Teaching Children to Read is Not Easy

Are you trying to help your child develop their reading skills? In this article, I will share with you some tips that can make a big difference for your child's progress. As a parent, no doubt you want the best for your children. It's probably the main reason you want to teach your kids to read at a very young age. One hopes that it will give them a competitive advantage when it's time in school. One of the most frequent questions I get is: "When can I start teaching my child to read?" Well, you can begin to teach your children when they are two years old. Even when your child already knows how to speak, it's a great time.

  

Teaching children to read is a challenge

As a parent teaching a child to read is a very difficult task. Any parent who has experienced it will surely know how difficult it is. May be you will find the difficult to make your child be focus when teaching them. But this is understandable. When you teach them to read, it's important to make the learning process interesting. You are advised to use books with colorful pictures to attract the attention of children. 

One Important Tip You Have to Know

Do you know what is one of the best ways to teach a child to read?

Well, the answer is phonological awareness. Many studies have been done on this topic and it's supported by scientific evidence. They find that children with phonological awareness continues to develop their reading skills than those who do not. Therefore, if your children have difficulty in reading, you may have to spend more time to assist them in developing their phonemic awareness.

Read a story to your child every night

One simple thing you can do to help your child develop reading skills is to read a story to them every night before bed. This will help children to develop interest in reading.

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Smart Learning Games For Kids

Smart learning games is important for our kids. Because play is a favorite activities for all children, both girls and boys. And as parents, we should already be able to choose a toy for them. However, it is worth the toys they choose not solely because their favorite course, but try toys that can simultaneously to educate the growth of intelligence. 

What is teh good toys for children ? consider the following:

• Music helps the brain development of infants. Therefore, you do not need to specifically teach him to play the guitar. You just bought a guitar small size for children and a cassette or CD of children's songs he likes. 
• If not with a tricycle, use wooden beams placed on the ground. Encourage your toddler to walk on it, but can improve balance, balance beam game (balance beam) is also very useful to forge their motor nerves. 
• At the age of 3 years old children are no longer able to play catch or throw the ball, but was able to play as an adult game. Focus on something, compliance, and confidence will be an interesting goal of the game with him. 
• Climbing stairs or slide and hide and seek is a simple game but very good for toddlers, because not only can make merry but also to train the focus, concentration, reflexes and power.

Toy Buying Tips :

Now, more and more variations of toys can be found in various shopping centers and toy stores. Not only from the local Indonesian products, even imported products also can no longer count the number.

To that end, do not arbitrarily in choosing toys. Because these toys are not necessarily useful and suitable for your child, because not all the educational toys and help develop the intelligence of your toddle.

Well, how to choose educational toys and safe for kids?

• For the comfort and safety of your children, it's important to pay attention to the labels of toys one by one. Without such extensive details, you can not know, whether the toy can be recommended or suitable for your toddler age. 
• Select toys that are not easily damaged or dislodged, it is also for the security of your child in order not to hurt herself while playing. 
• The book is full of stories of various images and colors are also interesting toys for children. By introducing and adding new vocabulary for it, your ability to process the story in the book would train him indirectly. 
• Playhouse in bed? This is most often done by children, so that you do not forbid it. Let your child arrange the pillows, bolsters, blankets as if he were made of building his own house. To support his new toy, now many toy stores offer blocks and houses from plastic with small and large sizes, depending on the needs and age of the child. 
• To train his brain to think logically and to get used to resolve a problem, ask your toddler play jigsaw puzzle with a size that is not too small for him 

  

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4 Key Brain Development of Children

Development of the brain will affect the intelligence of children in the future. Those that affect the brain development of children up to 3 years old are caused by factors genes, nutrition, affection and stimulation.

As stated by Dr. Soedjatmiko in a roadshow seminar "Maximizing Intelligence Children with Floor Time" at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, Saturday (24/1).

According Soedjatmiko, factor genes from parents already can not be changed. "This is inviolable, eg intelligent parents, then the gene factor will be transmitted to the child," he explained.

As for the addition of nutrients to the baby will have a positive effect when administered as early as possible, which is about 6-12 months. "The development of a baby's brain after birth is more important in determining a child's IQ later in life than when in the womb," he said.

The best nutrition for babies is breast milk, because it contains many substances that are required such as proteins and amino acids, DHA and AA, Gangliosida (GA), choline, nutrients and other micronutrients.

In addition to the nutrition, stimulation also plays an important role in maximizing the child's intelligence. "The stimulation is required so that the relationship between cells of brain neurons (the synapse) may develop because if they are not stimulated, synapses that are rarely or unused would be destroyed," he said.

This stimulation can be applied early, ie, since the fetus is still in the womb until the age of 2-3 years are known as the golden age of children's brain development. Stimulation, according Soedjatmiko, can be done with active play with a loving, happy, and free.

"Factors affection is also important because emotional closeness when a parent and child play can stimulate children to think creatively," he explained. *

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The Importance of Understanding Children's Learning Process

Parents in Asia are highly motivated to raise smart children. However, many parents who do not understand how exactly the child's natural learning process. The intelligence of a child could be prepared as a baby in the womb. This means that mothers should prepare himself well, especially the aspect of nutrition and mental readiness, so that the baby will be born healthy.

According Dr.Eddy Fadlyana Sp.A (K), the baby starts learning process sequence of the process of seeing.

"What children see or hear will be stored in memory, then the cognitive impact so that children can think and act," Eddy said in a media event discussion at the launch of Wyeth Nutrition Science Center in Jakart.

He added, basically learning process is stimulated. "The most important thing is the stimulation or interaction of parents and their environment. The process of stimulation has the greatest impact, so no matter how busy the parents should have time to take their children to play," he explained.

Parents can encourage children to play with the games that sharpen the brain, such as playing music, drawing, classifying shape and hone physical activity like playing ball, dancing, or swimming. Encourage the child to communicate and discuss appropriate developmental their age.


No less important in supporting the child's intelligence is nutrition. At this stage of observing, good nutrition helps the growth of visual function, while in the process of thinking, nutrients such as DHA will help the ability of cognition and brain development of the child. Then when the children in action, complete nutrition required to assist the development of the digestive and immune system of children so that children healthy and active.

Presented by Dr.Carol L.Cheatham, there is no one dominant nutrients they need. Research has shown that nutrients must be combined because of the way they work in the body is synergy.

"For example, DHA and choline work together to help improve the child's ability to focus, as well as choline and lutein. All of them did not act alone," says Cheatham.

Eddy added, providing nutrition to children must be appropriate, not only kind but also time. For example, in a pregnancy which is the time of formation of a child's brain requires certain nutrients. Then after birth the child needs to get breast milk because containing DHA is needed for the development of the connections between the brain.

"If at the time of brain development was rapid but child nutritional deficiencies, the impact could be permanent," he said. 
 



 
 

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The influence of fast food on children's intelligence

The influence of fast food on children's intelligence - A study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Texas, Austin, USA, found that the more often a child eat fast food when 11 or 12 years old, their intelligence can be decreased. Especially in mathematics, science, and reading.

The difference between the test scores of children who like to eat fast food and not, is reported to have a high contradiction, children who frequently eat healthy dishes found 20 percent smarter and able to complete the test well.

Kelly Purtell, lead author of the study at the same time an assistant professor of human sciences at OSU said, "fast food turned out to affect the ability of the child's education. We examined several factors that allow children to get the test scores,"

 
Purtell said, other factors such as how often the child exercising, watching television, family socioeconomic status, other foods consumed,  characteristics of the neighborhood, and the school did not escape studied by the research team. Nevertheless, the result is same. Children who frequently eat fast food tend to have a lower rank in the class. 

A study released by the journal Clinical Pediatrics, researched 11.740 students who started school in the academic year 1998-1999. In this study, respondents were required to report about habits and type of food they voraciously for one week. It is astonishing ensued, it turned out 10 per cent of children said that eating fast food every day, and 10 percent said the six days of the week definitely eat fastfood. 
 
"We are not saying that parents should not give their children fast food. But the results suggest don't do it too often. In other studies, the nutrients in fast food, it can affect cognitive development. However, a strict diet by avoiding fat and sugar do also not good for children because it can reduce the learning process, and lowering the memory of children, "said Purtell. 

Furthermore, parents are advised to be more introspective and focus on children's food. Therefore, in the phase of growth and development, nutrition has a high influence in shaping their future. To that end, do not negligent in preparing nutritious meals and good in the brain and bone formation because it can give a good impact in the lives of children, both educational and social environment. 

In addition to pay attention to nutrition and nutrition, parents also do not be lazy provide additional supplements to children. If you are being confronted with the child are difficult to eat, try to give a companion supplement that works to stimulate the appetite. One of the best supplements that contain vitamin A, D, and E.

You need to know that all three of these vitamins can be absorbed completely by the body. Then, make sure your supplement does not contain artificial coloring and alcohol-free and safe for child consumption

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Parental Influence on Children's Intelligence

Parental Influence on Children's Intelligence - Every child is born intelligent. But how smart a child? It depends on the parents. If you want to have an intelligent child as a whole, which has multiple intelligences that develop balanced, then it should be every parent to train his brain to not stop learning.

Multiple intelligences include: Intelligence Language; Math logic; Interpersonal; Intrapersonal; Visual spatial; Spiritual; Music; Physical; Nature.

Your child may be smart in math, but had he become a child who has eight other intelligence in him? Whether any such intelligence is well trained by their parents or adults who feeds him?

Inda Helen, Resourceful Parenting Facilitator of Indonesia (RPI) says how smart your child depends on the stimulus given to him. 

"The brain cells have the ability to connect 15,000 other brain cells. To connect need stimulus. The stimulus is what affects children's intelligence," said Inda.

To be able to provide the right stimulus in order to train the multiple intelligences of children, of course, parents need to learn. Parents need to train himself, to train his brain.  

"We, the parents, are the designers of our own brains. If you want to educate children then train our brain"

Parents or adult communities also need to understand that they had a great influence on the development of children's intelligence.

So, if parents realize something is missing with him, feel he has not the ability or the experience of many in parenting, parents should be willing to learn. Parents should find out what should be mastered in order to provide appropriate support to children in developing multiple intelligences.

 "When I realized there are less, if we want to learn then the child will learn," said Inda."

During parents want to stimulate brain cells to keep learning, seeking new knowledge, brain cells do not die instead it grows. When intelligence increases, the child's parents are able to develop more optimal multiple intelligences.

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How to increase child's interest in reading

Given handphone, tablet, television and other hi-tech gadgets to a child is not good, it is a real challenge to get children to even open a book which is very important for them. If they are not watching film in televison, they are either engrossed in an video games or are jabbing away at the tiny keys on their cell phone. I think reading is very important because with it can enhances language skills building a child's comprehension ability. It also promotes visual development, verbal skills and thinking skills.

So, if the children are not reading enough, they are missing out on something very crucial. This how-to article lists that you can use to spark an interest in reading. Although our focus is children but you can apply the tips to yourself too.

Reading Time
The best time to read to your child is before bedtime both you and your child are relaxed. If you do it continuesly then your child will continue this habit even as he grows older. But need you to know, it should start with reserving some time for the reading ritual. It's true it's hard to find time, but it can be as little as about 10 minutes.

Start Reading Yourself
The best way to get your child to start reading is to start reading yourself. Why? because if your child sees you reading something, a novel or a newspaper and realizes that you enjoy it, he will likely take to reading voluntarily, out of curiosity. So you have to give the good example to your child, so they can follow your habit as a reader. 

Create the best reading environment
At school, the reading corner should be a bright, quiet and comportable place. It should be a place with the least distractions. It should also have comfortable seating arrangements in your home. And you to know, don't lie down when your child read unless they read at bedtime. If you do not have such a reading corner, create one, it must be done because it's so very important for them. Avoid reading with the television on or with any music playing in the background. It distracts the child and causes him to lose interest. 

Involve your child in the story reading sessions
If your child is big and knows how to read, a best way to conduct the reading session is to have your child read to you instead of you reading to them. Be patient and listen to them. If this is done then will not only inculcate reading habit but will also build their confidence to speak. 

Let your child pick a book that they interest
Stock your library with reading material according to your child's age group. So they can pick a book they want. Give them the liberty to choose a book they would like to read. Don't give the books to those who they don't like. You can keep adding new books to the shelf as your child picks up the habit and becomes clear about his interests.
 

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How to Improve Your Child's Concentration Skills in Learning

Learning is the task of the children, it is done so that they can get success when they grew up. But in this case, to get success there must be value-added of the learning process. It's hard when learning carelessly without any effort to improve the way of learning. One problem often encountered children in learning is the concentration, how the learning process can be said to be good if the children have not been able to concentrate in learning. Sometimes they are still focused on the others at the time of learn, such as the desire to play, watch television and so on.

Seeing these problems, based on the information I get there are several ways how to improve the child's ability to concentrate in learning.

1. Think about the importance of learning to future benefits 
If your child is never focus when learning and hard to concentrate, you try to ask the reason why he could not concentrate. If the answer is because there is something such as wants to play, wants to watch tv and the others. Immediately give feedback to them about the importance of learning for them and provide the benefits of what will they get if learned well. 

2. Learn when the body in a healthy condition
If someone is in a state of ill do a job, the job must be done not optimal. Besides feeling tired, concentration on the job would also decreases even could not concentrate at all. Similarly, a child in the learning, if the child is sick such as fever, do not let the child to learning except if the body is healthy condition, as though to force to learning certainly will not be focus.

3. Keep good body position when learning
Need you to know that the position of the body when learning very decisive the child's concentration while studying. The most simple example, if a child learn in a sleep position. Surely the child's concentration decreases, over time they will feel the drowsiness that makes unable to concentrate more to learning. Moreover, the position of sleep while learning, can make the eyes of the child becomes unhealthy that caused him to have to use glasses tools.

4. Keep your child's place for learning is comfortable
Try to imagine if you eat in place very dirty and smelly, certainly pleasure in eating decreases even appetite will be missing altogether. Similar with the learning, if the conditions are not conducive, the space where learning is dirty and untidy, the pleasure in learning will be reduced. And keep in mind, if the joy of learning has lost, concentration in learning will be decreased. The bottom line is trying to create an conducive atmosphere for child's learning.

5. Take a break first if the child is tired
If computer run continuously without a break will make the computer hangs, even can be caused the damage because the computer also need a break. Similarly, child who are learning. If a child is feeling tired during the learning, tell your child to rest for a moment, as if forced it is will only make the child becomes dizzy, more over the concentration of the learning is definitely decreases.

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