Newsletter December 2011

December 10, 2011
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We strive to bring you the most helpful and up to date information every month, and this month's newsletter is no exception.
You can scroll down through the articles below, or you can click on a headline you like to go directly to that article.

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This Month's Headlines:

Choosing Apps for Children
Spreading Positive Emotions
Learning Foreign Languages

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Choosing Apps for Children

It’s that time of year where children are likely asking for the latest technology. iPhones, iPads, smart phones and other devices are likely on your child’s holiday wish list this year, if they don’t already have one. While you may decide it’s time to take the plunge and purchase one of these devices for your child, it’s good to know what they will be doing on it. By now, most of us have heard of “apps” or applications that are available on handheld devices, and it’s a sure bet that your child will want to load his or her device with them.

But, it’s important to pay attention to what apps they are using on their devices. Here are some tips on how to help monitor their usage by selecting appropriate apps.

Perfect Combo

Find an app that’s a good combination of fun and educational. Even if children are playing games, there could be the opportunity for learning. Find things that intrigue them but also offer some mental stimulation. Word and numbers games are always a safe choice, but there are plenty of other more complex apps that still deliver an educational message.

Poke Around

Don’t be afraid to get involved and look around for new and recommended apps. Studies show that kids learn more when parents are involved, and this is no exception. Do your research, ask other parents or teachers, and take turns playing with your child to test them out yourself.

Age Appropriate

Make sure you are checking apps out before your child downloads them. Most will provide an age range, so be sure that the app not only fits your child’s age level, but also their emotional and intellectual level. Younger kids often do well with the touch-screen operated apps, which are less confusing to use. Other audio cues and instructions can also be helpful for users.

Limit Play Time

While these apps can be educational, make sure you set limits so your child doesn’t become attached to their device of choice. Electronic playtime should be balanced with other, physical forms of play, and other more traditional methods of learning. Monitor the amount of time your child spends on his or her device, and if necessary, set limits and rules.

Check Your Sources

Make sure you are downloading apps from reputable sources. If you’re not familiar with something you can always do an Internet search to find out more information. Common Sense Media (www.commonsense.org) is a good site for parent ratings on apps and other forms of media. Check out the characters in the game, the level of maturity needed to understand the rules and concepts, and make sure that it’s something your child can handle and understand. Remember that children often tend to mimic characters they see and play with, so make sure you’re comfortable with what they might be learning.

Protect Your Child

Lastly, many apps are financially driven and serve as little more than fancy marketing tools. Make sure that the app is not a teaser for a larger, paid-download app, which happens often. Usually words like “free” and “lite” after the title indicate that there’s also a more advance, paid version. Some of these apps rely on constant reminders to get users to finally cave and make that purchase. Your child sees enough advertising in his or her daily life, so if you can prevent this it clears the way for better learning and more fun.

Source “6 Tips for Buying Children’s Apps.” pbs.org
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Spreading Positive Emotions

In the winter months parents are on high alert for the spread of germs and sicknesses like the flu. But there are other things that are contagious too that parents often don’t think of: emotions.

Studies show that it only takes one negative person in an office to have a harmful effect on the whole group. It doesn’t take much to deflate the morale of everyone nearby. The same is true for families—children can “catch” our own negative emotions or patterns of thinking.

According to Jan Corneau, a licensed social worker, this is a natural byproduct of cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. The idea behind CBT is that one’s actions can be directly tied to what one believes or thinks. Research shows that children growing up in negative families often feel things are their fault, regardless of the situation, and tend to act with these kinds of thoughts in mind. This is particularly at work with young children—they have a hard time deciphering between yelling that is directed at them versus general anger at something else, and may begin to believe that there is something “bad” about them.

Adults can see this at work too. What happens when we are under high-stress situations? Do we lash out at those who don’t deserve it? Act out in anger? These kind of actions send confusing messages to our children. Studies have shown that childhood depression may be connected to parent’s negative outlooks, and that parents who suffer a lot of stress tend to have stressed out children.

The good news is that positive emotions can be just as contagious as negative ones. Here are some tips to make sure your child receives more positive messages.

• Be honest about what’s bothering you. If you don’t feel well, or are upset about something at work, tell your child. This way there’s no mistaking that it’s something he or she did to upset you.
• Give your child tools to handle upsetting situations. The more children understand that what people do or how they act is not automatically the child’s fault, the better off he or she is.
• Remember that some children are more sensitive to other’s emotions. Help your child learn to tell when someone is in a bad mood, and to understand that it’s nothing he or she did or said.
• If you notice someone else having a negative effect on your child, try to help the situation. Maybe that person needs some guidance or a person to talk to, and in extreme cases, maybe it is worth putting some distance between your child and this person.

There are always hardships and ups and downs in life. But if we can teach children to not sweat those things that are not their fault, they will be more likely to be happy, healthy children who can focus on things that matter.
Source Perles, Keren. “Attention Parents: Your Emotions Are Contagious.” education.com.
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Learning Foreign Languages

As our country continues to diversify, more and more schools are choosing to make foreign language instruction mandatory. Whether your school requires it or not there are things you can do outside of the classroom to get your child started in a foreign language.

Why should you teach your child a second language? The benefits are many: second languages increase cognitive skills, and help give kids an edge both in school and in professional environments once they are older. Languages are the domain of the frontal lobe of the brain, the same section responsible for memory and skills like multitasking, so it’s a great idea to exercise this part of the brain.

Starting children with a second language early has been proven to be more effective than learning as an adult. The earlier you start the easier it is for your child. Studies have confirmed that young children’s brains are better wired to learn new grammar rules, accents and vocabulary.

The following tips can help you bring a second language into your home and broaden your child’s skills.

• Get your hands on some DVDs, games, CDs and other forms of media in the language you’d like your child to learn. Once they start to pick up vocabulary words, start adding them to your conversations too for added reinforcement.
• Make conversations in the foreign language part of your child’s routine. Pick a day or time to practice, and stick with it. The consistency helps children retain the knowledge. It can be anytime that works for you—on the ride to school, at the dinner table, wherever it fits into your lives. If you don’t speak the language, find recordings or other tools that will help your child practice—you may even start to pick it up too!
• Remember to have fun with it. Language learning does not have to be all textbooks and memorization. Find literature in the second language. Books, magazines and stories can make the learning more fun and creative, and study tools like flash cards can help back up the lessons. Adding the language into games can be a very effective tool as well.
• Be worldly. Teach your children about the country of origin for the language they’re learning. Finding out about interesting customs or lifestyles can add a fun element, and help your child better understand our global society. If possible, expose your child to native speakers of that language. Is there a restaurant, grocery store, or neighborhood that speaks the language your child is learning? Bring them there to immerse them in the language, or better yet, find someone they can speak to and practice with. That is one of the most effective ways to really grasp a second language.
• Finally, make sure you encourage and praise your child, no matter how quick or slow they are to catch on. Languages are hard, and some children may need some extra attention. Tutoring is an excellent way to help build a strong foundation in a foreign language. Also, remember that it’s totally normal for children to confuse words, or mess up the syntax of sentences as they learn. Just be patient and positive about their progress and your child will be more motivated to continue.

Source Levine, Julia Pimsleur. “The Gift of a Second Language.” education.com.