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1. TURN OFF THE TV SET Make a house rule, depending on the location of the set, that when it is study time, it is "No TV" time. A television set that is on will draw youngsters like bees to honey. What about the radio? Should it be on or off? Contrary to what many specialists say, some youngsters do seem to function well with the radio turned on to a favorite music station. (Depending on the layout of your house or apartment, maybe an investment in earphones would be worthy of consideration.) 2. DESIGNATE SPECIFIC AREAS FOR HOMEWORK AND STUDYING [...]

As a parent it is important to recognize, in a timely manner, signs that indicate your child is struggling academically. A first step is to communicate with your child’s school. Your child may also need additional reinforcement to help get back on track. 1. CHANGE IN GRADES & COMMUNICATIONS FROM SCHOOL: Most obvious is a change in subjects in which your child usually likes and does well in. By the time this Red Flag is revealed via the progress report or report card, the struggles have been on-going. An early indicator of developing struggles could be an increase in notes and [...]

School is stressful especially in light of a world-wide pandemic that caused at the very least disruption in schooling. Now students are expected to excel in each subject while keeping up with extracurricular activities while being poorly prepared from the past year. According to a special report by EducationWeek, “Since the pandemic began, children and adolescents have had higher rates of anxiety, depression, and stress, and even more specific issues such as addictive internet behaviors.” Stress adversely affects learning in many different ways. Here are some troubling relationships between stress and learning: Bad Memory, Understanding, and Performance A study published in Nature [...]

Parenting isn’t easy. Everyone has an opinion on how you should raise your child, from family members to friends and colleagues, and even strangers. But most parents agree that they want their children to do well in school, and to hopefully develop a love for learning – whether it’s an academic subject, a language, or even a musical instrument. Setting high expectations for your children’s learning is an important part of raising life-long learners. For many, this involves figuring out a balance between school work, homework, and after school activities or extracurricular activities. RAISING HAPPY, BALANCED CHILDREN Even if it is [...]

This is the perfect time of the year for teaching your children about goal setting! From academic (think: finishing homework on-time and accurate) to athletic (think: making the travel team) to extracurricular (think: practicing your instrument for 30 minutes a day), teaching your kids to set goals at an early age gives them a tool set they can use for the rest of their lives! Here are 5 helpful strategies to help your child set SMART goals this year. SMART is traditionally a mnemonic device which represents criteria for a set of objectives or goals – the letters usually correspond to [...]

One secret weapon to a great school year is balance. For children to perform their best this school year, parents should ensure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a well-balanced diet, and have plenty of opportunity for exercise. EXERCISE Parents and educators alike can agree that kids need time to play outside. Outside play stimulates both the mind and the body, promotes better attention and focus in the classroom, and gives kids a much-needed outlet to release energy. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees, calling recess “a crucial and necessary component of a child’s development.” Studies show it offers important [...]

As the new school year unfolds, the time is ripe to consider some important tips about creativity, productivity, and well-being so as to inspire parents and kids. Please see these tips for fortifying kids’ capacities now, and throughout the school year. 1. Creativity develops over time, with the right kinds of learning opportunities, challenges, and supports. People are at their most creative when they’re doing what they love to do. Help children harness that enjoyment by finding their own niches and experiential pleasures, and support them in following their interests as they change over time. 2. Resourcefulness furthers intellectual growth, and [...]

Getting a tutor as or before school gets underway can kick your child's learning into high gear after summer! Beyond helping your children comprehend what they’re learning or will be learning in school, tutors play a much more critical role in setting the foundations necessary to make learning easier and more enjoyable. Our experienced after school tutors can teach study skills, can make learning fun and teach to fit your child’s learning style. This can help your child or teen get used to school quicker and start the year ahead! Getting A In-Home Tutor As School Starts Will Make This Year [...]

As parents, you know all too well that remote learning and the hybrid approach are just not the same for your children as being in school face-to-face with teachers and peers. Since March of 2020, school felt like a car that needed some serious work. It started and stopped, it started and stopped, in that in-person school suddenly converted to full remote learning then a hybrid, followed by in-person, then rinse and repeat. Obviously, this hasn’t been good for learning or socialization, the two key markers for school success. After a school year in which many of the nation's approximately 56 [...]