We run, we run all day long, between work, domestic logistics, homework, and other parental obligations. Sometimes with the feeling of not having enough minutes in a day to accomplish all the required tasks.
The time we would like to devote to children, and more particularly to their personal development, may seem insufficient to us, especially when it comes to learning. Let’s face it, parenting stress is a reality.
But if some place the blame on overly busy schedules, it is possible to nuance and adopt a more positive point of view, by considering the parents’ desire to do well in a routine that overwhelms them. Hell is paved with good intentions!
A major concern of parents, and grandparents, is offering their child. s the tools and knowledge needed to best help them thrive in an unpredictable future?
We are not all born educators and no one has the power to predict the future, but as parents, we like to encourage our children to develop soft skills that will be essential for them to live a happy life in the 21st century.
Brain development studies conducted by childhood experts at Scholastic have shown that the bulk of non-technical problem-solving and lateral thinking skills develop in our children’s brains between the ages of 1 and 8 years.
The result is that as parents we only have a limited number of opportunities to give our children the best possible start in life.
If, as studies seem to indicate, early childhood robotics skills from Aark Learnings has a great influence on a child’s future success, why not apply these precepts every day?
Tip #1: Music increases brain capacity tenfold
Most of us are familiar with the “Mozart effect”, the idea that intelligence can be increased by listening to the great musician’s compositions.
Experts, however, agree that making music, whether with toys or taking lessons, can positively influence brain development. Music promotes curious minds the respected Parenting Science website maintains that musical training helps improve brain activity and volume.
By giving your children the opportunity to practice music through games or lessons, you increase your chances of improving positive learning behaviors such as:
- Memory
- concentration
- psychomotricity
- shape recognition
- Self-confidence
Encouraging exposure to music in all its forms, whether through singing, dancing, or playing an instrument, is the first tip for developing basic skills, which he will need throughout his life!
Tip #2: Read with your children, don’t read to them
“It is at the knees of their parents that children become readers. – Buchwald.
Think reading to a newborn is weird? Think again! Studies show that even babies can perceive the rhythms, tones, and inflections of your voice when you read. This recognition of speech cadence provides a solid foundation for a child’s language development.
For Mem Fox, a world-renowned proponent of early reading, “Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read.” So you have to start now!
Keep reading light and fun, not a chore or obligatory work. Reading books that you and your children enjoy can help you build stronger bonds with them.
But the benefits of reading to your children go far beyond a shared bonding experience. A study from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and Social Studies proves that a link exists between reading to a child and their development.
Reading books with your children will:
- to create intrinsic motivation and a willingness to acquire knowledge
- to stimulate imagination and creativity
- expand vocabulary and improve communication skills
Reading to your babies is a show of love. Parents who read to their young children directly initiate a love of books and reading that will last the rest of their lives.
Tip #3: Let them be bored
“Imagination is more important than knowledge” – Albert Einstein.
Think about how you react when your children tell you they are bored. Do you feel under pressure? Responsible? Guilty? Do you rush to put them in front of a screen or give them a well-structured activity? Well, it turns out that these solutions to their boredom might be counterproductive.
One of our many roles as parents is to develop our children’s intelligence and coping skills, so don’t feel guilty! It’s healthy to challenge your children to do nothing for a little while.
Organizing free time to play, without being in front of a screen, creates an environment where children can:
- explore what interests them
- take initiatives
- letting their thoughts guide imaginative play
- strengthen their bonds with their siblings or friends
- promote independence in their theories about the world
For children used to being constantly stimulated, having fun on their own, without the help of an interactive device or a parent, can be difficult at first. You must resist your desire to supervise because this free time will allow your children to surprise themselves with their resources of imagination and creativity.
Tip #4: Provide them with an emotionally stable environment
“One of the greatest indicators of academic success is the emotional stability of the home. » —John Medina.
An Australian study explains that “the quality of the learning environment within the home during the first three years of a child’s life influences intellectual development from 4 to 5 years of age, but also success at school and After”. When children feel safe, they are more eager to learn.
To ensure that your children’s ability to learn does not suffer, it is important that in times of emotional stress you do these little things:
- reassure children of your love for them through physical contact.
- explain the situation to them so they can understand it.
- try to limit changes within their environments and routines.
- increase positive affirmations when they behave well.
Tip #5: Lead by example
“Parents are the ultimate role models for children. Every word, every movement, every action produces an effect. Nothing and no one has more influence on a child than their parents. » —Bob Keeshan.
Children are copiers, it is well known. They take examples from their role models to learn how to behave well and reproduce the positive and negative behaviors they observe.
Child psychiatrists agree on the following truth: children learn to behave, to act, and to manage the situations in which they find themselves by observing their parents.
When you lead by example, your children are more likely to:
- respect your talents and abilities
- cooperate
- be intrinsically interested in a subject or activity and persevere
- associate the activity that brought you closer with positive memories
Remember the saying “the apple never falls far from the tree”, and act accordingly!
