Learning is Fundamental

How to Retain What You Have Learned

Learning new things is all very well, but whether or not we learn through reading, attending a course or through any other means, retaining information can sometimes be a struggle.  One of the most effective ways to do so, however, is by teaching someone else what you yourself have been taught.

Of course, teaching others does not have to be done in any kind of formal way.  In the case of work-related learning, for example, you might choose to pass on your newfound knowledge either to a subordinate as part of informal on-the-job training or to a colleague or group of colleagues in the form of an informal discussion.  If your learning is non-work-related, you might simply go home and talk to your partner or children about the things that you have been taught. 

Another great way to pass on knowledge in order to retain it, as well as to help others, is by sharing it via a blog or podcast.  This is also a superb method of building your professional resume and setting yourself up as an expert in your field, especially if the information relates to your career.

Whichever method you choose, though, the mere act of putting your new knowledge into your own words and presenting it to others will help to make it stick.    


 
Written by: Kristi Boulware
Business Development Manager with the Home Office Support Team for Childrens Lighthouse Learning Centers Franchise Department. You can find more information about our schools at our website. Also for information to Own your Own Childrens Lighthouse learn more about us at Franchise website. 

Do your homework on helping kids with theirs

When you have school-age children, homework is a fact of life. But it doesn’t have to be unpleasant. Do your part to help your child get the most from his or her homework with this advice:

• Show your interest. Ask children about their homework assignments. Talk about why they’re important and what the child can learn from them. You need to show that homework is important and worthwhile.

• Establish a routine. Set aside regular time for homework—right after dinner, perhaps. This helps the child get into the habit of beginning on time.

• Eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV and radio, and provide adequate space where your child can work without being bothered by siblings, parents making dinner, etc.

• Help your child prioritize. Time management is essential. Your child should keep a notebook or log all of his or her assignments so none of them gets forgotten. Advise them to identify which assignments will be most difficult and time-consuming so they can start on those when they’re fresh.

• Offer help—within limits. Don’t do their homework for them. If they get stuck, ask questions and guide them through the difficulties so they’re doing the work themselves. Otherwise they won’t learn the subject—or responsibility for doing their own work.

• Praise their efforts. Getting the right answer is important, but so is supporting the process. Praise them for working hard and not giving up when they’re tired or frustrated.

• Give them a break. Let children take short breaks if they start to get too frustrated with a particular assignment. You don’t want a complete meltdown over an arithmetic problem.

• Work with the teacher. Stay in contact with your children’s teachers so you know what their expectations are—for the child and for you as a parent.


Written by: Kristi Boulware
I started as a Preschool Teacher for about 8 years and then moved up through management to be a very successful School Director. Most recently with Childrens Lighthouse Learning Center's McKinney location. I have since been moved to the Home Office of Childrens Lighthouse as the Business Development Manager. You can find more information about us at http://www.childrenslighthouse.com/.

‘Only’ doesn’t have to mean ‘lonely’ when raising one child

TV shows from The Waltons to Jon & Kate Plus Eight spotlight big families with lots of children. But what if you’re raising an only child? Some studies suggest that single children do better with language skills and school performance, and maintain closer relationships with their parents, than kids with one or more siblings.

It’s a question of balance. Here are some tips for preventing your only child from living up to the stereotype of the lonely, self-centered singleton:

• Help them build friendships. Put a little more effort into arranging play dates and sleepovers with friends from school or daycare. Make sure they get to know their cousins and other younger family members so they’re not always surrounded by grownups.

• Establish boundaries. Remember that you’re the parent and you’re in charge. Let children know what kind of behavior you expect. Involve them in family decisions, but don’t let them take over.

• Teach patience. Children with siblings usually learn to wait their turn. Take the same approach with your only child—don’t drop what you’re doing every time he or she calls you. At meals, serve guests first. You don’t want them to expect that their desires will always take priority.

• Give them chores. The more children you have, the more help you need, and so assigning chores at home comes naturally. With a single child, you may be tempted to do everything yourself, but assigning regular tasks around the house teaches responsibility and independence.

• Don’t gang up. If you’re married, you and your spouse have a 2-to-1 advantage over your child, which can be intimidating. Support each other, but don’t automatically jump into every conversation (or confrontation). Give your child some space to grow on his or her own.

Written by: Kristi Boulware
I started as a Preschool Teacher for about 8 years and then moved up through management to be a very successful School Director. Most recently with Childrens Lighthouse Learning Center's McKinney location. I have since been moved to the Home Office of Childrens Lighthouse as the Business Development Manager. You can find more information about us at http://www.childrenslighthouse.com/.

A good night’s sleep for your child

Does your child suffer from sleep problems? If so, according to University of Cologne (Germany) research (originally published in the journal SLEEP), he or she is more likely to have trouble falling asleep than staying asleep. Here are some tips to help your children sleep better from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine:

• Follow a consistent bedtime routine. Set aside 10 to 30 minutes to get your child ready to go to sleep.

• Establish a relaxing setting at bed time.

• Interact with your child at bed time. Don’t let the television, computer or video games take your place.

• Keep your children from TV programs, movies and video games which are not appropriate for their age.

• Do not let your child fall asleep while being held, rocked, fed a bottle or while nursing.

• At bed time, do not allow your child to have foods or drinks which contain caffeine. Try not to give him or her any medicine which has a stimulant at bed time.

Written by: Kristi Boulware
I started as a Preschool Teacher for about 8 years and then moved up through management to be a very successful School Director. Most recently with Childrens Lighthouse Learning Center's McKinney location. I have since been moved to the Home Office of Childrens Lighthouse as the Business Development Manager. You can find more information about us at http://www.childrenslighthouse.com/.

The Perils of Perfectionism

Finding work/life balance in today’s busy and highly competitive world could never be described as easy. For most perfectionists, however, it is downright impossible.
Although many people tend to think of being a perfectionist as a positive thing, true perfectionism is, in many ways, extremely counterproductive. Not only does the need to attend to every last little detail waste unnecessary time and lead to tasks and projects taking much longer than they need to, but it typically means that perfectionists end up allowing work to eat into their own personal leisure time. Perhaps worse still, even once the job is finally handed over, the perfectionist still never feels that he or she has completed it well enough and so is left with intense feelings of frustration and low self-esteem.

Striving for excellence is something that can only benefit ourselves and our employers, but there is a world of difference between this and trying to achieve the impossible. As human beings, we are not built to be perfect; trying to achieve perfection is a certain road to unhappiness. By all means give everything your best shot, but know when to stop because your best really is good enough!


Written by: Kristi Boulware
I started as a Preschool Teacher for about 8 years and then moved up through management to be a very successful School Director. Most recently with Childrens Lighthouse Learning Center's McKinney location. I have since been moved to the Home Office of Childrens Lighthouse as the Business Development Manager. You can find more information about us at http://www.childrenslighthouse.com/.

Saying "NO" to Negativity

We all know people who never have a good word to say about anything. Comment on what a beautiful sunny day it is and they will complain that they are too hot. Say how much you are looking forward to going to the cinema and they will tell you how awful the movie is. These people sap our energy and can cause our spirits to plummet within minutes of being in their company.

Being a positive or negative thinker, however, is something over which we have control, and thinking positively is a good habit to adopt. Optimistic people are healthier, live longer and are more satisfied with their lives in general.

Whole books have been written on how to become a positive thinker, but essentially being one boils down to a few key things:

•Being aware of how your cynicism and inclination to think the worst causes you unhappiness
•Training yourself to become conscious of your negative thoughts and words
•Replacing your negative thoughts and words with positive ones. Even amidst the bad situations in life, there are nearly always positive opportunities, so focus on the good
•Repeating positive affirmations such as “I am a hopeful, optimistic person”
•Reflecting on the positives of each day and the things that you have to look forward to tomorrow

Awareness of your thinking is absolutely key to adopting a positive mind-set, so listen carefully to your thoughts and then banish the negative ones for good.

Written by: Kristi Boulware
I started as a Preschool Teacher for about 8 years and then moved up through management to be a very successful School Director. Most recently with Childrens Lighthouse Learning Center's McKinney location. I have since been moved to the Home Office of Childrens Lighthouse as the Social Media Consultant. You can find more information about us at http://www.childrenslighthouse.com/.

Teaching Stranger Danger

As parents, it can sometimes feel as though everything is a potential danger to our children. Cars, hot kettles, sharp knives, small objects, strange dogs – you name it and we’ll fret about it. Of all the scary inanimate and animate things, however, other people are perhaps the scariest of all.  As our children grow and become more independent, teaching them about stranger danger is vital not just for their safety, but also for our own peace of mind.

Simply telling children not to speak to strangers can cause confusion, such as when they start school and are faced with an unknown teacher.  So here are a few of the things that you can say to help your child make sense of different situations.

• Stay close to Mommy and Daddy or the grown-up you are with in public places like the park or the stores.
• Always stay an arm’s length away from someone you don’t know. If a grown-up gets too close, then move away or run for help. If they try to grab you, kick and scream as hard as you can.
• You can talk to someone if I’m with you or if I say it’s okay.
• Never take anything from a stranger.
• Never go anywhere with someone you don’t know.
• If you get lost, ask a police officer, security guard or store clerk for help. Stay where you are until someone finds you.

Written by: Kristi Boulware

I started as a Preschool Teacher for about 8 years and then moved up through management to be a very successful School Director. Most recently with Childrens Lighthouse Learning Center's McKinney location. I have since been moved to the Home Office of Childrens Lighthouse as the Social Media Consultant. You can find more information about us at http://www.childrenslighthouse.com/.