*Vacation from School, Not Learning
The kids may have a vacation from school, but that doesn't mean this time needs to be a vacation from learning.
To help keep their minds sharp and in "learning mode" during the school break, look for ways to challenge them intellectually while at home. Here are some ideas from the U.S. Department of Education:
Encourage Your Child to Read
Helping your child become a reader is the single most important thing that you can do to help child succeed in school and in life. The importance of reading simply can't be overstated. Reading helps children in all school subjects. More importantly, it is the key to lifelong learning.
Set a reading goal during the school break of at least one or two age-appropriate books. But make sure kids don't wait until the last minute. Have them read at least 20 minutes every day.
Take advantage of the public library. Librarians are usually more than willing to help your child (no matter what his or her age) pick out a book that on par with their reading level and interests.
Talk with Your Child
Talking and listening play major roles in children's school success. It's through hearing parents and family members talk and through responding to that talk that young children begin to pick up the language skills they will need if they are to do well. For example, children who don't hear a lot of talk and who aren't encouraged to talk themselves often have problems learning to read, which can lead to other school problems. In addition, children who haven't learned to listen carefully often have trouble following directions and paying attention in class. Think of talking with your child as being like a tennis game with words -- instead of a ball – bouncing back and forth.
-As you shop in a store, talk with your children about prices, differences in brands and how to pick out good vegetables and fruit. Have them help determine which item is a better buy. Show them how to read labels.
-As you fix dinner, ask your child to help you follow the steps in a recipe. Talk with him about what can happen if you miss a step or leave out an ingredient. Doubling or halving a recipe can be a great math lesson.
-As you fix a sink or repair a broken table, ask your child to hand you the tools that you name. Talk with her about each step you take to complete the repair. Tell her what you're doing and why you're doing it. Ask her for suggestions about how you should do something.
It's also important for you to show your child that you're interested in what he has to say. Demonstrate for him how to be a good listener. When your child talks to you, stop what you're doing and pay attention. Look at him and ask questions to let him know that you've heard what he said.
Monitor TV Viewing and Video Game Playing
During the holidays, it's easy to slip into bad habits, watching far too much TV or playing video games at hours on end. If you hold to the rules while your kids are out of school, it will be much easier to keep TV and video game playing under control when they're back in class. Here are some suggestions for helping your child use TV and video games wisely:
-Don't let the television become a babysitter. Limit the time that you let your child watch TV or play video games. Too much "screen time" cuts into important activities in a child's life, such as reading, playing with friends and talking with family members.
-Have your children keep track of and graph their TV viewing, video game playing and reading. If they're honest, this can be an eye-opening exercise while also teaching some fundamental math skills.
-Look for the educational value of television. For example, have your child map the different locations mentioned during the evening news. During a basektball game, question your kids about what the point differences are or what a player's shooting percentage is from the line.
-Model good TV viewing habits. Remember that children often imitate their parents'behavior. Children who live in homes in which parents and other family members watch a lot of TV are likely to spend their time in the same way. Children who live in homes in which parents and other family members have "quiet" time away from the TV when they read (either alone to each other), talk to each other, play games or engage in other activities tend to do the same.
-Watch TV with your child when you can. Talk with him about what you see. Answer his questions. Try to point out the things in TV programs that are like your child's everyday life.
-When you can't watch TV with your child, spot check to see what she's watching. Ask questions after the program ends. See what excites her and what troubles her. Find out what she has learned and remembered.
Keep moving
It's easy to become a couch potato during the holidays. Fight the temptation, and get up and get out. Go for a walk, toss a football, or build a snowman with your kids(that is, if we HAVE snow!). The time you spend together can be invaluable in showing how much you care and support them in their school endeavors.
*KDE Web site gets new look
The Kentucky Department of Education Web site will have a new look after this holiday season.
A process of migrating the site and its accompanying data to a new server began earlier this year and is set to culminate in a new look for our site in January. The revamped KDE Web presence will not differ dramatically from the current look, but the site will be closer in appearance to other Kentucky state government sites. Among the improvements: The navigation around the site will be simpler, and Google search will be added.
We expect that the current KDE Web site will be unavailable briefly during regular work hours on Thursday, January 4, while the final work is being done on migration.
*Family routines and rituals help physical and mental health
Decorating for the holidays, eating a big meal together or going to church or temple as a family -- no matter what your belief or religion, the holidays are filled with family rituals. Despite the protests you may get from your kids about participating, a study has shown routines and rituals are important to maintaining good physical and mental health.
Routines are defined as day-to-day activities that keep a family functioning, such as making dinner or washing the dishes. Routines "… may be related to markers of physical health." Rituals include holiday dinners, marriages and funerals and have a symbolic value and tend to explain, "This is who we are as family." Rituals, in contrast, "… are more related to mental health outcomes as well as the overall emotional connections to the family."
The study shows when routines are disturbed, it's a hassle. When rituals are disturbed, the sense of identity is undermined.
Says study author Barbara Fiese, professor of psychology at Syracuse University, "… it should reinforce the notion that routines and rituals are very much alive and well today, and they can have positive benefits for parents, children and other family members."
*Family-friendly Web site
Uncle Sam has a family-friendly Web site that links to more than 500 Web sites from government agencies, schools and educational organizations, all geared to the learning level and interest of kids. With 20 different topics, ranging from arts and music to space and history, Kids.gov has activities for kids of all ages. They can play fun and educational games, create art projects, explore different careers, learn how government works, get homework help and much more, all from official U.S. government sources. To access the site, go to Kids.com.