A study from Reading University in the UK says that toddlers are more likely to try unfamiliar foods if they’ve seen pictures of them already. Definitely an interesting hypothesis–if you’re having trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies, picture books could be the solution. Has someone told the publishing companies about this yet?
For details on the study check out the story at Telegraph.co.uk
When you’re not out tricking or treating this Halloween, there’s plenty to do at Speakaboos:
Watch one of our spooky stories, like our brand-new storybook video Frankenstein, or the now-classic Billy and the Witch.
Then, scare your brain silly with the online Halloween Word Search Game, and print-out instructions for some creepy arts and crafts: make your own Witch Hat and Monster Ooze (PDF printouts).
Happy haunting!
Encourage your young ones to read this summer with Speakaboos storybook videos—use our handy summer reading list to make sure you get the most out of the summer hours!
Family activities (PDF file downloads):
• Arts and Crafts: Build a Birdhouse, Make Your Own Guitar, Cotton Ball Hare
• Recipes: Mediterranean Fruit Kebobs, Banana Hot Dogs, Chicken Fingers
• Coloring Pages: Jack and the Beanstalk, The Ugly Duckling, Cinderella
• And much more at our Activities Page
I first learned about computers in elementary school on MS DOS – everything was 5″ floppy disks, C:\, <dir>, and coded commands that I have long since forgotten. The concept of teaching technology is ever-changing, but former teacher Cindy Donaldson has compiled a great list of basic but crucial tech skills that every teen (and maybe younger) should have:
Ok, well, they didn’t call the site creepy, just Crispin Glover’s reading. We happen to love Mr. Glover’s unique interpretations of “Little Miss Muffet” and “Jack and Jill,” and hope that parents out there get a kick out of them too, but we were a bit miffed that author Alex Leo chose to highlight Charlie’s Angels as Mr. Glover’s “best-known” work. In any case, we are honored to be featured in such a quality publication, regardless of context.
Here’s the story: Crispin Glover’s Creepy Reading Of Miss Muffet (VIDEO).
You hate the parent who sends a noticeably sick kid to school… but it might not be that parent’s fault when your kid comes home sick.
An article by Dr. Perri Klass in the New York Times challenges popular notions of contagious illness–just because a kid is showing symptoms of illness like runny nose, cough and sneezing does not necessarily make him more contagious than one who seems perfectly healthy.
She argues that schools are so filled with germs from kids who didn’t get sick or are already over being sick that it doesn’t make sense to focus only on the noticeably sick children.
So what is a concerned parent to do?
Lots of handwashing. And of course, keep your kid home if he/she has a fever or is generally not feeling well enough to go to school.
Dr. Klass admits herself that as a working parent, she is much more motivated than some to send her kids to school, but also the Times is on a big “expose your kids to germs” kick lately as per this article. Stay tuned for news about schoolyard epidemics in NYC…
Full story from Dr. Klass:
The Cough-and-Sniffle Question – When to Keep a Child Home? – NYTimes.com
A lot of families equate eating healthy with spending more money–here’s a great article from Nationwide Children’s Hospital that provides some money-saving tips from a medical perspective:
http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/gd/applications/controller.cfm?page=204&id=588&type=new
A recent independent survey conducted by HotChalk details the attitudes of teachers towards their jobs and resources. The findings show a growing concern among teachers that they are not receiving adequate support from parents. Perhaps the most disconcerting finding in the study is that 65% of teachers believe that parents find teachers to be completely responsible for their child’s education and academic progress.
Edward Fields, chairman and CEO of HotChalk, commented, “Parents often place the burden on teachers for shouldering every bit of responsibility for the education of their children. In reality, educational success of our nation’s youth requires a serious team effort beyond the bi-annual parent-teacher conference. Teachers cannot succeed without consistent parental involvement in the education process. If the parent isn’t connected to their own child’s education, they are not preparing a child to be successful. Period.”
Mr. Fields, along with his company’s survey, poses a serious question to today’s parents; how do we become involved, support, and raise our children’s education? Early literary studies show that reading is perhaps the best way to straighten our children’s educational path. In the year 2000, the National Research Council found that the majority of reading and educational problems faced by today’s adolescents and adults was the result of problems that might been avoided or resolved in their early childhood years. A separate study conducted by the National Commission on Reading found that, “The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school”.
With the advent of Speakaboos.com and other popular story book sites, today’s parents can find the neccessary resources to advance their children’s education head-on. Lower income families who are not privvy to a large library of children’s books can now interact with their children’s educational progress, without having to worry about the expense. Speakaboos has also worked with educators to make sure that all the materials we provide are educational and appropriate. Future interactive tools like “Record Your Own” and a diary feature will also help children develop proper speech, language, and writing skills. With these tools, along with the local library, our children’s school, and our ongoing involvement, we can take a proactive stance in our children’s education and become a teacher at home.
