Parenting |

Start Educational Video Games at an Early Age

March 29, 2010 By Ivette 26 Comments

Kids these days are more computer savvy than they have ever been. As early as kindergarten they are in the computer labs at school learning how to use a keyboard. With this trend it won’t be long before younger and younger kids begin to play video games at home on a regular basis. Feed those brain cells with fun games that are also educational.

How do they remember which button moves what in those games? However they do it, it’s easier for a child to learn than an adult. Show them how to use video games to take their education to an all new level.

Start with the PC games. Companies like Leapfrog and Knowledge Adventure have put educational games on the market that are anything but boring. Knowledge Adventure produces JumpStart games for each grade level. They are PC video games that teach kids all about math, science and English through games that interest your kids. The characters in the game talk to them and help them with number problems that need to be solved along the way to win.

Kids are given the chance to learn about the world around them through educational video games. Kids get an opportunity to expand their understanding of animals, plants, science and more. An entirely new world will open up before them on the computer monitor.

The games have continuous action and you can play as many times as you need to in order to win. Teaching kids about video games at an early age helps you to control what types of games they watch. In the world of technology, kids grow up way to soon and often know more (about technology) than their parents. Starting early gets you involved and keep you involved in their lives.

Some people believe that playing video games is a mind-numbing process. All you do is sit and shoot.

With the Leapster, from Leapfrog, kids can take their portable gaming system with them and play educational video games on long car trips, on the plane ride or anytime they need something to do. Leapster uses a stylus pen so it is easier for kids mark their answers on the game screen. The characters sing songs that you can learn along with your kids.

V-Tech has come out with a gaming console for kids to play educational games through the television set. Kids learn their alphabet, phonics and things like colors and shapes with fun games.

Educational video games help to reinforce what is being taught at school. As kids master the games and get smarter their self-confidence will rise.

Don’t think of video games as the enemy. They can be used for educational purposes to give your kids a firm foundation in school. As they get older, you can introduce them to educational games for higher grade levels to keep the learning going as long as possible.

Play Active Video Games with Your Kids

March 28, 2010 By Ivette Leave a Comment

They say that if you can’t beat them then join them. That sage advice works wonders when it comes to video games. Usually kids are playing with friends or by themselves in their rooms. Get them up and moving with more active video game consoles.

If you let a kid sit in his room and play video games, he will hibernate. He’s not a bear and his body won’t digest the fat to survive. Allowing your kids to play video games is not wrong but stay involved so that you can keep them from being a detriment to his health.

Adults play video games almost as much as kids so it won’t seem odd to ask them to play a game with you. As much fun as it is sitting cross legged in the floor with a controller, suggest a game that gets them moving around a bit more while they play.

One solution is the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo has attempted to resurrect virtual reality play on a large scale (with great success) for the gamer and those who don’t really play video games that much. Just the fact that you can control the movement of the characters in the games with your body is enough to get anyone into the game.

The more popular games on the Wii game system are ones that allow multiple players. Try out Mario vs. Sonic. It is a series of Olympic competitions played with the characters from both video games. You and your kids can choose your character and compete in swimming relays, running races, field events like the long jump and high jump and others. You’ll laugh at the movements you make in order to get your character to win. Most of all, your family will get some exercise without even knowing it.

Playing video games with your kids does two things. First, it lets you bond with them using the game to spend quality time getting to know them. Secondly, you can see what types of games your kids are interested in playing and make sure they are appropriate for their age group.

There are a lot of things that kids don’t want their parents to do with them and play video games isn’t one of them. The kids will welcome your competition. And, they get the heart pumping and the blood flowing.

The Wii gaming system has several video games to choose from. Find on that you both like to play. Be sure to have at least two controllers so that family members can challenge each other.

If your kids won’t go outside and play, bring the action to them with an interactive gaming system such as the Nintendo Wii.

Kids & Video Games: The Couch Potato Syndrome

March 27, 2010 By Ivette 3 Comments

When Atari first hit the market over twenty years ago, everyone, young and old alike, was into video games. It was something new that the family played for hours. Now, video games have become more sophisticated and are played by younger and younger groups of kids. But, even though these games are fun, watch out or your kid will morph into the unyielding vegetable known as the couch potato.

You usually gave the old man staring blindly at the television this moniker but it now applies to kids caught up in the video game craze. You’ve weaned them from endless cartoons and cop shows but they’ve traded it in for a console and a joystick. It’s not that video games are bad. They have their redeeming qualities just like television. The name of the game here is moderation.

Even if you don’t know an elf lord from a troll prince you can make sure that that is not the only thing your kid knows about. Video games are a way for your kids to relax but not the only way. Engage your children in other activities (preferably outside) to break the pouch potato cycle.

Endless video game playing has added to the sedentary lifestyle of today’s youth. Instead of playing outdoors with balls and bats they are inside sitting comfortably on the couch or one of those gaming chairs and signing on for virtual worlds unknown to most parents. It scares you because you no longer understand the world of video gaming.

Obesity is now an epidemic with our kids. They lack proper daily exercise to keep their weight under control. By exercise, we mean movement. Kids exercise more than you think. Walking to and from school or dancing to their iPod tunes keeps the body active enough to burn excess calories. They don’t even have to play a sport to get what they need to stay healthy.

Video games are mostly played sitting down. That’s how they were designed. Think of it like an office job. Computers were designed to be used sitting down. It’s a necessary evil but it doesn’t have to ruin your health.

One solution is a set schedule for their afternoon. When your kids get home from school, let them know the order of the day. First, they can tackle chores. After energizing them again, lead them to the homework table.

What do you know; it’s now time for dinner. After dinner, they have a choice of television or video games. All of the other important things are done so they can relax and unwind with either but not both. This limits their time to one or at most two hours of gaming a day as their last activity before bed. After all of the other stuff you’ve given them to do, they might just fall into bed early.

Break the couch potato cycle with a limit on video games and other creative ideas, such as outdoor activities or any activity that will help gain quality time with your children.

Fun Toddler Craft Ideas

March 18, 2010 By Ivette 2 Comments

Getting a toddler to sit still can be a near-impossible feat. They’re constantly exploring the world around them. That’s a good thing, but sometimes they need some creative downtime. That’s where toddler crafts come in.

Crafting is great for toddlers for a number of reasons. It can help them develop longer attention spans. Most crafts help develop hand-eye coordination. And young children can benefit from learning how to follow simple instructions. Here are some craft ideas that your toddler can do (with supervision).

Craft Stick Puppets

Puppets are fascinating to toddlers. Creating their own puppets is easy, and it’s lots of fun. All you really need are some craft or popsicle sticks, construction paper, safety scissors, markers and glue.

Help your toddler cut animal shapes out of construction paper. He can draw faces and other details with washable markers. Glue the stick to the back of the shape, let dry, and he’s ready to put on a puppet show. If you want to make more elaborate puppets, try cutting shapes out of foam. Glue on a pom pom for the nose, and add some googly eyes.

Paint with Pudding

Kids love to fingerpaint, but it’s so messy. And there’s also the concern about them eating the paint. Even if the paints are nontoxic, it can make cautious parents uneasy. The solution? Let them paint with pudding!

You don’t need different flavors to make different colors. Just use one serving of plain vanilla pudding, divide it up into small portions, and add food coloring to create various shades. Give your child a paper plate to use as a canvas for his masterpiece. When he’s done, he can eat it with no worries.

Design a T-Shirt

If your toddler sees you sewing or painting clothes with fabric paint, she may want to try her hand at designing clothes. But needles are small and sharp, and fabric paint is messy. What to do? Break out the markers!

Kids can have a blast decorating a plain white t-shirt with colorful markers. If you use washable ones, they can create a design, wear it, and start over after you wash the shirt. If a permanent design is desired, however, you’ll have to let him use non-washable markers. You can avoid a mess by covering the work area with newspaper and putting a smock on your toddler.

Placemats

Making placemats out of contact paper is very easy. Have your toddler cut shapes out of construction paper and glue them onto a whole piece with a glue stick. He can add detail with markers or embellish with stickers. When he’s done, place the artwork on a piece of contact paper, sticky side up. Place another sheet of contact paper on top, sticky side down.

Most toddlers will only have the patience to make one placemat at a time. But he can make another one tomorrow, continuing until there are enough for the whole table. He’ll be so proud to know that everyone sees his artwork at every meal!

Crafting can help your toddler learn important skills while keeping him quietly occupied. Whether it’s a rainy day or he’s just feeling creative, seize the opportunity to let him channel his imagination into something you can both admire.

Taming Toddler Tantrums: Tips that Really Work

March 13, 2010 By Ivette 5 Comments

Young parents get scared when they hear stories about the “terrible twos.” Take courage, though, you will survive the toddler stage. It’s not easy to understand why your toddler has a tantrum but at such a young age, a child is consumed with thoughts of themselves. Everything is about them and how they feel. Until they are taught how to share, every toy or piece of food they see automatically belongs to them.

Toddler temper tantrums can have a variety of effects. Your first thought might be that everyone is focused on you and your screaming child, but getting embarrassed won’t diffuse the situation. Besides, as a parent, you have many more years of embarrassing situations to look forward to courtesy of your children. So worrying about what others think during this situation is simply going to stress you and make you feel worse.

Here are a few tips to help you cope during tantrums:

1. Ignore the tantrum. This technique works best when at home. In public places, you don’t want to ever leave your child unattended as a form of punishment. Good behavior in public begins at home. Ignoring a toddler is not harsh. If your child is squirming on the floor screaming for a cookie, continue to talk to them as if you never noticed. Eventually, they will get the hint and stop screaming.

2. Avoid instant gratification. In public, toddlers throw tantrums when they are denied something that they want. Some parents give in to keep their child quiet but a child learns quickly. Tantrums will continue if they know you will cave. Simply tell them “no” and keep moving.

3. Don’t get angry. When you scream and they scream the situation is wildly out of control. You’ll end up crying and your toddler will still be screaming. In any situation, raised voices mean civilized conversation has ended in favor of basic primal instincts. Don’t revert back to the days of early man. Keep using the same calm voice you use when they are behaving to get your child to calm down as well.

4. Praise your toddler when they behave well. Positive reinforcement is better than negative. In the absence of positive attention a child will behave badly just to get some attention at all. Acting out and throwing tantrums may be a cry for attention. Don’t let it get to this point. Clap and celebrate when they go to the potty successfully and when they put away their toys. Good manners such as saying “please” and “thank you” deserve a smile and a hand clap as well.

5. Run errands after nap time. Kids get punchy when they get tired. A toddler misbehaves more often if they are dragged around when they are tired.

6. Carry snacks with you. Low blood sugar can lead to tantrums. If you are out longer than anticipated and lunch or dinner time is close at hand, let them eat a healthy snack to keep their hunger pains at bay and sugar levels stable.

7. Be consistent in your punishment. At home, you might use “time out” to deal with a tantrum for bad behavior. In public do the same. Sit your child on a bench for five minutes or take them to the car. Eventually they will learn that you are not a pushover and they will begin to behave.

You will survive the toddler years. Nip temper tantrums in the bud with the above tips.