Soraya Diase Coffelt's Blog, page 3
May 8, 2023
5 Important Benefits that Children Derive from Coloring Books
Children love to draw and color! They use crayons and markers to make their own designs and color combinations. For them, any and every color can be useful. It is so wonderful to watch them!
Have you ever considered that there are at least 5 benefits to their coloring? Experts agree that those benefits include:
It helps their motor skills and coordination – As children hold a crayon or marker and color with it, they are using their brains, hands, and fingers to develop their motor skills and coordination.
It helps them to focus – When a child is coloring, the child is very intentional and focused. Concentrating on a specific thing is beneficial for children to learn.
It relieves stress – Yes, children do suffer from anxiety and stress, especially these days. Be sensitive to your children’s moods and feelings. Have plenty of coloring books available.
It encourages creativity and self-expression – As a child selects a specific color, the child is using his/her own creativity and means of self-expression. It is important that we never criticize our children for their color choices. If your child colors a tree purple, simply ask why? I’m sure your child will tell you a very good reason!
It develops patience in them – As they color a picture, they will take their time and then see the end result, which they will be very proud of and have a sense of accomplishment in. Keep those pictures and put them in places where they can be displayed for a while. I still have in my possession today pictures that my sons, who are now adults, colored.
If you are considering purchasing coloring books, my children’s books have been transformed into coloring books too. Your children will learn as they use their artistic abilities to color. This is an additional important benefit for them. Please visit our website to purchase them.
To learn more, please visit:
https://www.colorpsychology.org/benefits-of-coloring-pages-for-kids/
https://www.momjunction.com/articles/amazing-advantages-coloring-pages-childs-development_0086656/
May 1, 2023
Get Some Tips from Dr. Theo Nayame, Board-certified Plastic Surgeon, on Supplementing Your Children’s Education at Home
My mother was always supplementing my and my sisters’ education at home. I remember having to regularly read additional books which we checked out from the library on a weekly basis and doing a lot of math memorization and then actual math problems. All of this was at done home and in addition to any homework we had! I recently came across this inspiring article of a similar style of parent and wanted to share it with you for inspiration.
Dr. Theo Nyame is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is married and has a daughter and a son. Like my mother, he is a firm believer in parents being actively involved in their children's education and helping to supplement their education at home. Despite his very busy work schedule, he spends time with his children, not only at play but also importantly with their studies.
Dr. Nyame started by trying to find what levels of learning his children were at when they were very young. What concepts could they truly understand and learn? How could those concepts be simplified? He then began to direct their learning in math and reading.
His son started learning subtraction concepts when he was just 3 years-old and his daughter started learning algebra when she was 5 years-old. Additionally, his daughter reads at a second to third grade level despite the fact, again, that she is only 5.
It is noteworthy that he and his family spend time together relaxing and enjoying each other’s company, not just being dedicated to learning. He has many videos of his children learning on social media and hopes that other parents will be inspired and use them to direct their own children’s learning.
To learn more, please visit:
April 24, 2023
Teach Your Children About the Role Jazz Has Played in Uniting People Throughout the World
I love encouraging parents to have their children learn about and participate in various musical events. Music has so many benefits for children, not only in their learning to play a musical instrument but importantly also in understanding the rich heritage of various forms. Today, I would like to share about jazz, since International Jazz Day is on April 30.
Jazz music dates from the late 19th to early 20th centuries and has roots in New Orleans, Louisiana, beginning as a mixture of African slave folk songs and chants and European classical music and evolving over time. It uniquely blends African and Caribbean music with marching band instruments and “the blues” and is referred to as “a melting pot” of music.
International Jazz Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 2011 “in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.” On the website jazzday.com, the following information is provided:
International Jazz Day brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about jazz and its roots, future, and impact; raise awareness of the need for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding; and reinforce international cooperation and communication. Each year on April 30, this international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, and respect for human rights and human dignity eradicating discrimination; fostering gender equality; and promoting freedom of expression.
The website has a wide variety of educational resources for individuals as well as educators for April 30 and all year long. Additionally, there are news articles, information about events, and videos. There is a wealth of information for you and your family, including a toolkit with resources.
For more information, please visit:
April 17, 2023
8 Ways You Can Celebrate the Month of the Military Child (Whether You are a Part of the Military or Not)
On March 31, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. issued a written proclamation to honor the over 2 million children of the U.S. service members and veterans by declaring the month of April to be the Month of the Military Child. The proclamation also encouraged those who support military children to wear purple during the month. Here is a portion of the proclamation:
Every day, military-connected children stand tall with pride for their parents and our Nation. They make sacrifices — big and small — so their parents can continue to serve and protect this country. These young people represent the very best of America, and we will always be grateful for their service to our Nation. May God bless our troops and their families, caregivers, and survivors.
The following are 8 ways that you can celebrate the month with your children:
As mentioned previously, wear purple as often as possible and talk with your children about why. Also, consider taking photos and sharing them on social media. #purpleup
Create care packages for a deployed service member and his/her family. Include in the care packages letters to them.
Study the different branches of the military and when each was created. What does each specific branch do?
.Find out who are the military children in your neighborhood and host a fun day with your neighbors.
Check out books from the library about military children. The link below for dodea.edu has a list of recommended books for different ages. Talk with your children about each book.
Speak with your children’s teachers to organize classroom events, such as a “Share Your Story” project, and have military-connected students share their stories as well as have a show and tell.
Create a time-zone map showing places where most military parents are deployed and study each location.
Find out what activities are available in your area and attend some of them.
There is a tool kit with activities and many other suggestions of activities at the links below.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.militarychild.org/upload/images/2020%20MOMC/2020_Month_of_the_Military_Child.pdf
https://www.dodea.edu/dodeacelebrates/military-child-month.cfm
April 10, 2023
Learn About the Impact of Good Friends Through the Story of How Superman Was Created
The impact of your children’s friendships can be tremendous. Proverbs 27:17 NLT says that “as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”. The story about how Superman was created is a wonderful illustration of this. It is based on the friendship of two boys who dreamed of having superpowers. The rest is history! What can you do as a parent to ensure that your children’s friends sharpen them?
Here is the story about the two boys. Jerry and Joe were friends who enjoyed reading comics. Joe loved to draw, and Jerry loved to create stories. One night, the idea of Superman came to Jerry, and he rushed over to share it with Joe. The two of them developed the story of a Man of Steel.
Jerry’s dad had been shot and killed previously in a robbery. Creating a story about a man who was so strong that bullets could not affect him and who helped those in need seemed to be appropriate for Jerry, the storyteller.
The Passiton.com blog post with this inspiring story stated:
The story of Superman has inspired kids for generations. It has calmed their fears and driven their dreams. Most importantly, the Man of Steel has inspired us all to find our superpowers and use them to help others. So, the next time you are inspired to swoop in and save a friend from being bullied or help the widow next door with your superpower smile, thank Joe and Jerry, two awkward high school kids who dreamt up Superman — making the world a little more safe and a little more fair.
To learn more, please visit:
https://www.passiton.com/passiton-blog/178-the-birth-of-superman-how-two-awkward-teenage
April 3, 2023
7 Innovative Ways to Help Your Children Learn New Words and Increase Their Vocabulary
How can parents help their children to build their vocabulary? According to educator Vicky Bowman, ED.S, “children learn new words mainly by hearing them in a meaningful context (which often includes a story’s illustrations or a speaker’s gestures).”
Rather than just rote memorization of words, here are 7 innovative ideas you can consider implementing:
Read more with and to your children – You may say that this is not very innovative but how you read is very important. Are you bored or in a rush? Take your time. Make your children feel that they are important and that this time with you and a book is important. Change the tone and emphasis of your words. For example: if the character is sad, read in a sad tone; and if the character is happy, read in a happy tone.
Talk with your children about what they have read - Open up a discussion about the book or story. As you read page by page, point out what the pictures are about. Talk about the design and colors. What did they enjoy? This all forces them to think and come up with words to talk and express themselves.
Ask your children questions about what they have read and about any new words they may have encountered – You can ask questions during the reading or at the end or both. But, when it comes to words that your children may not understand, be sure to stop and ask them right away and make sure that they truly understand the meaning. Keep track of the new words and review with them at a later date.
Read a variety of books – Again, your children will learn about more different subjects and the words associated with these subjects.
Write out labels with the names of objects in your home and attach them to the object – This way, your children visually read the label and see the object. Then, they associate the word with the object.
Make learning new words a part of their everyday activities – For example, if your children go grocery shopping with you, allow them to write the grocery list. When at the store, talk about the items in the store that you want to purchase. Find and discuss the items. Another example is when you are at a restaurant. Read and discuss the menu.
Play word games – One game I loved playing with my children was I Spy and we played it regularly, especially when we were in the car. Other games that help children increase their vocabulary are Scrabble and Bananagrams.
To learn more, please visit:
https://imaginationsoup.net/teaching-kids-new-vocabulary-at-home/
March 27, 2023
10 Ways to Celebrate National Reading Month with Your Children March 2023
March is designated as National Reading Month in honor of the renowned children’s author Dr. Seuss who was born in March and has been celebrated since 1984. Of course, the month is dedicated to inspiring better reading habits in children.
What are 10 ways that you can encourage your children to read more and celebrate reading?
Visit your local library – Libraries have many activities on the weekend for children. Research online what is available and have your children attend. I grew up enjoying the activities in our local library and my sons did too.
Turn a book into a play for your children and their friends to perform – Add to their reading the story an opportunity to act out as the characters. You can make it as elaborate or as simple as you want. Doing this will truly bring the story to life!
Plan a reading challenge for your children – The challenge can be who can read the most books over a limited period of time - for example, 1 week. Have an incentive for them as a motivator.
Check out from the library and read as many Dr. Seuss books as they can and then read them.
Spend time talking with your children about a book after they finish reading it - This will help them to formulate thoughts and sentences to help them think and speak better as well as understand what they have read.
Have your children read out loud – This helps with the pronunciation of words and the formulation of sentences and ultimately, the ability to speak well.
Read out loud to your children – Children love to have stories read to them out loud. This would be a wonderful bonding time too.
Plan a family project to give away any books that your children have outgrown.
Research a famous children’s author, such as Dr. Seuss, and help your children to learn more about the author. This will bring the author to life for them.
Create a special area in your home for your children to read that is quiet and filled with books.
For more ideas, please visit:
https://ebookfriendly.com/easy-ways-celebrate-national-reading-month/
https://journal.imse.com/6-ways-to-celebrate-national-reading-month-with-your-students/
March 20, 2023
Join National Nutrition Month’s Annual Campaign This March to Help You and Your Children Make Better Food Choices
I often write about the importance of nutrition for ourselves and our children and as I was researching online, came across the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that has been doing a yeoman’s job in spreading the news for many years. In 1973, the Academy created National Nutrition Month to be celebrated annually in March with the goal of providing information to help everyone make better food choices and ultimately become healthier. This year, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the theme "Fuel for the Future": “Eating with sustainability in mind is a tasty way to nourish ourselves during every phase of life and protect the environment.”
Its website is filled with all sorts of wonderful resources for people of all ages. Specifically for children, it created the Kids Eat Right Campaign. On the website, there is a tab for just “kids” where it has articles about nutrition for children, from babies to teens.
It also has 50 ideas and ways to get involved in National Nutrition Month. I encourage you to review them and select at least one idea to do as a family.
The more nutritious food our children eat the better they will learn and ultimately perform in school. Please take some time to read some of the articles and plan out nutritious meals, including school lunches, for your children. Also, teach them so that they are aware that, when vegetables are packed in their lunches, it is not just for show!
To learn more, please visit:
March 13, 2023
The Many Benefits of Children’s Museums for Your Children
Children’s museums are now in many different cities and towns. Why should you take your children to visit one? The benefits are many and varied!
A museum provides many educational benefits. It teaches about art, history, science, technology - just about everything. It helps your children to become more observant and ask questions as well as make commentary about the things around them. And, it also improves their reading skills as there is a lot of reading involved.
It stimulates hands-on play. Children get to look, explore, touch, and play. They utilize motorized skills that are so critical to their development.
When children interact with pieces in the exhibits, they become more curious, and their minds are stimulated to learn more. When your children ask questions about an exhibit or a particular piece, answer them to the best of your ability. Be sure to never make something up. If you do not know the answer, ask for assistance from one of the curators.
It fosters family bonding and togetherness. You spend time with your children looking and then asking questions. Even adults can often learn too! When you leave, be sure to continue the discussion with your children. Ask them questions about the exhibits such as which one they liked the best and why?
It makes children happy. They are excited to look with such wonder and touch to learn more. For them, it is a fun-filled place to explore.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/inside-parenting/201602/why-we-need-childrens-museums
https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2014/importance-taking-children-museums
March 6, 2023
Learn More About the Childhood Obesity Epidemic and What Parents Can and Should Do
Over the past couple of years, most of our focus has been on the Covid pandemic. But, under our own noses, for many years, we have been suffering through the childhood obesity epidemic. Shockingly, according to data from the World Obesity organization, the United States is ranked 12th highest in the world for childhood obesity, out of 200 nations.
In an online article titled Understanding the Childhood Obesity Epidemic, Dr. William Cochran wrote: “Pediatric obesity is now of epidemic proportions in the United States. Pediatric overweight and obesity now affects more than 30 percent of children, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood.”
What are some of the causes noted by Dr. Cochran and many in his field? Dietary changes that have occurred over the past 20 to 30 years. These include:
Eating out frequently at fast food restaurants.
Larger portion sizes for food and drinks.
Drinking sodas, juices, and sports drinks that are high in calories and sugar content.
Also, the growing lack of activity is of great concern. Many schools have removed physical education from school activities while watching television and videos and playing video games have risen in popularity.
Unfortunately, obesity in a child has been statistically shown to continue into adulthood. In his article, Dr. Cochran further noted:
Pediatric obesity is a real and very significant health problem that is associated with adverse effects on health in childhood as well as adulthood. There is a high likelihood of a child with obesity becoming an adult with obesity. This risk increases as the child gets older.
The risk that a five-year-old child with obesity remains affected by obesity as an adult is approximately 50 percent. This increases to more than 80 percent for an adolescent with obesity. On the other hand, the risk of a normal weight child becoming affected by obesity as an adult is only seven percent.
What can parents do? Treating childhood obesity is a three-fold approach according to Dr. Cochran: involve the child, the parents, and the medical advisor. It is often not just a healthy diet and exercise that is involved, but the child’s good eating habits and regular exercise are critical to any long-lasting changes.
To learn more, please visit:
