Scribble, scribble, scribble, what does it mean? The moment a child figures out how to pick up a crayon, she begins an adventure through art from scribbling to realistic creations. Just like with learning how to read or write, children go through levels of development in art – and it is a fun and educational journey. The Scribble Stage Viktor Lowenfeld, an art education professor at Pennsylvania State University, published Creative and Mental Growth in 1947, detailing the development of art in children. His writing teaches the Stages of Artistic Development, which tie together the intellectual, emotional, and aesthetic growth [...]

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We all want our children to be charitable and give back in some way, but telling them they have to tithe (the religious precept of giving 10 percent of their income) or hold back one-third of their allowance as a donation probably won’t make the concept stick when they get out on their own.As it turns out, much more subtle and even fun ways exist that make children think they came up with the idea of giving all on their own. Play board games or online games Kids not only identify with games and find them fun to play, but [...]

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The idea of kids cooking in the kitchen may terrify adults with concern about those sharp knives, potential food poisoning, and the resulting messy kitchen. But, there are simple and easy recipes for kids which they can accomplish without causing a big fuss. According to WebMD, cooking with kids has many benefits, from encouraging picky eaters to helping children learn about healthy food choices. Eating a balanced meal is an important part of helping children develop strong bodies and healthy minds. Having family dinners is one way to encourage kids to make good food decisions and for adults to model positive eating [...]

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Learning to read is a breeze for some kids, but can be challenging for others. The whole process starts with children using descriptive language for story telling and progresses to the ability to comfortably read alone. Working with children throughout these stages supports their development and allows for their own self-learning. Finding fun ways to entice and challenge readers through reading comprehension activities can make the process enjoyable – and encourages kids to enjoy reading for years to come. Reading Comprehension for Beginning Readers Young children just getting comfortable sounding out words and starting to read on their own can [...]

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Left-brain art activities don’t have to be boring – they can be filled with exciting ways for enticing kids to tap into the benefits of combining the sides of their brains into one fun creative machine.  Often, kids let their dominant left-brain take charge forgetting their creative right-brain completely, leading to comments such as, “I can’t draw.” Encouraging creative left-brain art activities promotes self-confidence and the child’s brain to work together. Children Aged 2 to 4 Young kids greatly benefit from activities that engage the left-brain in creative art projects. Introduce kids to shapes along with the math concept of [...]

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