Author: fuelingbrains_AdMEEn

Painting is Art

When kids begin to explore their talents and specialties, one of the areas some may excel in is painting. Even though painting may not be every child’s cup of tea, it sure does have benefits that both you and your child can learn from together.

Painting Benefits

Among the various aspects that painting allows you to cover, some of the greatest benefits integrated with painting are:

Painting can help your children communicate their emotions or feelings. Through the use of different colors, they can express themselves without the use of words.

Painting allows children an educational opportunity that is also fun and exciting.

Painting aids children acquire hand-eye coordination, an important skill in their age. This is developed while they learn to paint the parts that they see; making sure their hand movement is at par with their vision.

Painting aids your child develop mobility skills. Their hand muscles are being used, which allows them a scope to develop both mentally and physically.

Painting helps children acquire skills on how to focus on trivial details, painting on a canvas or a piece of paper requires varied painting skills.

Painting can be a great podium for children to progress and discover their creativity. They learn about various color mixtures and how they go together.

Painting can help children learn sizes, shapes, patterns and designs. These are all critical aspects of their curriculum during pre-school years.

Painting helps children develop their decision-making skills. They need to plan ahead as they choose which color should be used for different parts of the painting.

Painting can play the role of therapy for a child who might be feeling different emotions; whether these feelings are subtle or extreme in nature. In addition to communication, painting can help children feel better about things that they may have bottled up inside.

Perhaps the greatest benefit is the fact that painting provides you and your children a great platform to bond and spend valuable time together.

These are just a few benefits your child can acquire from painting. Painting can be a significant part of your child’s overall development and upbringing. Making it a point to take some time out once in a while to paint with your child can prove to be very rewarding in the long run.

Learning

Children are constantly learning as they grow and develop. Most children dread going to school, a place that much academic learning happens. This is mainly because young children need to feel excited and wish to have fun while learning. If you can incorporate learning and fun together for your children, learning might become more appealing to them!

Toys

One of the best ways to mix fun and learning is through toys. Playing with toys can be a great way for children to develop various skills. The best toys to purchase are the ones that involve a child’s senses, stimulate children’s imaginations, and inspire them to interact with others.
When children are babies, toys can help them learn about different colors, shapes, and sizes. Especially toys that move through the use of batteries, these can help babies develop their attention spans in addition to their visual skills.

As babies grow into toddlers, you can arrange for a greater variety of toys. Certain toys can help in furthering their motor skills while they play, like blocks. Play dough can help children develop their constructing skills in addition to pushing their creativity.

As kids get into their pre-school and kindergarten years, toys that incorporate numbers, language and even science skills. There are different toys out there that can cater to these learning objectives, for example, alphabet puzzles, electronic toys, and toy pets that speak back to the child.

For babies and young kids, it is important to make sure the toys are appropriate for them, as many children at a younger age can choke on toys that are too small. Most toys have hazard signs written on them, which can be referred to if there are any doubts regarding the safety of the toy.

Children can absorb and learn so much just from playing. When you provide your children with educational toys and make time to play with them, it gives your children an opportunity to connect with you, while learning and, having fun. Your objective of making your children love learning can be achieved by the use of educational toys. Not only can it help them learn, it can even help them retain all that they learned, not to mention the precious memories they will have of their childhood.

Tech Savvy World

With the tech savvy world we live in, kids are becoming increasingly dependent and attached to technology. Reading is becoming less and less a pass time and more of a punishment; one that kids dread to even think about. However, there can be no limit to the benefits associated with encouraging children to engage in reading.
Keeping Them Hooked

The question from many parents these days is how can we motivate kids to read? Here are a few tips to motivate your kids to read:

• Read everything:Reading doesn’t have to be limited to books. Kids can read wherever they are. Ask your kids to read to you while they are eating breakfast; by looking at cereal boxes or while in the car, passing through bill boards, names of stores, shops, etc. If they like being on the Internet often, ask them what they are reading up online.
• Make it a habit to read out loud: Many parents may not know this, but reading out loud to children helps them to learn to read faster and also develops their comprehension skills on a faster pace. Make it a habit to read out loud at least once a week or biweekly. This can also help you bond with your kids.
• Offer incentives: Offer incentives to your kids for the amount of time they spend reading. Make sure they are healthy and productive incentives so they don’t end up taking advantage of it in the wrong ways. Offer to take them out on a treat based on their monthly reading habits, buy them useful gifts and let them fully understand that you appreciate their reading efforts. Appreciation goes a long way in keeping habits running strong.
• Build a library at home: Studies have shown that homes with libraries often produce more intelligent students. Work with your kids to build a library at home, one that will cater to their reading preferences as well as yours.
• Remain hopeful: Putting the harmful effect on vision aside, the Internet and a variety of other gadgets have actually helped many people indulge themselves in reading on a greater scale compared to before. There is a special software that you can download, catered to help kids learn to read and enjoy it.

Beginning to Teeth

One of the most exciting moments in a parent’s life is when your toddler begins to grow teeth. However, it can be quite distressful and uncomfortable for your toddler; needless to say, it takes a toll on the parents. Here are a few things to keep in mind while your munchkin grows what will be an integral part of their lives: their teeth.

Tips for Teething Parents

• Keep track of the growing teeth: Make sure to count the growing teeth. Also, make note of whether the teeth are growing in a healthy way or if they come out in unhealthy postures. Speaking to a dentist would be a good idea even though it’s still quite early.
• Rub the gums: If your toddler feels pain or discomfort, you can try rubbing their gums with your fingers or with the back of a toothbrush. Be careful not to rub too hard!
• Offer cold items to chew on: Cold carrots, celery or cucumbers are good for the gums, provide soothing comfort and allow for the teeth to come out easier. Ensure that your child is supervised while eating these items, choking is a very common accident among toddlers. Cold yogurt may also be of help if your toddler loses appetite with other foods during this time.
• Visit the pediatrician: You should normally visit the pediatrician but during the teething phase, it is essential to have your doctor thoroughly check the inside of your toddler’s mouth.
• Teething gel or medicine: If your child is having serious health issues due to the teething (i.e. fevers, diarrhea, etc.), the best option would be to visit the pediatrician. Apart from that, if your toddler feels constant pain in the gums, you can try out teething gels. Avoid teething gels that have sugar, the last thing you want is to cause cavities on growing teeth by covering them with sugar. There are also other homeopathic or herbal options you can consider. Look into your local pharmacy for further options.
• Teething toys: There are special toys made for toddlers who are teething. Toddlers love biting onto items during this time and might find it comforting to chew on toys. Ensure that the teething toys are cleaned properly in order to avoid getting sick and other harmful effects.

Growing Kids

Kids grow on a daily basis. From height, weight, looks, to other internal developments, kids undergo changes that are vital to keep them going. Eating brain foods or foods that are good for the overall improvement of their brains and bodies is essential in order to ensure healthy development.

Brain Foods

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but often it is one that is skipped by many children. The best breakfasts will have high protein levels and carbs that are complex. Wholegrain cereals with milk are a good way to start the day. Oatmeal is one of the most highly recommended breakfast items.

• Eggs: Kids need eggs for their memory cells to expand. The good thing about eggs is that they can be eaten in many different ways.
• Blueberries, Cherries, & Strawberries: These berries offer kids high antioxidants. Since kids aren’t great fans of spinach, berries can be a replacement to help get rid of bad toxins within the body. These berries also help brains take less stress; something that one may undergo throughout the day.

Lunch just like breakfast, eating a healthy lunch is critical for timely brain development. Eating proteins, brown rice, brown bread, and the like helps children digest better and also helps keep the brain active without an overdose on unhealthy or artificial sugars. The fiber kids get from whole-wheat meals is unmatched.

Snacks rather than allowing kids to snack on unhealthy junk food, it is best to try and get kids to munch on healthy snacks, such as baby carrots, cereals, whole-wheat cookies, and their like. Not only will this prevent obesity, it will also help their brains develop in a healthy manner while they do their homework, play, or go about their routine at home.
Dinner- eating an early dinner that is high on protein, vitamins, and minerals is not good only for adults but also for children.

• Milk: is a whole meal in itself and can be given at any time of the day. Milk provides vitamin D and several other minerals that children require.

Healthy eating to ensure a strong brain development needs to start early and right from home. It is a matter of a complete lifestyle and not just a weekly plan that can be overlooked.

The Timing

A lot of parents struggle with trying to determine when is the right time to have their child potty trained. There’s no denying that the later you start on potty training, the more difficult it is to deal with as your child gets older. The truth of the matter is, some children just require more time while others can learn sooner.

The Signs

You need to watch out for the signs that your child might be ready to potty train. Does your child clutch the diaper or do something unusual every time they ‘need to go?’ Most children will start to show these signs from the time they are 18 to 24 months in age, while some might show signs a bit earlier or later.

Some of the signs include:

• ability to follow instructions
• comprehend words related to using the bathroom
• orally express when they have to use the bathroom
• not wetting the diaper for 2 or more hours
• ability to sit on the potty and get off of it
• ability to put pants on and taking them off
• showing interest in using the potty or wearing pants

Tips on Potty Training

Firstly, keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to potty train in one day.

Secondly, try keeping the diaper off for a few hours in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. Let your child do everything normally, but take him to the potty in 15 or 20-minute intervals until he gets the hang of the potty. You can put the diaper back on after a few hours.

Thirdly, remember to keep an extra potty in the back of the car if you go out. This way you can continue the potty training even when you’re not home.

Fourthly, you can try rewarding your child every time they remember to use the potty. Sing their praises and offer them a simple reward. It could be a chocolate, cookie, or anything they love to eat or play with. Once they get the message that using the potty means reward, they will feel more enthusiastic about getting to the potty.

Fifthly, have patience, persevere, and don’t lose your mind when your child has ‘accidents’. It is only natural that they will. Support your child and reassure them that you are there for them no matter the challenge.

What We Want as Parents

Parenting is a life long job; once a parent, you have a lifelong duty as one. It is through parenting that we learn so much about both our children and ourselves. What we want the most is to raise our children right. We want to give our children the best in life. It is an extra blessing to have an appreciative child.

Ways to Raise Appreciative Children

There are several ways of raising children who will be appreciative:

Set a standard: Children do as they see. If you want a child to know how to appreciate, you must be willing to show them how to appreciate. They need to see proper role models in you; to tell them one thing and do something else yourself will lead to unwanted results.
Teach them their basic manners: The ‘thank you, please, sorry, and excuse me’ need to be taught from early on. Don’t ever think that your child is too young to learn proper manners. You need to teach them their basics from a very young age. Children are molded very easily when it comes to behavior.

Accept their slip ups: Children are human and prone to trial and error. They will fail over and over, let them. It is only through their set backs and failures that they will learn the value of what you teach them. Sometimes you have to let them learn things the hard way. If you have done your job well, you need to trust yourself enough to let your child develop and grow at his or her own pace.

Designate responsibility: If you want your child to appreciate all the hard work you invest in them and be prepared for the world at large, it is absolutely imperative that you assign responsibilities from a young age. From getting their bed done, washing their own dishes, cleaning up their room, to grabbing some grocery on their way back from school or class- do not underestimate the power of responsibility. Designate and follow up.

Don’t lose hope: Even if you don’t see your child appreciating the things in his or her life, or showing kindness and mercy, don’t give up. Children are all different and they learn things at a different pace.

Once a child is ready to start school, it’s a huge transition and most new parents are unsure of how to go about dealing with it. There are never enough tips on how to go prepare your child for one the biggest transitions they will experience during childhood. Having said that, let’s take a look at a few!

Tips on School Preparation

With your big kid ready for school, there’s no time to waste. You may think your child is still young but trust me when I say; they are never too young to pick up on and understand things. By preparing them for school, you are slowly, but surely, preparing them for the world at large.

1) As the days come closer to entering school, try to focus on improving their writing and reading skills. Their general skills on counting, recognizing patterns, etc. should also be developed whenever you go out on trips or during their day-to-day activities. Take oral tests and assign homework if possible.

2) Make sure you talk to your child and keep the communication platform an easy and accessible one. Talk about any possible school problems they may have to go through, such as peer pressure, school cliques/groups, and bullying.

3) At home, emphasize on family values by imparting good behavior and manners and try to teach money management skills as well. One of the most important skills a child needs is the skill of responsibility. Assign tasks to your child and let them know that they will be accountable to you for the things you hold them responsible for.

4) Reinforce good behavior by acknowledging it and rewarding it. Irrelevant of the age, your child might have tantrums, and this needs to be dealt with appropriately and not with emotions only.

5) Get them into a proper routine before school starts; sleeping on time and waking up on time. This will help save the trouble of getting into a good sleeping habit once school starts.

6) Don’t expect perfection. Let them make mistakes, break the rules, and then learn through all of the fallbacks. Each child is different and the same tactics do not work with all children.

Always remember, good education starts from home. Don’t ever forget that school life is only one part of a child’s life. Home life constitutes a greater portion. Both home and school life together will cater to making the child your heart aspires for. Keep working for it and don’t give in no matter the circumstances; your child will always need you no matter the age.

 

As a parent the first and foremost goal of your life is to nurture your child and give them the best of everything. With that comes the duty of raising an independent child. Although it’s natural for any parent to guide every little step of their child, the child should be capable of making his/her own decisions too. However, that doesn’t mean you have to overindulge your child’s whims.

The key to raising an independent child is the balance between giving them the freedom and being stern. Here are a few pointers on achieving that perfect balance.

Make a routine for your child:
Although your child needs their freedom, creating a routine for their daily life is also essential. Your child needs to be responsible for the daily chores of the house, which includes keeping their room clean, washing their own plate after each meal, etc.

Teach them to solve their own problem:
Your child needs to solve their own problem by themselves. Don’t rush off to save them at the first moment. Give them time to think about how to mitigate a critical issue, and if things turn more serious, you can always help them in the end. Don’t take sides during a quarrel between your children. That will create a bad impression on them.

It’s okay to fail:
Failing to complete a task isn’t the end of the world. Don’t scold your child if he/she fails in some test. Rather, be supportive and ask what’s bothering them.

Be supportive:
Let your child know how much you care for them. Support them in their individual decisions and discuss the pros/cons with them.

Let them be vocal about their choice:
Little things do matter. Whether it’s ordering food in restaurants or choosing their own outfits, you should always let your child express their own opinion.

Offer your valuable opinions, but don’t interfere:
Sometimes children are indecisive about their options. In these critical times, you should collaborate with your child and offer valuable life lessons, but don’t try to over criticize them, as that might backfire. You should let your child handle their own issues by themselves.
If you want to raise an independent child, then you must let them know their responsibilities. Accept your child’s decisions and offer love and guidance throughout the process. With proper instructions and care, your child will blossom into a sincere and healthy individual.

Happy Parenting!

Much more than shapes, colours and counting, the Montessori philosophy of developing early childhood education explores many aspects of a child’s development. A practical environment was one Maria Montessori considered to be most significant in helping the child reach new levels of independence, self-autonomy and understanding. She worked tirelessly to create different ways to enhance her students’ learning environments. In 1929 she partnered with Albert Nienhuis to develop high-quality educational materials. Through this partnership, Nienhuis Montessori was born.

Making sustainable products of the highest quality, Nienhuis Montessori is now the world’s leading manufacturer of Montessori materials. They are endorsed by the Association Montessori International, and are constantly developing new technologies to further Maria Montessori’s visions.

Kids U is committed to offering the very best in quality education to our students, from the teachers that teach them, to the curriculums we create for them, and of course, to the environments they learn in every day. So it was only natural that we partner with the very best in learning materials and classroom furnishings, to further enhance the Kids U educational experience.

In January, Kids U’s Executive Director and Director of Campus Logistics travelled to Holland to meet with Nienhuis Montessori’s CEO and tour the company’s factory. Impressed with the quality of their Montessori materials and their dedication to creating products that stimulate the child’s brain, Kids U has decided to make Nienhuis Montessori our exclusive supplier.

With several new locations opening up in Calgary, as well as an expansion of our McKnight location, the partnership could not have come at a better time. We are looking forward to working with Nienhuis Montessori to provide our children and their families with top-of-the-line materials that will inspire creativity, encourage independence and build brains.