Parenting Blog

Once upon a happy time, preschool was an option that was considered a bit excessive or unnecessary by parents. These days you’ll be hard pressed to find a young child who doesn’t go to preschool. Parents today, whose schooling probably didn’t begin until kindergarten, might think that our society is forcing kids to grow up too fast. Others may think that their kids will learn better at home than in a big group of rowdy three year-olds. Still, experts are insisting that preschool has undeniable benefits for your child, and here’s why.

Shy kids might benefit the most from preschool, because some of the most important lessons kids learn in preschool are social ones. Shyness is most easily overcome by early and frequent exposure to social situations, and the extra year or two of experience will be an invaluable jump-start for your shy child. Kids who aren’t shy benefit by learning to get along with their peers, which is often a challenge at their age. They practice adhering to a schedule and following rules, sharing their time and toys with unfamiliar people, and learning how to make friends.

Preschoolers today are learning more than ever before, sometimes at a first-grade level. Parents might think this puts too much pressure on their children, but remember that at their young age, kids’ brains soak up knowledge like sponges, and research has proven that the most effective learning takes place in childhood. Did you know that a child who begins learning a foreign language before the age of six actually builds connections between different regions of their brain that make it possible for them to speak different languages with ease? That’s why your preschooler seems to pick up on those Spanish words they hear on television so much more quickly than most high school kids.

Unfortunately, most schools don’t offer foreign languages until your child is fourteen or fifteen years of age. That’s what makes early learning so important – the connections your child builds in his brain will last him a lifetime.

Preschool is an increasingly popular choice for parents today because more often than not, both parents have full-time jobs. If you think that leaving your young child in a classroom all day is a bit excessive, consider this: would you rather have him watching television or playing computer games under the care of a sitter? Preschool teachers are educated in early child development and they understand how to maximize your child’s brainpower and well-being. Plus, kids have fun at preschool. It’s a valuable experience of early independence that will help them learn healthy interaction and responsibility. Yes, parents too are capable of providing their children with a quality learning environment, but for those who are considering preschool for their kids, know that it’s a healthy choice.

Children today are more computer-savvy than ever before, and every parent wants to be sure that their child is getting the most out of all that computer time. There is a huge variety of educational computer software that your kids will love to use.

You can’t go wrong with that tried and true classic, the popular Zoombinis’ Logical Journey. Young adults today fondly remember playing the Zoombini game in elementary school, and it’s still a big hit with kids today. Your children learn logic and problem solving skills as they guide their Zoombinis through a variety of critical thinking tasks, and they will have tons of fun doing so. The Learning Company has even come out with new titles like Zoombinis’ Island Odyssey and Zoombinis’ Mountain Rescue. This computer game is even installed in many elementary schools’ computer systems.

The Cluefinders series, also manufactured by The Learning Company, features a group of preteen characters who set out on various mystery-solving adventures. Unlike Zoombinis, which focuses on general problem solving skills, Cluefinders covers specific subjects – math, reading, language, science, and more – in four difficulty levels. The Cluefinders has different adventures for grade levels three through six.

Math is always a tough subject to make interesting for a child, which is why educational math games have gained such popularity. Given the choice between playing Math Blaster and completing twenty repetitive problems from a textbook, a child will choose Math Blaster every time – and that’s important because if your child is interested in what he is doing, he’s more likely to learn from it. Math Blaster is another tried and true favorite. Popular for over two decades, this game is even used by math teachers to get kids engaged in the subject. Your child will journey through three universes and learn everything from addition to division along the way. Now you can find Reading Blaster, Spelling Blaster, Geometry Blaster and Science Blaster as well.

Math Blaster is manufactured by Knowledge Adventure, the same company that makes the JumpStart series. JumpStart has stood the test of time because it gets proven educational results and it has such a huge variety of specialized subjects, so there’s something available for everyone. You can find software for any age from zero to twelve, as well as educational tools for real-world skills that are perfect for older kids. JumpStart carries workbooks to accompany some of their software. You can find programs for subjects ranging from math and science to social studies, language, art and music. There is even a JumpStart Typing and a speed reading program.

Your kids will love and look forward to playing any of these games. Whether you are looking to give them a boost in a subject they struggle with or you want to make sure your child isn’t wasting his time on the computer, educational computer games are a wonderful investment and make the perfect gift for any child.