Between my nieces, nephews and my own son, I'm surrounded by kids seeking an education from preschool all the way to high school. While each child has a different learning environment, all "my" kids needs to feel confident in their learning ability.


I'm sure many families feel the same as I do. But how can we support and encourage our kids while they learn?

To get some advice I turned to LEGO Education's president, Esben Jørgensen, who I met during a new product launch event. More on that later. But during that event, I learned that Esben has a strong belief in building confidence in students.

As an expert in STEAM education and a parent himself to two sons, he has found ways to help parents understood how to build confidence in their children this school year.

And here are Esben "Tips to Help Kids Build Confidence in Learning"

1. Stay connected and involved

This looks different for every family, but there are many ways parents can be involved in their child’s learning. Whether you volunteer and help out, attend PTA meetings or ask your child open-ended questions about what they’re learning, parent engagement can play a key role in supporting learning inside and outside the classroom.

While it’s easy to focus on the grade or result, it’s important to help kids feel confident regardless of the outcome, knowing they will be equipped with the skills they need for lifelong success.

2. Help them find the freedom in failure

Failure is essential to learning – without failure no one would ever learn what doesn’t work to know what does. The idea of “failing fast” to innovate has become popular in the business world, but in education we often still hear failure as a negative word – in fact, 47% of students avoid subjects where they have failed before.

Yet 90% of teachers agree that students need to learn to fail to become more confident and succeed in school. Confidence is having the belief in your ability to learn, to accomplish something with what you know. It’s being comfortable trying something you’ve never done before without worrying about a right answer.

Make sure you’re teaching your kids it’s okay to not get it right the first time. Try sharing an experience with your student of a time you failed and how your confidence helped you overcome a challenge.

3. Sign up for STEAM and robotics teams

Similar to team sports, after-school STEAM or robotic programs can be a great way to help students build confidence and camaraderie, while also developing their skills for the jobs of the future. There are various STEAM and robotics teams around the world that give kids from kindergarten through high school the opportunity to work in teams, learn to code and even compete in national competitions.

With a real-world STEAM problem to solve, these after-school programs teach technical and academic skills, as well as critical soft skills that kids will need throughout their lives. Find a program near you or get involved and start your own team as a coach or mentor.

4. Get them hands-on

Over 90% of teachers agree that hands-on learning builds students’ confidence and encourages them to learn new things, and students say they tend to remember topics longer when they learn through hands-on projects. Yet few schools make time for it regularly.

Use your voice to advocate for more hands-on learning in your child’s school. With a variety of hands-on learning solutions and lesson plans that are designed and aligned with standards, your student can get the best of both.

5. Don’t be a fixer for everything

When kids face a roadblock, such as a math problem they can’t solve, parents naturally want to jump in and find a solution. Only 57% of parents globally say they let their child fail before intervening.

Instead, use these moments to help them develop real-world skills such as creative thinking and effective communications, in addition to new academic skills. These are crucial learning that will follow them beyond childhood and set them up for lifelong success.


I hope these tips help you find various ways to build confidence in your kids so they can enjoy learning.

To learn more about LEGO Education, visit - www.education.lego.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/LEGOEducationOfficial
Twitter - www.twitter.com/LEGO_Education
Instagram - www.instagram.com/legoeducation

Between my nieces, nephews and my own son, I'm surrounded by kids seeking an education from preschool all the way to high school. While ...

Each year planning a child's birthday party becomes a mission. Who to invite. What party theme to have. Birthday cake, cupcakes or something else?! But planning the party doesn't have to be a daunting task.


Planning a child's birthday party can be a family fun and bonding moment. To help families with their party planning, I'm sharing these six tips to keep the party fun and engaging all afternoon.


Note: This post was written in partnership with CityHUNT. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

Think about the Guest List

The guest list is a crucial part of planning a birthday party, especially for a kid. Is there be someone your child must have at his or her party? Is there anyone in their class that he or she doesn’t get along with that should be avoided?

Decide if you’ll invite the entire classroom, only girls or only boys, or keep the party strictly to close friends and family. Either way, you want to ensure that the people are child wants there is
there.

Incorporate Creative Games

Be creative when planning a child’s birthday party. Almost anything can get turned into a fun and exciting game. You don’t have to go overboard. However, you should have a decent list of games and activities to do with the party, just in case they start to get bored.

One game idea worth considering is a scavenger hunt. It’s a great way to keep kids busy for quite a while. Plus, it forces them to use their minds a bit as they solve for clues. You can create a scavenger hunt yourself, or hire companies like CityHUNT to do the work for you.

Have Tasty Snacks Available

The kids will likely get hungry throughout the party, especially if it is scheduled during the lunch or dinner hour. You’ll want to have tasty snacks available at all times. Simple finger food is a good way to go. Remember, it’s a kid’s birthday party, so you don’t need an elaborate three-course dinner.

Keep in mind any food allergies some guests may have. Ask them on the invite to mention any allergies that you should know. That way, when you come up with your food list, you can be mindful to avoid any allergens.

Don’t Forget the Party Favors

For a child’s birthday party, you’ll want to have party favors. They are a way of thanking the guests for coming and bringing presents. Party favors can be just about anything, so get creative with your ideas.

Have a Plan, but Be Flexible

You’ll want to have a plan of how the day should go. However, you’re dealing with kids, which means you’ll need to be somewhat flexible. Don’t create an itinerary that’s set in stone. Instead, leave room for spontaneous events and keep in mind that all activities may not go as planned.

Relax and Enjoy the Party

Even though you’ve planned the party for your child, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy yourself, too. Remember to relax throughout the day. A stressed adult will only end up stressing the children and set a bad vibe in the room.

To learn more, visit - www.cityhunt.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/RealcityHUNT
Twitter - www.twitter.com/realcityHUNT

Each year planning a child's birthday party becomes a mission. Who to invite. What party theme to have. Birthday cake, cupcakes or somet...

For children summer is a carefree time to spend outside enjoying the beautiful weather and fun activities. But according to the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrown away Children (NISMART), 41% of abductions occur during the summer months of June, July and August.


So before sending your child to the park or pool with friends, make sure they know these 4 tips from Krav Maga Worldwide about what to do if a stranger approaches them.

It starts with open conversations.

It’s important to teach children while they are young about what do if a stranger approaches them or makes them feel uncomfortable in any way. Young children may be confused about the concept of a stranger in general and who is or isn’t one. Parents should emphasize that a stranger is just someone the child doesn’t know and not necessarily a good or bad person.

It can also be helpful if parents ask their child about their day on a daily basis to help ensure that nothing suspicious occurred. Even if a child does not directly say a stranger approached them, parents should be able to pick up on body language and verbal cues that something is off base.

Fight Back.

Sign children up for intro self-defense classes specifically for kids and dealing with situations that can arise for their age group. These classes often teach children body language and verbal skills that can help deter potential attackers as well physical skills.

Unfortunately, there is a very real possibility that a child may be in a situation that they can’t defuse or walk away from. Having a foundation of physical skills is vital for the child to be able to protect themselves when push literally comes to shove.

Emergency planning.

If a child will be left alone during the day, create and practice an emergency plan with them so they are aware of what to do in case someone comes to the door or tries to break in.

Leave written instructions and important phone numbers on the fridge or counter and continuously practice safety skills with the child, which can help them become second nature and the child will know what to do on the spot.

Make a plan and keep kids busy.

Parents can set up a schedule with their child so that they know where they are supposed to be at what time and with who. If parents are friendly with neighbors, touch base with them and ask if they can keep an eye out on the child if they play outside often. Inform your child that they are trusted adults that they can go to if an uncomfortable situation arises.

Parents can also tap into what the child’s interests are and sign them up for classes or programs that involve something that they love to do, such as art classes or sports programs. These programs and activities tend to be supervised by trained adults that can help keep the child safe.

For more information, call 800.572.8624 and visit www.kravmaga.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/KravMagaWorldwideInc
Twitter - www.twitter.com/KMWKravMaga
Instagram - www.instagram.com/krav_maga_worldwide

For children summer is a carefree time to spend outside enjoying the beautiful weather and fun activities. But according to the National Inc...

The tween years are an ideal time to speak with your child about sweat and odors, as well as introducing the habit of wearing deodorant. But how? One of the most challenging conversations for parents is about body developments that seem to occur overnight, especially body odor.




Below is a guest post with some tips from Kathryn Holdforth, mother of two and founder of JK Naturals, for approaching this sensitive subject with your children and deciding on the right deodorant for them to use.

Talking to Your Tween about Body Odor:

• Be proactive and respectful. - This is a discussion your tween or teen needs to hear from someone who has their best interest at heart and not their peers or teachers at school. How you talk to your child about body odor will depend a lot on your relationship/knowing your child.
  
  If your child is used to you being direct, telling them they need a shower and to use deodorant can do the trick. However, if your child is more sensitive or easily embarrassed, choose your words carefully. Parents can act subtly by leaving a deodorant on their bathroom counter or opening up the conversation during a shopping trip while picking up deodorant for themselves. How you approach the subject will depend on your child and his/her personality.

• Explain the changes and reassure them it is normal. - It is important that parents take the time to explain to their children about the different changes that are and will be taking place with their body. There are a ton of helpful books and websites that can help assist parents with this difficult and sometimes uncomfortable talk.
  
  Throw in a personal experience in the discussion so that your child knows this is a common situation that everyone will have to go through at some age. 

• Tips, tricks and tools. - Explain how taking baths or showers every day can help keep bacteria off their body, which will help reduce body odor. Sometimes just knowing there is a purpose to washing can help encourage them to not cut corners in the shower.
  
  Introduce clean personal care products, like deodorant that eliminates body odor when used regularly. Or better yet, allow them to choose one for themselves following the guidelines below.

Why is choosing the right deodorant important?

Some of the most common ingredients found in deodorant and antiperspirant such as aluminum, parabens (a preservative) or synthetic ingredients including fragrance oils are known toxins and can be harmful to your tween’s body.

What to look for when choosing a deodorant:

• Check the label. Ignore what it says on the front of the label, this is all marketing to get you to buy it. Instead, read the ingredient deck on the back of the label, that’s where the truth lies.

• Look for clean ingredients. Products that contain organic and 100% natural ingredients are ideal. Avoid products that contain a lot of synthetic chemicals, colorants or fragrances. These ingredients can get into your bloodstream and a large number of them are considered ‘hormone disruptors’.

• Buy deodorants and not antiperspirants. Deodorants do not contain aluminum, which is a controversial ingredient that may have many negative effects on one’s health. Its job is to stop the body from sweating, a function that is necessary to eliminate toxins and cool the body down. Clean deodorants, on the other hand, simply stop odor-causing bacteria.

• Trial and error. Sometimes the first couple of deodorants your children try might not work out for them for various reasons such as the scent or allergic reactions. Remind them to keep an open mind and not get frustrated while searching for the right deodorant. Once you are able to find the golden ticket, buy a couple of them to keep on hand as well as stashing them in gym or sports bags.

For more information on the how bodies change and what causes body odor, visit - www.jknaturals.com/blogs

The tween years are an ideal time to speak with your child about sweat and odors, as well as introducing the habit of wearing deodorant. But...

Did you know that September is National Better Breakfast month? I sure didn't. But like many families, having a bowl of cereal is one of the ways my family starts our day before heading out.


Note: I received product sample for review purpose. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

After receiving a few of Barbara’s, maker of wholesome snacks & cereals, products, we made sure to add them to our breakfast routine.

My son enjoyed a bowl of peanut butter-puffins cereal, which was a nice mix of sweet from the peanut butter and healthy from the corn and whole grain oats.


On the back of the box kids can enjoy Puffin trivia, project ideas and ways kids can earn rewards while learning. As a parent I liked that little extra.


As for me, I'm looking forward to a bowl of Barbara’s multigrain-spoonfuls cereal, which will help me get in some fiber along with multigrain (wheat, corn and oats).

Having breakfast should be a part of more families routines but based on a nationwide survey done by Barbara’s, 95% of parents say their children eat cereal for breakfast on school days and one in five children go without breakfast at least once per week.

To help more families be more consistent, Barbara’s has partnered with Frances Largeman-Roth - RDN, nutrition expert, mom of 3 and author of Eating in Color - to created 5 better breakfast tips:

1. Breakfast Time over Screen Time – Mornings are hectic, especially at the beginning of the school year, before everyone has settled into their schedules. Make it clear to your kids that breakfast time needs to come before they turn on the TV or play with their phone. 
2. Better Breakfasts – Barbara’s Breakfast Survey revealed that juice and cereal are the most common breakfast foods on school days: 71% of children drink fruit juice and 95% of children eat cereal. Clearly, kids love juice and cereal but you can still help them make better choices. For example, 100% fruit juice rather than “drinks” or “blends” and lower sugar cereals like Barbara’s Puffins, which are also packed with whole grains. 
3. Add Color! – Studies show that kids like food that’s colorful, so take the opportunity to fit in an extra serving of antioxidant and vitamin C-rich fruit--and tempt their taste buds--by offering brightly colored berries, diced apple and melon, or sliced grapes and kiwi fruit on the breakfast table. 
4. Streamline Set Up – Having a sit-down breakfast is much more doable if you do a little prep in advance. Set up the breakfast table the night before: Clear clutter, and set out bowls, spoons, and napkins. Then all you need to do in the morning is serve the food! 
5. Always Have Backup! – There are some days when you just have to grab and go! Being prepared with a healthy back up option is smart. I like to make extra whole grain pancakes on the weekend and freeze them for a rainy day.

I hope these tips helps your family get into a better breakfast routine.

To learn more about Barbara’s, visit - www.barbaras.com

Did you know that September is National Better Breakfast month? I sure didn't. But like many families, having a bowl of cereal is one of...

Thinking of sending your child to camp this summer? Then read this step-by-step guide featuring a detailed list of items parents should look for, from the type of camp, to accreditation, to important questions every parent should ask.


These insight into choosing the best summer camp for your child has been put together by Daniel Hammond, Camp Director at Pali Adventures, which offers 21 specialty camps kids can choose from in Running Springs, CA.

STEP 1 – Accreditation

Narrow your search immediately by choosing a camp that is accredited by the American Camp Association. This is absolutely essential - even if this is the ONLY step you take, you can rest assured that your camper will be in a safe place!

The ACA Standards provide a benchmark of over 250 rules, guidelines and regulations primarily focused on the health and safety of your child, to provide them with the best possible summer camp experience.

STEP 2 – Type of Camp. Here are the key choices you will need to make:

• Coed, Girls only, or Boys only? - A single-gender camp can allow campers to feel more relaxed about their social interactions, and remove the distraction of having the opposite gender around. However, a coed camp provides a safe place to learn crucial social skills in a supervised environment. Boys and girls can learn how to relate to and interact with each other in an unstructured, yet controlled social setting. I have seen the coed camp experience set kids up with social skills that have served them very well as they grow up.

• Local Day Camp, or full Residential Sleepaway Camp? - The youngest campers, usually about 7 or 8 years old, benefit most from a day camp where they can return home every night. However, as soon as they are ready for an overnight camp (usually a full year before YOU are ready to send them), it is time to let them attend one!
  
  A residential summer camp provides children a much fuller camp experience than a day camp. The soft skills learned while being away from home at a young age will travel with the child throughout his or her life. The independence gained will help carry a child through difficult adolescent experiences.

STEP 3 – Camp Focus and Activities.

Make sure the camp provides the activities than meet your child’s wants, needs, and interests. Here are some things to think about when reviewing a camp’s website or brochures:

• Is your child interested in a specific activity, and does the camp provide it?

• Does the camp provide free choice of activities, or are they cabin based?

• Are certain activities mandatory?

• Does the camp offer a wide range and variety of activities or a narrow specialty program? Are you looking for specific skills to be learned in the summer (film editing, soccer, tennis, golf lessons, etc) or a more well-rounded camp experience?

STEP 4 – Camp Specifics.

Take the next step in narrowing down your search by taking into consideration:

• Session Dates: Does the camp offer dates that are convenient to you? Does it offer the length of session you think is best for your child?
• Cost of the Programs: What does the Camp price include? Are there extra fees for any activities at camp? What value is the camp offering for your money?
• Location. (We love California because there is rarely a rainy day at camp!)
• Special needs: Does the camp provide for any special needs your child has (Dietary, learning disabilities, ADD, physical disabilities)

STEP 5 – Investigate.

You’ve narrowed it down to just a few camps that meet all your criteria. Now it’s time to go deeper. Do your research!

• Visit the camp. This is the absolute best way to find out what a camp is all about. Most camps have open houses in the spring, or are happy to give you a site tour at your convenience. Ideally, visit the year before you are thinking of sending your child to camp.

• Ask Around. Is there anyone in your area who has been a camper there? If not, can you find any testimonials from past campers on the website or reviews elsewhere online?

• Is it possible to speak with the Camp Director? If the Camp Director can’t take the time to spend a few minutes or even an hour with you talking about their camp – don’t send your child there! As a camp professional for over 20 years, I find it strange when a parent apologizes to me for asking too many questions about my camp. There is no such thing! As a parent you have every right to know the answers.

STEP 6 – Ask Those Questions!

Assuming the Camp Director IS available to speak with you, here are some great topics to ask them about. This is by no means a complete list, but it will certainly get them talking! You will have your own specific questions relating to your child and their needs.

• STAFFING: What percentage of returning staff does the camp have? What is the average age of the staff? What is the PROGRAM staff to camper ratio (do not count maintenance, house-keeping, kitchen staff) How long is the staff training? What is covered in staff training? How do I know that my child is being cared for in the cabin? Where do the staff members come from? Who conducts the interviews? What is the screening process? What is the director's age and background? How long has the director run this camp?

• CAMPERS: What percentage of campers return each year? What type of camper attends the camp? Why do campers choose this camp? What is the policy on bullying? What is the average age of the campers? How many campers of my child’s age will there be? When do girls and boys interact? What is the supervision between girls and boys? Did the camp send any campers home the previous year? For what reason?

• FACILITY/PROGRAM: What are the sleeping arrangements? What toilet and shower facilities exist? How does the camp insure the safety and security of its campers? Is the camp a gated community? What do the campers do during inclement weather? Does the camp have a pool? Pond? Lake? Are there waiting lists for some activities? How exactly does the program work? What is a typical day? How do campers choose their programs (if picking an elective program)? How is the food? Is there a sample menu? What does the camp do if your child is a picky eater? Do the campers sit by cabin at meals or wherever they want? Do you survey campers and parents after the summer?

• EMERGENCY: What medical staff does the camp have on-site? Are all of the staff trained and certified in CPR/First Aid? Where is the closest hospital? How far is the nearest EMS service? What is the camp’s policy on contacting parents if a camper is unwell? What accidents occurred last summer? How did you deal with that situation?

• PARENTAL CONCERN: Who can I call to check on my child? When are the phones at camp answered? What happens in an emergency? Can I call someone 24/7? Can I send or receive emails from my child? Is my child allowed to call me? Can they have a cell phone? Do you post photos during my child’s stay?

STEP 7 – Choose a Camp!

At this point you have done your research, talked to the camp directors, and maybe even seen the camps for yourself. You have a pretty good feeling about which camp looks and feels right for your child, and you know it will be safe because it is ACA accredited.

Go with your instinct. Then send your kid to camp and give them the best summer of their life!


Special thanks for Daniel Hammond for sharing these tips.

To learn more about Pali Adventures, visit - www.paliadventures.com

Thinking of sending your child to camp this summer? Then read this step-by-step guide featuring a detailed list of items parents should look...