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Surprising Secrets to School Success
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After a busy day, dinner, and getting the kids to bed, heaven forbid if sifting through a stack of parenting studies isn?t the first way you choose to unwind! Still it?s a shame to miss out on what science can tell us about raising happy learners. In the interest of your sanity, we?ve gathered eight extraordinary, somewhat counter intuitive findings about fostering children?s success.
Praise the work, not the wit
Not all positive reinforcement is, well, positive. Numerous studies have shown that children who are praised for their work ethic are better at solving critical thinking problems than those praised for ability. Those praised for effort were almost three times as likely to focus on learning rather than ?looking smart.?
Minimize your unexcused absences
Research has shown that you should make the extra effort to be physically present in your child?s classroom. In fact, attending class meetings and volunteering at school better predicts literacy development than your family?s income.
Use the TV to channel critical thinking
Let?s face it ? prying our kids away from the TV is no small feat. New research shows that we might be better off using this habit to facilitate learning. Try muting the commercials and asking your child simple questions while she watches TV. What just happened? What do you think about that?These questions teach children to be effective critical thinkers and communicators.
Fear not the $5 word
Many parents assume they should use simple words with kids to avoid confusion. But new research suggests we may be wildly underestimating their brainpower. Children whose parents used complex language were found to have significantly higher IQ?s (a formidable 40 points) than children whose parents did not ? suggesting that young brains become wired early for complex thought.
Soothe the soul with nature
According to research, communing with nature isn?t just a nice recreational activity. Natural settings increase a sense of self-worth and decrease stress ? two important factors in priming the mind to learn. One study has even shown that natural settings can help relieve symptoms of AD/HD. When children with AD/HD participated in the same activities both inside and outside, those in the outdoor settings experienced fewer symptoms.
Behind every smart child is a collection of good books
While reading to children is crucial, don?t underestimate the importance of simply giving your kid access to a lot of books. Studies have found that a child raised in a book-friendly environment ? with at least 50 children?s books in the home ? scores five percentile points higher in math and reading than kids with less access to good reads.
Attend to the body and wake up the mind
The body-brain connection is far from fully understood, but research suggests that children?s learning abilities are inextricably tied to physical vitality. When 33 schools in Ontario, Canada, participated in a program called Living School aimed at increasing student?s physical activity by about 20 minutes a day and improving nutrition, some schools bellyached about lost class time. But in the end, participating school showed enormous improvement. Overall scores climbed 18% in just two years. Third-grade reading scores alone shot up by 50%. Ontario?s education experiment suggests that sometimes basketball practice facilitates learning as much if not more than another after-school tutoring session.
Child labor with a higher purpose
According to new research, children of all ages who perform household chores gain valuable skills, which they can apply to school learning. In one study, children as young as two years old who performed household chores like matching socks or wiping up kitchen spills ended up having more-successful educational experiences and careers.
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The simple, little things you do with your kids make a big difference. These activities create strong, healthy relationships that can prevent future drug use. On the fourth Monday of September, Family Day brings together communities across the country to celebrate the positive influence parents have on their kids.
Founded in 2001 by Center on Addiction, Family Day works with organizations across the country to educate parents about how everyday activities, like sharing a meal, playing a game, or asking about their day, can make a difference in the life of a child. With the support of corporations, community leaders, Major League Baseball teams, schools and thousands of local groups, Family Day helps communities prevent teen drug use.
These every day activities have a lasting effect on your children. Each of these moments offers an opportunity to communicate with your kids and to really listen to what?s on their mind. As children age, it is vital to keep those lines of communication open, especially during adolescence when they are at risk of engaging in risky behavior including smoking, drinking or using other drugs.
At The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse we know that:
- Adolescence is the critical period for the initiation of risky substance use and its consequences.
- Nine out of 10 Americans who meet the medical criteria for addiction started smoking, drinking, or using other drugs before age 18.
- Addiction is a disease that in most cases begins in adolescence so preventing or delaying teens from using nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs for as long as possible is crucial to their health and safety.
While there are no silver bullets ? addiction can strike any family regardless of ethnicity, affluence, age or gender ? parental engagement can be a simple, effective tool to help you prevent substance use in your kids.
For more information about Casa Family Day please visit, http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/
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PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA 2019 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
SEPTEMBER 16 - SEPTEMBER 18
The 2019 Prevent Child Abuse America National Conference will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Sept 16-Sept 18. The conference will examine innovative programs and practices, family-focused policies, cutting-edge research, and public awareness and engagement strategies and provide the latest thinking to help drive the field toward upstream prevention so that every child has the opportunity to grow up safe and nurtured. Circle of Parents will be there so stop by if you happen to be in Milwaukee.
Click the logo below to register.
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