Out-of-School Learning

Times when your child is out of school, like weekends, holiday breaks, and summer vacations, don’t need to be times spent away from learning. Keeping your kids reading and learning outside of school is a critical factor in determining their success as students as well as their lifelong commitment to learning. By making out-of-school learning intentional, you can be sure that your child will be well-prepared to succeed in school.

Everyday Tips for Parents

• Learning by Doing: Concentrate on experiential learning (learning by doing). Most kids enjoy experiential learning, and sometimes don’t even realize that they’re learning. Take kids to the zoo, to a hands-on museum, or on a walk in a nature preserve—engage them in activities that stimulate their thinking and imagination.
• Do: Make sure that your kids read throughout the summer—make regular trips to the library, establish family “reading times,” or start a summer reading competition to make sure that everyone in your family reads regularly.
• Encourage Work Experience: Older teens can find internships or apprenticeships that allow them to gain hands-on experience with the things they’re interested in. Help them get involved in auto mechanics, videography, coaching a soccer team, or anything else that they like to do.
• Use Community Resources: Sign up for a family activity through your local recreation or community education department. Many of these organizations offer free programming or special events that provide many opportunities for out-of-school learning.
• Explore Recreational Options: Many kids enjoy going to a day- or week-long camp in the summer. Whether your child is interested in sports, art, science, or outdoor activities, camps provide a unique structure for out-of-school learning. Scholarships are sometimes available for families that need help covering the cost.

• Explore Your Local Library! Ask local libraries about story times for younger children. Libraries will often have local authors come and read kids’ books aloud, and this is a great opportunity to get kids interested and engaged in reading. If your local libraries don’t have programs like this, talk to a librarian about starting one to help all kids read more.

It’s easy to start thinking that summer vacation and other breaks from school are also breaks from learning—especially if your kids think that way. But in order for kids to be successful students, they need to be learning constantly, including at times when they’re not at school. And while it may seem like a monumental task, it’s actually quite easy to make sure that your kids are having educational experiences throughout the year—all it takes is some practice and a little creativity.

http://www.parentfurther.com/parenting/school-success/out-of-school-learning

Friday Fun with Fido!!

Scavenger Hunt with Your Dog

If you happen to have a furry friend in your family, include him in your rainy day adventures. Hide doggy treats in puppy-friendly places, and see if Fido can sniff out all his hidden surprises. Time his progress and see if he can beat his record on the next rainy-day scavenger hunt.

Read more on FamilyEducation: http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/indoor-games/61356.html#ixzz1KqUe9Vv5

Self-Esteem and Preschoolers

Children with healthy self-esteem grow into self-confident adults.

Neither parents nor teachers can give self-confidence to a child. It must be developed from within. We can help by giving a blend of acceptance, affection, limits and appropriate expectations.

Here are tips for you to foster self-esteem in children:

Encourage your child. Encouragement is not the same as praise. Praise sometimes emphasizes being better than someone. When praise is misused, a child can feel he only gets approval if he is winning. Encouragement can be given for effort or for slight improvement.

Share your approval if your child takes pleasure in doing something for its own sake.

Promote activities in which your child makes decisions and contributions. Give him the opportunity to plan family outings, or entertain friends. Provide a chance to run errands or help bake cookies.

Talk to your child. Show interest without prying. Ask, "What happened at school today?" rather than "What did you do?" Emphasize events, not victory or defeat.

Show your child that you value him. Valuing, opposed to evaluating, helps him understand he is important regardless of his successes or failures. Express pride in his attempts, and nurture his willingness to try

Friday Fun

Clothesline Art Show

by Molly Hewitt

Materials needed:

• Paper, crayons, colored pencils, stickers, etc.
• A clothesline or rope
• Clothespins
• Kid-made art: paintings, drawings, photos, collages, any lightweight works of art
• Snacks

Want to air out your kids' creativity? What better way than to host a neighborhood art show? This is a good activity for an afternoon. You want to have enough time for the art to be seen and enjoyed.

The Invitations

Pick a day and time for the show at least a week ahead, so everyone has time to make some art. The invitation should include the names of the hosts, the address, the date, the time, and what it's all about. You can use the same invitation for artists and parents. Just explain that artists are to show up a half hour early to hang their art. Since you are inviting people to an art show, get creative right from the start. Glue ransom note style cut-out letters on a paper plate, finger paint on a grocery bag, or circle letters on a page of the newspaper.

When the invitations are ready, deliver them. Then get started on your art! If you need some ideas, check out Take Your Camera for a Walk.

The Show

This is the easy part. Just hang the clothesline between two trees or porch posts (have a backup place indoors in case of rain). Get the snacks ready. Hang your art work with the clothespins. As the other artists show up, have them hang theirs. When the guests arrive, serve the snacks, and bask in the talent of the neighborhood artists!

Read more on FamilyEducation: http://fun.familyeducation.com/childrens-art-activities/outdoor-games/29586.html#ixzz1KqSBetkF

Making Predictions

By: Reading Rockets (2011)

As a young reader, your child is learning to make predictions while reading. "What do you think will happen next?" "Who do you think drank Sara's lemonade?" These types of questions we ask children as they're reading help them learn to monitor their understanding of the story while thinking ahead to the next part. If your child is able to make good and fairly accurate predictions while reading, chances are she comprehends the story well.

Scientists, just like readers, make predictions all the time. In fact, scientists use predictions as part of their hypothesis, or question they try to answer through their experiments. Help your child begin to see the connection between what she does as a reader and what she can do as a scientist.

Below are two simple ways you can encourage your child to put her prediction skills to work as a scientist:

Play favorites

What is our family's favorite flavor of ice-cream? What is our favorite movie to watch together? What is our favorite bedtime story? Choose a question, or make up your own, that your child is excited about.

First, have your child predict or guess the answer to the question. Help her write down her prediction. "I think chocolate is our family's favorite flavor of ice cream." Then, have your child ask each member of the family for an answer. Have your child record the answers using a special Science Notebook or simply mark tally marks on paper. Finally, ask your child to compare her prediction to the actual answers.

Good guess!

Estimation is often very similar to a prediction. In both cases, your child will be working to make a good guess about an answer. As with our Play Favorites idea, encourage your child to write down (or write together) the questions and answers in a special Science Notebook. Whenever possible, encourage the use of scientific words like estimation, predication, collect data, analyze, and prove.

Here are some estimation questions that require your child to make a prediction:

• How many noodles will it take to fill up this jar? Encourage your child to use scientific language and thinking to answer. "I predict it will take 300 noodles to fill the jar."
• How many steps is it from our front door to the mailbox?
• How much does our dog weigh?
• How many library books fit on one shelf?
• How long do you think it will take for the ice cubes to freeze (or melt)?

We predict your child will have great fun with these activities! And you can have fun knowing that you're helping your child make important connections between the skills of prediction, reading, and science.

Bedspread Peekaboo

Try is fun activity while making the bed with your child to encourage thinking skills.
- Gather several familiar objects, such as a toy, a sock, a belt, a comb and a necklace. Show the objects to your child and ask him to name each one.
- Have your child stand with eyes closed as you fold back the blanket and hide one of the objects under it.
- Let your child open his eyes and try to guess what the object under the blanket is.
- Follow the same procedure using the other objects.
- Next, let your child hide objects and have you guess what they are!
What a great way to practice patience, listening and thinking skills

Moving Children Between Two Households

Children Moving Between Two Households

If you have children that are living or moving between two households, there are things to consider to help make the transition smoother. For instance, understanding their temperament and how they deal with change impacts how you as a parent should react and respond during transition times. Which of these three types fits your children’s personalities?

• Is your child an easy child, one who responds well to change?
• Is your child one who resists change and lets you know it?
• Is your child slow-to-warm up, one who needs more time to get used to new situations?

In thinking about your children’s temperament look at the tips listed below. They come from the University of Minnesota Extension booklet, We Agree: Creating a Parenting Plan.

• Help them pack - let them decide on a few familiar things that will make them feel comfortable in either home.
• Reassure your children - let them know that both parents love them.
• Tell them you will never leave them.
• They may show anxiety before going to the other parents home. Realize their anxiety is probably due to a new routine.
• Talk positively about time they’ll spend with the other parent - it helps them see the importance of being with both parents and know its okay to go.
• Pick up your children during a natural transition time in their day - before or after an activity is a time they are used to "switching gears".
• Pick up your children without starting an argument with the other parent - if you cannot, find a place such as school or daycare where you won’t have to interact with the other parent.
• Explain how long they will be with the other parent.
• Use a calendar - it helps show when they are in different households.
• Do not make your children messengers.
• Keep the focus on the children - when you ask about their time in the other home.

Ellie McCann, Extension Educator, Family Relations

Fun in our Community!

Sunday 5-8-11 5:00-8:00pm DRHS Gym

ATTENTION ALL FAMILIES! Want to show off your dance moves? Don't miss out on the Deer River Family Prom! For all families of all ages! Supper and dessert will be provided for everyone. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please call Kathy with Deer River Community Education to register today! (218) 246-8241 X 227. This is a FREE Children First! event.

Tuesday 5-10-11 6:30-8:00pm Forest History Center

Batty about Bats! Improve your knowledge about Nature. This session is for
Are you scared of bats? Discover more about these fascinating creatures and how they make life more comfortable for humans. Taught by FHC Naturalist Nick Wourms.

Who Goes There? Tracks and Scat! Improve your knowledge about Nature.
Explore the mysterious world of animals that inhabit Minnesota Forest by learning about the clues they leave behind. Taught by FHC Naturalist-Paula Dibb

Register online at www.getlearning.org or by calling 318 Community Education at 327-5730

All Kids Need....

Compliments and Praise
Tell a child everything that's wrong with her...and watch her sour.
Tell a child you are so very proud of her....and watch her soar!

Try these:
"You are so very special"
"You made a good choice"
"I see you tried very hard"
"Good for you!"
"I'm so proud of you!"
"Way to go!"
"Teach me how to do that!"
"And you did it all by yourself"

Find one especially good thing about your child each day, and tell him about it!