Children and Education

Dear Readers,

Hello Again from Mama Sam.

I want to talk to you about something important. It's a subject I feel is close to my heart. I know as parents all of us are busy. I understand the rush from A to B to C to where was I going again? I understand days are long, nights are hard and there are no vacation days. I applaud those of you trying to make the world a better place by teaching your children to be better people.

Education is my subject today. It's extremely important. This is one that has been a battle grounds in our country. It's become controversial instead of consistent. There is no one method, there are no 100 methods. Unfortunately there is no right way to educate our children and most of the time we leave it to the schools.

Why are we leaving it to the schools? Why aren't we dong this in our homes? Reading to your child is great, but we CAN do more. We can teach them math by helping them learn to cook, teach them to research by asking them questions, by opening there minds. We CAN find language schools available online and teach our children a second or third language without the school system involved. We can teach our children to be physically fit by doing yoga with them, by going for walks after supper, by holding hands with our spouse. All of this is possible if it starts AT HOME.

Consider this if you would. Put down the electronics and pick up an activity with your child. Whether its hide and seek, a book, a game of tag, a game of mother may I....whatever it is engage your children. Have conversations with them, even if they're silly. FIND out what your kids think about things and REALLY listen. You would be surprised what our children will tell us. You would be surprised what kids will say.

Give them activities to do along with you. If you buy a planner for yourself, consider making one for them out of pages or off of a printer. Consider buying them one. Even at three they can “plan” it might not make much sense, they may not prioritize there day like you do but its bonding time. If you're working out let them work with you. If you need to go for a walk take them and EXPLORE nature, even if its just the sidewalks you live around.

Give them open ended questions. Let their minds consider the world around them and the people in it. Encourage them to read the news paper or watch the newscast with you. See what they think of whats going on around the world. Actively guide them through this. It will open up a world to them that they have never seen, that they've never considered.

If you go to an event like a political debate, a Broadway show, a musical take them WITH you. I realize parents need time out and I get that. I also understand that children need to learn about art, culture, the importance of artists and USING there imagination with you. They need to see you come alive whether in tears or laughter while watching Les Miserable or one of the Dukes classic movies.

Encourage them to converse with you. Take time to make conversation. Take time to think about more than school and work. Really get them into something interesting. Help them with subjects they're challenged with such as math or reading. Really dig into it, look for places like khanacademy.org to help you with the problems you cannot solve.

Parents, I implore you. Take time with your kids no matter the age. Teach them something, tell them stories of the past, engage their minds and watch their souls blossom. You have SO much more to give than a paycheck. Make the moments last, scrap book or take pictures for an album. You can refer back to these when your child has a hard time. “You remember when we did this together, you said you couldn't but you did!” it will be great for not only there self esteem but also for the courage to forge on with new things.

Mama Sam