Showing posts with label building social interaction skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label building social interaction skills. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2014
Playing Out -- Reclaiming Neighborhood Streets as a Social Center for Children
That was the thought that Bristol, England, resident Alice Ferguson had back in 2009. She and her neighbor Amy Rose arranged to have their street closed to through traffic for three hours one day after school and let the children run free, just like the good old days. This was the start of the not-for-profit organization Playing Out.
The goals of Playing Out are to draw children out from behind closed doors, get them away from computer screens and encourage them to discover the joy of riding a scooter up and down the street without a parent standing two feet away. Children today are losing the social opportunities they once had. Many resort to online friendships devoid of physical interaction, boundary pushing and yes, bruising a few knees.
Playing Out was never intended to be an ongoing scheme, but when it became clear how important the social interaction was for children, Bristol city council got involved and ran a pilot scheme. Temporary through traffic road closures once a week allowed the concept of children playing safely in the streets to become a reality.
The social interactions of Playing Out benefit children, but the adults on the street get to know each other better as well. Parents chat, reminisce and enjoy a cup of coffee together as they give their kids some much needed unstructured play and a chance to make new friends.
You can adopt the Playing Out concept in your own neighborhood and gets kids outside again. Everyone has a different approach to parenting, but there’s no denying that outdoor time with neighborhood friends is beneficial in this world of over-scheduling and screen-based entertainment.
To learn more about the value of children playing outside, please contact ListenLoveLearn.
Image via Shutterstock.com
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Kids May Say the Darndest Things, But You Can Learn a Lot About Love If You’ll Only Listen
The ListenLoveLearn process is based on a simple fact: listening is the key to success. It’s the primary means by which children learn in the classroom. In such an auditory world, children can quickly fall behind if they have hearing loss or face a challenging auditory process disorder (APD). All you want is to help your child listen better, but have you ever stopped to consider the value of learning from kids?
How long has it been since you really listened? Not to the news, not to the movie you’re watching, not even to your favorite music. When was the last time you really listened to your kids?
They may say the darndest things, but you could learn a lot about love from these tiny people. Consider Greg, age 8. He already knows that “love is the most important thing in the world,” though he does admit “baseball is pretty good, too.” Ava, also age 8, is wiser than her years. She knows that “one of you should know how to write a check because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills.” Floyd, age 9, sums up how we all feel: “Love is foolish…but I still might try it sometime.”
Statements like these come straight from the mouths of babes. They prove that children are watching, listening and learning about how adults talk and feel about our spouses. If the world was run by children, love would abound more than any other emotion.
That’s why the ListenLoveLearn process is all about providing a supportive, knowledgeable community to empower parents and children to communicate better. As we all know, half of good communication is good listening. And if you want your child to master the ability to listen at home and in the classroom, you have to be willing to listen back.
If you’re ready to join us on this exciting path of learning to listen – and listening to learn – please contact ListenLoveLearn today.
Image via Shutterstock.com
Friday, July 18, 2014
Toys That Enhance Learning in Children Birth-18 Months of Age
Wondering what toys enhance learning in children birth - 18 months?
Parents of young babies often ask me what types of toys
should they offer their child that will enhance learning in their child at the
beginning of life, birth-18months of age. Of course I have lots of suggestions,
but I also remind them that the parent’s most essential tools are always close
at hand, the right toys and their own interaction.
Research shows us that play and playing with a child is the
essential ingredient in the child’s cognitive development. Through play a child
learns about the world around then and develops the cognitive skills that lead
to language acquisition and social interaction skills.
Along with the toys, a parent’s or caregiver’s most
important tool is their voice. Playing with your child and using your voice;
varying your pitch, selecting word patterns, adding rhythm while interacting
with your child and the chosen toy adds the “magic” to play.
What toys should parents use to enhance learning, language and
social skills in the early months of their child’s life?
Birth-6 months
6-9 months
Infants are now able to sit either supported or unsupported
enabling them to grab items and begin stacking rings and snap beads giving the child sensory input while enhancing their
cognitive ability of figuring out how the rings go on the peg or how the beads
attach and separate.
9-12 months
Your child now has his/her favorite toys and are moving and
pushing items on and off. Children at this age love listening to and playing
with musical toys. Playing with the farmyard cube presents your child with sounds to listen to that pair with the
animal, pairing what they see with what they hear while playing. Musical instruments bring making music
and creating rhythm to play, inviting your child to shake, rattle and roll!
12-18 months
By your child’s first birthday, he/ she is becoming more
upright (standing, cruising, walking) and at the same time first words are
produced. At this age they love to stack blocks, roll, kick and throw ball. Kids just want to have fun and it is hard to keep
up with them as they explore and learn through play.
Playing together with toys that enhance learning in children birth-18 months of age will enhance attachment, joy
and love. Grow together and have fun!
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