Develop Your Child's Thinking Skills

by Tan Cheng Cheng

We have to differentiate between information and ability to think. In this day and age, we have an information overload. However, does that mean that a person who is very knowledgeable can think well? Our education gives us information but does not really teach us how to use and apply them. Our ability to think is to apply knowledge we have on new situations and circumstances and sometimes even modifying them to suit the situation.

This is one way we can do it. For example, my son wants to buy a watch. How would he know which brand and type to choose? He probably wants to buy the watch that Peter has because it looks cool. We can give him other factors to consider. He should think about the cost (involve mathematics), durability, purpose and usefulness. After taking all these factors into consideration, let the child explain why he decided on that particular choice. He can then apply these same questions when he decides to buy something else e.g. handphone, shirt.

Edward de Bono, founder of the Cognitive Research Trust program, uses the PMI technique. PMI stands for pluses, minuses and interesting points. For any question that arise, note down all the PMI for that question. This helps you to decide on the better answer. Try it on any question. Remember you and your child get better with practice. The obvious answer may not necessarily be the best answer.

Kids have to learn how to decide too. They have to know that regardless whether it is a right or wrong decision, they have to be responsible because they made the choice. They have to be accountable too!! I am not saying they have to decide on everything but they should be given the chance to do so. Learning to make a decision is an art too.

Nobody can make right decisions all the time. However, we must have the courage to decide and be responsible for it. Surveys were carried out and found that managers who were promoted or not made roughly the same number of correct and wrong decisions. Those who were promoted simply dare to make the decision and take reponsibility even though it is wrong. Those who were not promoted did not have the courage to decide because they were afraid to make the wrong decision.

Practice as often as you can. Ask questions like 'What will it be like if Chinese is the only language the world speaks and learn?', 'How different will my life be if I were born in Australia', 'If the light bulb was not invented, what do you think you could invent?'. The best thing is you can do this anywhere and you do not need any equipment at all. Remember to use PMI (pluses, minuses and interesting points)

http://www.raisingconfidentkids.com

About the Author

I am an Asia mother(Singaporean) with two boys age about four and five. I have learnt a lot from them and other parents. I hope to share with you my knowledge about raising kids as much as possible.

http://www.theofficialeducationsource.com

Try Educational Games

by Kirstine Pallette

All parents want their children to grow up having lots of fun. Parents provide opportunities for their kids to participtate in sports and clubs of all kinds. If they are able, parents fill their home with toys and games to keep their children entertained and happy with things that are safe for kids to do. Parents should, however, see to it that their children have more than just fun. Childhood should be a time filled with learning and trying new things. Parents can combine their child's desire for fun with their need for learning by choosing educational games.

Educational games are great because they are just what their name suggests: games that provide children with fun and promote their education at the same time. Parents who take seriously their responsibility to help their children learn new things and grow in important knowledge will be pleased to know that educational games are becoming increasingly available and popoular for kids of all ages.

Think about your children's ages and the unique educational needs they currently have. A three year old should be learning different things than an eight year old. If you are unsure of what educational games to buy for your kids, do a little research to see what kinds of needs your kids have and then find educational games to fit those needs. Talk to your children's teachers to get good ideas of the needs that each of your kids have. Teachers will likely be able to suggest specific skills and goals that you can work on at home.

Educational games are a great way for parents to get involved in educating their children. Consider substituting educational games instead of a sporting event or an after school club that your kids are involved in. Find ways to balance the things your kids love to do with the things your kids need to be learning. In no time you may find that your kids choose educational games on their own once their learn how fun the games can be. It is a great thing when kids begin to request that educational games be a part of family time or a game night. Families can spend hours of quality time together laughing as they learn.

You can find educational games at many stores or online. Many companies are creating a wide variety of educational games for every budget. The next time you are tempted to pick up the latest video game for your child or to enroll them in an after school club, consider instead teaching your children to love learning by purchasing educational games for them.

About the Author

After raising four children and purchasing hundreds of educational games, Kirstine Pallette is proud to advise other parents in the art of combining fun and learning. See www.alleducationalgames.info to learn more.

A federal judge has ordered a Maryland school district to revise its sex education curriculum

A federal judge has ordered a Maryland school district to revise its sex education curriculum after he said it seemed to favor religions that take a positive view of homosexuality

Christian Century, May 31, 2005

* A federal judge has ordered a Maryland school district to revise its sex education curriculum after he said it seemed to favor religions that take a positive view of homosexuality. Montgomery County Public Schools superintendent Jerry Weast said he would shelve the program after some parents convinced U.S. District Court judge Alexander Williams that it unfairly singled out fundamentalists and Baptists. The judge said the program, which was scheduled for eighth--and tenth-graders, "presents only one view of the subject--that homosexuality is a natural and morally correct lifestyle--to the exclusion of other perspectives." The judge said the program "paints certain Christian sects, notably Baptists, which are opposed to homosexuality, as unenlightened and biblically misguided," according to the Washington Post.

COPYRIGHT 2005 The Christian Century Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

Which Type Of Homeschooling Method Is Suitable For Your Child

Most parents have a very simple perception of homeschooling. In most parents mind, homeschooling is simply watching their children do their homework and studying textbooks.

However, homeschooling is a lot more than that. There are many different types of homeschooling methods, each with a different homeschooling "philosophy". Each "philosophy" dictates the curriculum and the style of teaching.

Following are some of the most popular and influential homeschooling methods.

Charlotte Mason method:

Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) was an innovative educator who took a unique approach to education. She was passionate in laying out the foundations for a complete homeschooling program that is not only effective but also fun and educational at the same time.

The Charlotte Mason method place great emphasis on arts such as classical literature and music and poetry. Miss Mason advocates on what she called "Living Books". The child is read to daily from the "Living Books" and then ask to narrate what he/she has heard. Mason believed in introducing the child to the humanities while he is still young, while he is forming his personality.

Classical Education Method:

Classical Christian education is unique in that it seeks to faithfully restore the most proven form of education ever developed. This education produced the greatest thinkers, leaders, and scientists in the Western world from the time of the Greeks until the late 19th century, including America's founding fathers.

It is based on what has been called the trivium. A child goes through three phases as he/she learns. In grades K-6, students are excellent at memorizing. In grades 7-8, students become more argument-oriented. They are ready to be taught logic and critical thinking. In grades 9-12, students become independent thinkers and communicators particularly concerned with their appearance to others. Classical education teaches them "rhetoric," the art of speaking, communicating, and writing.

The Eclectic Homeschooling:

This is a mixture of various homeschooling techniques and takes from each thus forming his own homeschooling "philosophy". Parents use their best judgement to select topics that will make the best education for their child. Usually, they will be continuously on the lookout for the best educational products that suit their child's needs. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to accommodate the individual needs and interests of their children.

The Montessori Method:

Dr. Maria Montessori, believes that learning is a natural, self-directed process. It was observed that children undergo periods of intense concentration during which he/she will repeat an activity until he/she gains a sense of satisfaction. The Montessori method depends on a prepared environment to facilitate learning. All the materials used in this method are designed to satisfy the inner desire for spiritual development of the child. The materials used progress from simple to complex, and are costly.

The methods above are just some of the methods of homeschooling and I hope it gives you an insight on which will suit your child best. But whatever the methods used, the underlying principle is to use the child's desire for knowledge to further his/her education.

About the Author

KB Lim is the founder of http://www.homeschooling-guide.info where he regularly write homeschooling articles to help educators and parents. Visit his site for more Home Schooling Resources, Tips and Information