June 1999
LEARNING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Tips From The UAB Office Of Media Relations
June 1999
LEARNING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Tips From The UAB Office Of Media Relations
INDEX
Learning
1. Why Good Kids Have Bad Study Habits
2. Key to Early School Success
3. Fun and Easy Teaching Tips for Parents
4. Why Some Kids Hate School
5. Don't Raise a Bully
6. Teaching Children Self-Esteem
Health and Safety
7. Breakfast Is Brain Food
8. Vision Care Important for Learning
9. Finding the Right School Shoes
FYI: We are UAB, the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Please use our full name on first reference and UAB thereafter. Thank you.
Learning
1. Why Good Kids Have Bad Study Habits
Nothing frustrates parents more than a child who has ability but refuses to study. Many parents resort to lectures and punishment to get kids to study, but UAB counseling expert Larry Tyson, Ph.D., who directs the school counseling program, says this rarely works. "The elementary--age children naturally want to please their teachers. But children who are not industrious have either had bad experiences or been told that whenever they try, they fail. They are shut down, and their self-esteem has been damaged. After a bad report card, parents typically respond by grounding the child for the next nine weeks until they raise their grades. But most kids can't see past four days, so he figures he has plenty of time to raise his grades before the next report card. Most children wait until nearly the end of the semester before buckling down, but by then it's too late and the cycle continues. Parents often fall into the trap of focusing on the grades. The lack of motivation is a symptom !
of a deeper problem." Divorce, a chronic illness, a learning disability or how the child views his/her place in the family and at school affects a child's outlook on life and ultimately their school work. Tyson encourages parents, teachers and school counselors to work together to discover the reason's behind the child's lack of performance.
2. Key to Early School Success
"Language is the single greatest predictor of school success," says UAB developmental psychologist Sharon Ramey, Ph.D. "Of all the areas important for success, reading, writing and listening skills are the most important." Sharon and her husband, Craig Ramey, Ph.D., are directors of the Civitan International Research Center at UAB and authors of a new book "Going to School" (Goddard Press, July 1999), an easy-to-understand guide to help parents prepare children for the transition from home or daycare to kindergarten and elementary school. Written for parents of children ages 3 to 8, it's not a problem-focused or how-to book. "It presents the whole world of school, before there are any problems, as very positive and healthy," says Sharon Ramey. The Rameys suggest the following language activities to help prepare children for school.
* Tell longer stories if your child seems interested.
* Give multi-part instructions: first two, then three, then four things to do.
* Name things in books, magazines, your home or outside.
* Play games with words that sound alike, rhyme or start with the same sound, or use very short or long words.
* Teach songs and add verses.
* Read, especially books that expand your child's understanding of language and contain enjoyable uses of language.
3. Fun and Easy Teaching Tips for Parents
Learning doesn't just take place in a classroom. Here are some ideas to try at home to help your children, from the pre-schooler to early elementary school child, bone up on their reading, math and science:
* Give your kids early lessons in geography by playing direction games, says UAB associate professor Lois Christensen, Ph.D., author of several papers on teaching geographic skills. "Children must know the concepts of above, below, up and down, left and right before learning direction. Then north, south, east and west will follow naturally. Playing games such as finding items that are 10 steps north and two steps east help children understand location within their own world first. Try making maps of rooms, houses or backyards. And make a true-to-scale map of the child with a legend for their eyes, nose, mouth, arms and feet. Map helps children learn perspective.
* Build a tree house or a fort together in the backyard, suggests UAB play expert Tom Jambor, Ed.D., co-author of "The Playground Safety Manual," (Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics). Building a tree house teaches kids decision-making, problem-solving, measuring and calculating, important skills in design and construction. Read articles and adventure stories involving tree houses and forts to stimulate imagination, and creative design ideas, including how to blend into existing nature. Research what materials would be best suited for the climate in which you live. This will give kids an instant geography lesson. Also, check the Internet or public library for information on children's play areas in other cultures. These activities are multidimensional because they bring together cognitive, social, emotional and physical development, and get they get parents involved. But remember to allow the child to take the initiative and be willing to listen to the!
ir ideas.
* Take a family nature walk, says UAB science education professor Lee Meadows, Ph.D., a teacher trainer for the Building a Presence in Science program created by the National Science Teachers Association. "Families could walk to the park or visit a stream, an open field, beach or lakeshore and talk about the science that they see all around them." It's a great opportunity to observe assorted plants and flowers and insects, birds and animals and discuss how each functions as a part of the life cycle.
* If you want your child to learn to love books, read to them, says UAB reading expert Maryann Manning, Ph.D., columnist for the magazine Teaching K-8, "Plan regular trips to the library. Find out what subjects your child is interested in and help them to find books on those subjects. And remember, children look to parents for guidance. Have plenty of books around the house, and let children see that you enjoy reading. If you love to read, chances are they will learn to love reading too."
* Find activities that you can do together as a family, suggests UAB child development expert Bobbye Booker, Ph.D., an expert in literacy development and early intervention. "Plan a trip to a local attraction such as a petting farm, museum, a famous historical site, or even the library." Also, children's magazines and some newspapers have special kids' sections that suggest fun projects and experiments that children and parents can do together. "As much as possible, families need to be together and children need to do things with their families. It's a lot more meaningful than packing in a host of extracurricular activities into the child's schedule."
4. Why Some Kids Hate School
Every child has an occasional bad day at school. But when a child's anxieties persist, parents must take action, says UAB child and family psychologist Vivian Friedman, Ph.D., who writes a twice-weekly parenting column for The Birmingham News. "Children usually hate school because of problems with peers, difficulties with academics, or they lack a work ethic. The first thing parents should do is ascertain why the child hates school. Sometimes children are picked on by peers. If it's an academic problem, a child will become frustrated because they can't keep up. The solution may be as simple as moving the child to another classroom.
5. Don't Raise a Bully
Nearly every school has one, a child or teen who intimidates, threatens or physically harms other younger or smaller students. They are bullies. But are you raising a bully? UAB family counseling expert Bill Crunk, Ph.D., who directs the SAFE Parenting Program at UAB, offers these tips:
* "Watch your own behavior. Parents need to model methods of solving problems other than violence.
* Encourage a spiritual life. Strong spiritual values help set limits, teach the difference between right and wrong and encourage compassion for others.
* Monitor your children. At an early age, ages 2-4, children need to be monitored for signs of aggressive behavior.
* Set limits. Aggressive children often are given too much freedom and power without having the maturity to handle it.
* Spend positive time with children and be careful about expectations."
Call Gail Short, Media Relations, 205-934-8931.
6. Teaching Children Self-Esteem
Schools across the nation are now offering self-esteem programs designed to help children feel good about themselves and to curb violence. But in his book, "Self Esteem at Every Age," (Doxa Books) author Jerry Aldridge, Ph.D., a UAB child development expert, says that parents can take steps at home to boost their child's self image.
* "Treat children's questions with dignity, and don't make them feel guilty for asking questions or being inquisitive.
* Don't hurry them into adult clothing or activities.
* Choose a pre-school dedicated to self-esteem development and avoid programs that would brand children as slow or immature early in life.
* Avoid comparative and competitive practices.
* Model self-esteem in yourself."
Call Aldridge at 205-934-6100.
Health and Safety
7. Breakfast is Brain Food
Make sure your children have a good, nutritious breakfast before heading off to school, says registered dietitian Beth Kitchin of UAB's Eat Right Information Service. Studies have shown that children who eat a nutritionally balanced breakfast score better on tests than children who don't eat breakfast. "Eating a good breakfast makes children more alert during the day," says Kitchin. "They have no mid-morning drop in energy." But limit breakfasts that are loaded with fat, such as the traditional bacon and eggs. Whole grains, fruits and low-fat diary foods are good choices. Call Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934.
8. Vision Care Important for Learning
"Children should be tested for vision problems before they start school," says Robert Kleinstein, O.D., UAB School of Optometry. A child's ability to learn and develop can be affected significantly by his or her vision. In the general population, about 15 percent of children are nearsighted or have other vision problems. "Nearsighted children have problems in school and may be classified as lazy or slow. Often all they need to keep up are eyeglasses." Kleinstein is the Alabama coordinator of CLEERE, a national multi-center study of how children's eyes grow and how myopia develops "By the time serious vision problems are detected in school-age children, these problems are much harder to correct."
Call Melanie Parker, Media Relations, 205-934-8935.
9. Finding the Right School Shoes
Purchasing school shoes for young children requires special parental attention, says UAB podiatrist James L. Thomas, M.D., an expert on child disorders.
* An expensive shoe is not needed to help the arch develop because most children don't develop an arch until preadolescence.
* Measure shoe size every time you buy shoes as children's feet can grow rapidly.
* Measure both feet and fit the largest.
* Children's shoes should feel comfortable immediately. Allow a thumb's width from the end of the longest toe to the end of the shoe.
* The heel of the shoe should fit well and not slide.
* Shoes should be made of material that gives and breathes, such as leather, and they should provide enough room for foot growth.
* The shoe's sole should provide good cushioning.
* Shoes should never cause calluses or sores.
For more information on these or other story ideas, call the
UAB Office of Media Relations,
(205) 934-3884, 1-800-UAB-9091, 8 a.m. -- 5 p.m. CDT.
After hours or on weekends, call (205) 934-3411 and ask for the
media relations person on call.
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