one needs is the right opportunity. Virtual pet games that offer such an outlet are a big hit with kids. Kids delight in customizing their virtual homes, adding rooms and furniture as they deem fit. By allowing players to visit each other’s homes and putting well-designed homes in the spotlight, many virtual pet games encourage kids to think big and get creative with their virtual homes. However, not everyone is good at interior decoration. For kids who would rather write a story, create cartoons or design webpages, there are pet games that encourage these creations as well. Typically, the creations revolve around the theme and characters of the pet game, and are viewed by fellow players.

“A neopets faerie” by L. Whittaker is licensed under CC BY 2.0

            

      Mini games and quests

No matter how extensive the virtual worlds are, there’s bound to come a time when you’ve explored it all. You’ve visited every nook and corner and you know the lands inside out. What do you do next? Kids love it when there are mini games inside the virtual pet game. Rather than offering generic mini games that kids can just as well play on a gaming website, the good virtual pet games have mini games that tie in with the theme and characters of the larger world. The points earned in these games contribute to the in-game currency and allow kids to buy more items for their pets. The greater the number and variety of mini-games available, the happier your child is likely to be. Kids also love solving quests, and greatly appreciate it when they are available in a pet game.

      A strong community of fellow players

When you have a virtual pet game that you are really excited about, you would naturally want someone to share that excitement with. Many pet games allow players to do this by letting them socialize with each other on the website. Through multiplayer games, chat options, user profiles and forums, players can get to know each other and form good friends online. (If you are considering a pet game with social networking options, make sure the website has safety controls in place and that your child is aware of the best practices in socializing on the internet.) Such a community, bound by common interests, is often close-knit and contributes to the players’ love for the game.

Talk to your child and discuss which of these features are important to him. You can also find out what he expects from each feature. Based on his responses, you can find a virtual pet game that is most suited to his unique tastes and preferences.

5 Best Learning Games from 2014

2014 saw a plethora of learning games taking the educational gaming market by storm. From online learning games  to board games, the variety available is already impressive, with many new additions being made to this list. While some fizzled out, the others managed to stay on and make a long-lasting impression on parents’ and children’s minds. Here are our 5 favorite learning games for kids from the year gone by.

Small World (ages 10 – 14)

This is a learning game for kids with cards. 2-5 players can play this game at a time, all of whom will vie for control of the board, which is the ulterior motive. Simultaneously, players must pick the right combination of fantasy races and unique superpowers to expand empires and defeat neighbors at the expansion. Live with dwarves, wizards, amazons, giants, and orcs and go on conquering lands and territories.

Aristotle Number Puzzle (ages 7 – 15)

Image Credit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0085JRADS

Raise the little Aristotle in your child with this learning game! Finished with an antique touch to give the puzzle an aged look, it is inspired by the great Greek philosopher Aristotle. The hexagonal wood puzzle has tiles numbered from 1-19. The challenge is to arrange the tiles, whether 3, 4, or 5 in each row, in such a way that each row adds up to 38. There are 15 rows to complete, each row made up of 3, 4 or 5 tiles.

Gravity Maze (ages 8 – 15)

Image Credit: http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-1006-Gravity-Maze/dp/B00IUAAK2A

If you’re looking to sharpen your reasoning skills and visual perception, then this is the learning game for kids from 2014, which will be an absolute fun exercise for your brain. The challenge is to build a path with visually stimulating gravity cubes and create a path for a marble to reach its target successfully. There are 60 levels of the challenge, ranging in difficulty, which will give you plenty of exercise to plan the creative mazes in your head!

Pyramix – The Three Sided Strategy Game (ages 8+)

Image Credit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JRGG3ZE

This is a strategy game for kids where they need to pull apart the pyramid by taking turns to move one cube at a time from the stack without toppling it. As the cubes are taken out, the others will slide down to the base. Every move has to be planned carefully as the bottom-most cubes are worth the big points. Watch out for cobras that may come and eat into your score.

Robot Turtles (ages 4+)

The learning game provides crucial brain development and computer programming skills to kids aged 4 and upward. Kids will have to dictate the movements of their Robot Turtles on the game board by playing code cards that say forward, left and right. The player will win if the Robot Turtle successfully reaches the end point. Bug cards can be used to undo a move but for a limited number of times. The game continues till all the players have reached the end point which means every one is a winner! 

How to Observe ‘Read across America Day’ in the Class

‘Read across America’ is a fairly recent phenomenon in the history of America’s literary movements. In 1997, the National Education Association came up with the idea of creating a day to celebrate reading. Dr. Seuss being one of the most widely celebrated children’s writers in American literature, it was only befitting to commemorate his birthday as ‘Read across America Day’. Thus, March 2 sees the largest celebration of reading in the history of the United States of America.

It is important to motivate children to read because reading is undoubtedly one of the best educators and companions for life. Research has proved that children who are motivated to take up reading as a pastime do better in school than those who consider reading to be just another chore. Reading opens up a world of possibilities and fans the desire to know more. So how can ‘Read across America Day’ be observed so that children are motivated to love reading?

Reading by Moyan Brenn

Classroom Activities

Three to nine are the formative years in any child’s life. It is during their kindergarten to 3^rd grade that they have to be motivated to read and take up reading as a hobby. Activities and worksheets can play an important role in motivating them. Browse the online space to download suitable reading activities and worksheets for 1^st to 3^rd grade kids that will introduce prominent authors and books to them with a fun approach. Here are a couple of activities that will encourage the kids to read.

Kindergarten-1^st grade activities to encourage reading

Get plenty of clothespins and distribute them equally among the class. Have the kids write a consonant each on the clothespins they got. Vowels will eventually fall short so you get as many clothespins as the number of students in your class and write a vowel each on them. Collect the clothespins and distribute the consonant clothespins equally among the class. Give a vowel to each student. Put up a clothesline from one end of the classroom to another. Call one student after another and ask him/her to form a word using any of their letters. Have them clip the clothespins arranged as their word on the clothesline and make way for the next student. 

The words they make may not necessarily be meaningful, but they must have a proper pronunciation, an example being chank, teck, feg, bord, etc. Have the students read all the words aloud in unison after everybody has finished clipping their words on the clothesline. Though this is an activity for kindergarteners, it can be tweaked to make a great 1^st grade activity if you challenge them to use all the letters they got or ask them to make a synonym of a certain word (this can be asked only when you’ve studied their letters carefully) or a word where the vowel is placed last (such a word may not sound coherent always), etc. Improvise on these activities further to make them suitable for higher grades.

Reading activities for 2nd-3rd grade

How can we write an article on ways to observe ‘Read across America Day’ without having an activity based on the man himself, Dr. Seuss? Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, this is a classroom activity that’s just right to observe the Day. Divide the class into two groups and give them a magnetic sheet each along with markers. Have a group write 20 random verbs on the magnetic sheet while the other group gets to write 10 random common nouns and 10 adverbs. Cut out the words and distribute the words equally among each group – 10 verbs, 5 adverbs and 5 nouns. Challenge the groups to make a story using the words they got. To increase the difficulty level, challenge them to use all the words. They will have to arrange the words on any magnetic surface and form their story. Isn’t that a fitting tribute to Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham which consists of just 50 different words?

Other Miscellaneous Ways to Observe ‘Read across America Day’

Reading Across America in Milford by CT Senate Democrats

• Invite athletes and actors to issue challenges to students of your class/school
• Invite an author/poet to read to your class
• Read to your class
• Take your class to any literary figure’s house that has been converted into a museum
• Arrange a ‘book donation’ drive for the needy