Are Nursery Rhymes Still Important?

Written by Kathleen Powers
www.comicphonics.com

 

Yes, they are, but sadly, more and more children come to school today with little knowledge of them.

boy pretending to be Humpty

There are many reasons—busy parents without time to read the rhymes, foreign-born parents unfamiliar with the rhymes, and competition from TV and electronics for children’s time.  Yet, for many reasons, nursery rhymes should be part of a child’s education, and the earlier the better. (more…)

You Are Interested in Homeschooling but…

Written by Lisa Trombley
http://thehappyhomeschoolmom.blogspot.com/

 

You are afraid you are not patient enough.

You are afraid you are not smart enough.

You are afraid you are not qualified.

You are afraid your children won’t listen to you.

You are afraid it costs too much.

You are afraid you are going to mess your kid(s) up.

No one is the perfect mom or home school mom.  Everyone is afraid at some point that they are not good enough to do something.  Don’t let fear stop you!  Over and over again in the Bible, we are told “Do not be afraid”, “Fear Not.”  Don’t let your fears stop you from homeschooling your children. (more…)

Toys That Teach—Playing to Learn

Published with Permission
Written by Lindy Abbott
www.lindylou-abbott.blogspot.com
www.TOSMagazine.com

 

Ask children, “What is a toy?” and they will quickly reply, “It is something to play with, fun, and used over and over again.” Then ask adults, “What is a toy?” and often they will think of things seen in a store display or even reflect about their favorite toy while growing up. Such a simple question may sound silly, but it is really essential. If we are going to discover toys that teach, we must first determine what makes an object a toy.

Manufacturers are keenly aware of their customers’ motivations and consequently often promote their products as “educational.” They make toys that they hope will appeal to both children and parents. Of course, all parents want their children to play, but parents also want to encourage their children to learn. Finding toys that promote a child’s ability learn while he plays sounds like a perfect purchase—money well spent.

In theory, this all sounds ideal—everybody wins! However, in reality, are educational toys the best toys? Or more precisely, are they toys at all? (more…)