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Young Scholars Academy

Where Children Develop a Love of Learning

 5815 Tutt Center Point - Colorado Springs, CO 80922
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How to Help Your Child Achieve School Success

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One of the things that contributes to a person’s likelihood to be successful is his or her academic achievements. Individuals who are academically successful are more likely to build stable careers and enjoy more opportunities for professional growth. School success is also important because this helps us tackle the challenging demands of life in general. When we progress academically, it can help to boost our self-esteem and equips us with skills needed to be better prepared for the future. 

As parents, we play a significant role when it comes to helping our kids achieve academic success. Our support and involvement of our children’s academics is crucial. However, it’s also important to remember that parental involvement doesn’t merely entail helping with homework. So how do we as parents help our children achieve school success? 

Read on for some tips you might find handy!

Create a routine

One of the most common mistakes many parents make is lack of direct involvement or discussions with our kids about school.  This is especially true for families in which both parents work. However, it’s important to remember that our kids need our help and involvement. As parents, we need to carve out time to support our children’s learning. If we don’t do this,  it’s more likely that our kids will become more dependent on screens and electronic gadgets. 

It’s crucial that you establish a routine in your home. Set a specific time for homework, and be sure this schedule works for both you and your kids. Establish a window of time for homework, either before or after dinner, so you’re available to monitor your child’s homework, and assist if needed. Allow your child independence, but remain available to offer guidance and be ready to help if your child gets stuck.

Dedicate a space for homework and studying

Some kids focus better when studying in their bedrooms, curled up on their beds, while others may need a dedicated space for schoolwork. Find out what works best for your child, and be sure to provide necessary materials and other items. If your child works best in a quiet workspace that allows him or her to concentrate without distractions, carve out a quiet corner or a spot in your home that is conducive for homework. Make sure everything your child needs is accessible and organized nearby. This area should also be free of screens so your child can focus and perform his or her academic tasks efficiently.

Establish rules

Rules are essential when it comes to providing the structure that children need to accomplish their daily school-related tasks successfully. Rules around homework will help ensure that your kids, as well as the rest of the family, are aware of the “dos and don’ts” pertaining to homework and school responsibilities.

For example, access to screens should not be permitted during school assignments. Another rule may be that homework must be finished before  children can use their game consoles. Some families don’t allow children to watch TV the night before an exam. 

Consider offering rewards

Some parents believe that kids shouldn’t be rewarded for doing things that are expected. However, offering incentives may work for some families. When we use a reward system, it can boost a child’s motivation and inspire him or her to make academic progress.

Incentives or rewards don’t necessarily need to be in the form of toys or tangible objects. They can be as simple as giving your child more time for outdoor play, offering a favorite snack, or taking a trip to the beach over the weekend. After all, our kids deserve to earn something good for a job well done.

Encourage a positive attitude towards education

We’ve all had varying experiences in our own educations. Some of us have enjoyed positive academic experiences while others’ may have been more difficult or challenging. These experiences have shaped how we may view the institution of education. In order to help your child achieve school success, it’s important that we foster a positive attitude towards education, even if it means putting aside our own negative experiences. We need to avoid perpetuating the notion that teachers have “favorite” students, or that all kids can be mean. Instead, work to cultivate a positive attitude towards school in your home, as this will help to inspire your child to be more motivated, and hopefully even to love  school. 

Our parental involvement and support plays an important role in our children’s academic success. Help your child achieve his or her academic goals, and provide your kids with the academic support they need by following these tips!

Quality education is an important factor in one’s success. Be sure to send your child to a school that offers the best quality early childhood education – Young Scholars Academy. Please give us a call for more information. 

Your Kids & 2021 Goals

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2021 Happy New Year Resolution Goal List – Business office desk with notebook written in handwriting about plan listing of new year goals and resolutions setting. Change and determination concept.

2020 has really been something. Just because 2020 seemed like a total bust does not mean we should give up our hope for 2021. Think back on your plans for 2020, do you think that you can adjust or revisit these goals in the new year? Why not change your vision to adjust with the times and get your kids involved as well!

Goals are not just for us adults either. Setting goals for little ones is just as important as adults. It is a great way to work towards something and be able to learn to fail and get back up. We all know not every goal we set out to obtain is always a success. 2020 has proven to us the need to pivot, be flexible, and problem solve.

Making resolutions with your kids can be a great family bonding experience. It can also open to you a little more about your child. Below you will find 4 ways to help your kids make resolutions and what lessons that can teach them along the way.

  1. Keep a positive approach. Goal setting and resolutions are truly about making ourselves happy. So, it is essential to keep an open mind and be positive when making resolutions with your little ones. Be there cheerleader instead of pointing out the short falls. Point out all the growth they made over the last year. Highlight huge accomplishments. Also avoid telling them their goal isn’t a good goal even if it a materialistic goal like collecting 25 new Pokémon. It is their goals and needs to reflect who they are.
  2. Suggest but do not tell them what resolutions to make. Ask questions about why they would like to build on. Brainstorm broad goals and milestones. Then talk to them about each broad goal helping them break down into an age appropriate attainable goal for each category.
  3. Do not end up with a list of ten or more resolutions. Have your child narrow their list down to about 3 or 4 top goals. It is important that we do not teach our kids it is about making a huge list of resolutions and not following through.
  4. Plan on how to obtain those goals but writing steps below each goal and how they plan to execute it.

There are so many lessons that can be taught by reaching your goals or even failing them. But the overall picture for our littles is support and encouraging them to reach high and go for their goals.

Ms. Michaela
Lead Preschool Teacher
Social Emotional Coordinator

Children & “Whole” Fitness

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Group Of Young Children Running Towards Camera In Park

There are many aspects to a child’s overall fitness. A child’s ability to be physically fit is the one we as adults relate to the word fitness. There are other parts of it though. Children need to be socially, emotionally, and academically fit also. When a child is positively fit, they can perform physical activities, learn new skills, build relationships, and communicate with others. Children think of being fit as a fun and enjoyable experience. It is not however commonplace or as easy to achieve as you may think. Everyday issues have a tendency to get in the way. After a long day at school and work families are tired and stressed. That’s when we turn on the television or hook ourselves up to a tablet and check out. While it is understandable it is a habit that we should try to break.

Did you know that children love to do yoga! It is an easy way to stretch and relieve some stress at the end of the day. Having the opportunity to jog around the backyard and do something physical after sitting in school all day gives them a chance to focus and get a release to all their built-up energy. Physical activity helps them to increase their coordination, balance, strength, and their own knowledge of what they can do. Some quick activities to do outside: hopscotch, a round of catch, running races, sidewalk chalk. Just a quick five-minute activity can really make a difference for evening routines.

Being mentally fit is not something most people think about when it comes to children. They are constantly drawn to watching television or playing on the tablet. It can be a good distraction but shouldn’t become a habit It can be very disruptive to communication skills, focus and building relationships. Making time to engage them in conversation and having them participate in daily activities help to ensure they are mentally fit. Ask about their day and tell them about yours. The act of simple conversation will keep their mind alert. It teaches empathy and gives them insight to what others think about. Let them help make dinner. When they participate in making food, they are more likely to want to eat it. It teaches them healthy eating habits. Most importantly it gives them a chance to build a greater relationship with you.
When I think of a child that is fit, I think about the whole child. Think of it as a pie chart. A section for the mind, a section for the body, a section for the heart. The more these areas get filled the healthier the child.

Ms. Dotty
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
NAEYC Coordinator

Countdown to Christmas

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Boy in long Christmas hat reading a book and yawns on the floor by the white Christmas tree

 

Looking for something fun to do with the holidays in these interesting times?

Countdown each day of December with a new book. They can be any book, or you can do holiday themes only. If you keep with holiday themes you can always store these with the Christmas decorations to reuse the books for following years. I did this last year and didn’t even remember doing this at all, let alone what the books were Ha- so it just might work well if you were hesitant of reusing books.

The way this works is your child(dren) get to open one book each day in December. It’s an interactive advent calendar if you want to use it that way too (number your books to use as a calendar).

If you can keep up, wrap one book each night before you go to bed. If you know yourself well enough then set aside some time to wrap each book all at once. The long Thanksgiving weekend would be a good time to get that jump started. Keep this in mind for next year, as I know you are already reading this too late. So, this year wrap the couple that you need to get through the week. Wrap the rest on your next day off or if you’re feeling super energized while watching the new Grey’s whip it out then!

You can do this in addition to your Elf on the Shelf. He can be holding your new book each morning with his shenanigans or use it to your advantage and the game can be to find where the Elf has hidden the book each day. He can leave a clue. You’re welcome, just gave you all your Elf days if you are struggling to keep up.

All jokes aside, this is a really great way to get your kiddos reading through the holiday season. It is a great tradition and fun for the whole family. It isn’t too much extra work because you are usually reading a bedtime story anyway or doing the Elf on the Shelf or an advent calendar, or all three…so might as well cut yourself some extra time in the Christmas pie. I hope this sounds like a fun addition to your holiday traditions.

Ms. Brooke
Lead Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Curriculum & Literacy Coordinator

Parenting Guide for Teaching Financial Literacy for Kids

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It’s important for parents to make sure they speak with their kids about the fundamentals of finances. While many traditional schools tend to focus on core subjects such as math, science, English, social studies, and foreign languages, they may not be  teaching the concepts of financial literacy. Therefore, this is something that parents may need to address with kids on their own. Unfortunately, a lot of parents are not comfortable discussing money with their kids, often viewing it as a “taboo” topic. However, it’s important for kids to learn about money at a young age so they can be prepared to manage their own finances as they face the future. When it comes to financial literacy for kids, there are a few key points to keep in mind.

Discuss how people earn money

The first step when it comes to talking to kids about finances is to teach them that money comes from hard work. Too often, many kids think that money simply comes from a piece of plastic with their parent’s name on it that they swipe at the store. By teaching kids that money can only be earned through hard work, parents can eliminate any sense of entitlement that their kids might have.

Parents should talk to their kids about their own careers, what made them choose that career path, and what kinds of tasks they perform at their jobs. It’s also helpful for parents to encourage their kids to think about what they might want to do when they get older. Furthermore, it’s wise to give kids an allowance for doing household chores as a means of teaching them the value of hard work and earning money.

Teach kids about budgeting

Oftentimes when kids receive money, the first thing they think about is what they can buy with it. Before kids jump into spending that money, it’s important for parents to talk to their kids about budgeting. While spending some money is okay, it’s vital that children learn the concept of budgeting. Otherwise, kids may grow up thinking that all of their money is meant to be spent immediately.

When kids start earning an allowance, it’s a good time to talk with them about deciding how much money they should spend and how much they should save. That way, kids can learn how to budget appropriately both for the present and in the future.

Talk to kids about giving back

It’s also important for parents to encourage their kids to donate money to charity, if possible. Giving back is important when it comes to raising well-rounded children. However, it might take younger kids some time to understand the importance of donating to charitable organizations. You can start by volunteering with kids at places like Goodwill or local food banks. This is a good way for children to see that these types of organizations can’t operate without charitable donations.

Teach kids learn about credit cards, checking accounts, and savings accounts

Financial literacy means understanding the different types of financial tools at our disposal, in addition to cash. Therefore, it’s important to talk with kids about opening a bank account and why this is important. Older kids might be able to understand the concept of interest as well. As kids grow up, parents also need to talk to kids about how credit cards work. While credit cards may seem great on the surface because of the convenience and rewards they provide, they also make it possible for people to spend more money than they should. Parents need to make sure they review these financial tools with their kids to make sure they manage their money well in the future.

Review investments and taxes with children

Finally, parents also need to talk to their children about taxes and investments. Investing is a great way for kids to use their money to save for retirement, college, or a home. On the other hand, parents also need to talk to their kids about taxes, where they come from, and why they exist. Parents can also talk with older kids about how they can use investments to shield their assets from being taxed. Some parents might even teach their older kids how to do their own taxes. These topics are critical when it comes to financial literacy.

Trust the team from young scholars academy in Colorado!

These are some of the most important tips a parent can follow as we aim to teach our kids about financial literacy. Make sure that you provide your children with the strong foundation they need to set themselves up for success, both in and out of the classroom. At the Young Scholars Academy in Colorado, we focus on childhood education, providing your kids with the practical skills they need to succeed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can set your kids up for success!