Like their bodies, kids’ brains need exercise to stay in tip-top shape. It’s no surprise that during the long, lazy days of summer, many students lose the equivalent of one to two months of reading and math skills.

Because the best learning often occurs when children don’t realize they are learning, fun and creative activities like painting, visiting the zoo or creating a beach towel “journal” are ideal for keeping summer brains in peak condition. (more…)

Developing solid math skills is a necessity for all children. Students who take math early in their educational careers set a stronger foundation for success in school and throughout life.

Skills taught in math courses cross over into other subject areas, such as English and writing. For instance, math students learn good problem-solving skills, which improve their ability to create a coherent essay – a task that requires students to shift between abstract concepts and supporting facts.

By taking a fun, creative approach to math outside of the classroom, parents can help their young children develop strong skills and a positive, confident attitude toward an often-maligned subject.

The following are ideas to foster a love of math in your children: (more…)

“There is no such thing as succeeding without reading,” says Dr. Richard Bavaria, vice president of education at Sylvan Learning Center. “Developing solid reading skills in the early years means children are more likely to become confident learners all throughout school.”

Dr. Bavaria suggests the following tips parents can use to help their children develop strong reading skills:

Pre-School Children

• Set aside time for storytelling. Reading and telling stories together help stimulate reading and writing skills.
• Read aloud. It sparks the imagination and helps orient children to language and the concept of written words. When reading a story aloud, point to the words as you speak them. Follow the sentence with your finger so that children begin to recognize how words appear on the page.

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