Starting your Children on Hobbies

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Hi,
Can you believe we are in March already! Time sure flies!! I hope you are looking forward to St. Patrick's Day, Easter and Mother's Day.. it will be here in no time.

Parents may have a lot of things in their hands when they are parenting their children. However, developing some hobbies is as critical and important as classroom lessons. Children on good hobbies can get their empowerment to achieve better and superior things life. Hobbies pursued with seriousness and dedication can help your children become world famous. Just look at those great painters or musicians performing on the world stage. Most prodigious sons and daughters of the world started their career as learners of new hobbies. A great performer playing on a piano started off as a child developing a hobby of playing a piano in home!

Parents may need to take hobbies with utmost seriousness. Teaching hobbies is an extra curricular activity performed mostly out of the classroom. Learning hobbies can start in your home. Your home is your children's playground to develop some hobbies of their choice. Help them learn and fine tune good hobbies. Hobbies can act as a great source of thrill and enjoyment as well! Have a great week ahead. Take care!

Thought for today:
"The difference between extraordinary people and ordinary people is as simple as the difference between the two words. Extraordinary people are committed to doing the extra things that ordinary people won't." - Christine Kinney

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Starting your Children on Hobbies - Introduction
A person can become complete only when he or she develops some hobbies in the life. Hobbies can help a person achieve many notable things in life. Children with hobbies can perform better in their classroom when compared to those who do not have any hobbies.

Starting your Children on Hobbies - Simple Methods and Techniques
Home is where parents can teach their children new and good hobbies. Teaching hobbies to your children is an exciting and thrilling event. Learning hobbies can help parents and children build a strong bridge of emotional relationship.

Q1: I have a 2 1/2 year old son that I've always suspected was a little bit different than most other children his age and raising him has always been pretty challenging. He seems to need very little sleep, has bounds of energy, is a great talker and will not stop exploring and asking questions. He has also been very interested in books and puzzles from a very early age. In fact, he really isn't in to many toys other than books and jig saw puzzles. I must read 20 or more books a day and he probably does an equal number of puzzles, on his own.....

A: There is no doubt that parents who are familiar of the concept of giftedness are the best people to judge if their child may be more advanced than others, especially with the amount of time spent with a young child. If you have been reading about giftedness and feel that your little one has most of the qualities listed in the checklist, you are probably right!.... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Raising a Gifted Toddler here.

Q2: My son is in seventh grade and consistently scores above average on the ITBS yet makes below average school grades. This year ITBS GE ratings 10-13, STAR reading 12.9 and 91 percent in verbal of the cognitive ability test. He does not meet the qualifications for gifted courses but is clearly not challenged....

A: The Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) offer educators a diagnostic look at how their students are progressing in key academic areas, and offer diagnostic data that can be used to create intervention groups and to drive curricular decisions. This is an achievement battery, not an intelligence test. It is a collection of tests in several subject areas, all of which have been standardized with the same group of students at each grade level..... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Non Match between School Grades and Cognitive Ability here.

Hobbies through Children's Books and Activities
By Nancy Allen Jurenka

Help students develop their own special talents and interests while supporting student literacy, social development, and a lifelong interest in reading through connecting books to children's hobbies. Each of the book's 30 chapters focuses on a different hobby through an annotation of a picture book in which the targeted hobby has a key role.

Jurenka further explores each hobby ranging from bird-watching to tap dancing through a starter activity, a language arts activity, a poem citation, a glossary of associated vocabulary, references to related societies and associations, and five annotations of nonfiction informational books. Not only will students enthusiastically read about their chosen hobbies, they will develop healthy lifelong passions for activities that positively affect their social and intellectual development.

The Toddler's Busy Book
By Trish Kuffner and Liya Lev Oertel

Parents know that it doesn't take expensive toys and gadgets to entertain a toddler. Any old box or wad of tissue paper will do! When Trish Kuffner put together "The Toddler's Busy Book", she was keenly aware of this fact, being a mother of five herself. Within the over 500 pages, you will find a multitude of ideas for keeping your little darlings busy and entertained, without spending a fortune.

In fact, many of the items used in this great book can be found lying around the house. Ms. Kuffner includes sections on organizing for a toddler, how to plan your activities, what to keep on hand for quick crafting fun, and even ideas for a weekly activity planner. Many of the ideas in this book are so simple, you may find yourself saying "Why didn't I think of that!". Kudos to Ms. Kuffner on creating an excellent resource for parents of busy little toddlers!

Do your bit to have a bright child
Sunday Times Feb 21, 2010

The human brain consists of millions of cells called neurons. These brain cells are linked to each other by connections called synapses to form brain circuits. They are formed throughout life, mainly from birth to about 10 years of age. Brain circuits decide the development and behavior of each individual.

Playing along with the Mozart effect
LA Times Mar 01, 2010

If you want music to sharpen your senses, boost your ability to focus and perhaps even improve your memory, you need to be a participant, not just a listener. Five months after we are conceived, music begins to capture our attention and wire our brains for a lifetime of aural experience.

The Importance of Toddler Toys in Brain Development
The Bedlam Mar 01, 2010

The first three years of a child are crucial to brain development. During this period, the brain triples in weight and establishes billions of nerve connections. At the age of three, kids have twice as many nerve connections than a lot of adults. This is the reason why toddlers are very curious and inquisitive.

Playing With Your Children Helps Their Brain Development
Red Orbit Feb 24, 2010

How mothers interact with their children plays an important role in their cognitive development. Mothers can help their children in developing brain and enhance the power of learning.

For Kids, the First Five Years Are Forever
Huffington Post Feb 25, 2010

At an annual conference for the American Association for the Advancement of Science this week, scientists revealed startling new research about the 1 in 6 kids living in poverty in the United States. Their work showed that the stress of growing up in a home where food is scarce and books are limited can transform a child's very physiology and brain wiring, impeding intellectual skills for the rest of their lives.

Children Teach Themselves to Read
Psychology Today Feb 24, 2010

The general assumption in our culture is that children must be taught to read. Vast amounts of research go into trying to figure out the scientifically best way to do this. In the education stacks of any major university library you can find rows and rows of books and many journals devoted solely to the topic of how to teach reading. In education circles heated debates--dubbed "the reading wars"--have raged for decades between those who believe that most emphasis should be placed on teaching phonics and those who take what is called a "whole language" approach to reading instruction.

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