3 Kids and Us

Fun & Cool ways to teach Kids about Nature

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There’s nothing better you can do for your kids than helping them understand how the world they live in works. Mother Nature is all around us, so it’s good to protect her as much as we can. And since kids love to use games to learn, here’s how playing can help them develop a better understanding of the world.

Take them outside

You can’t teach children about nature if you’re not going outside, right? So it’s good to plan different sorts of outdoor activities even from a very young age, like a few months. An infant, just like a toddler or an older child will adore playing with the grass, discovering new sounds, smells, and textures.

Hiking is a great activity and you can start doing that immediately after a child learns how to walk. Taking them in such hiking trips will help them understand rules as well as see different landscapes and ecosystems.

Now’s your chance to explain how volcanoes work, how glacial landforms appear as well as to discuss the fauna and vegetation of a certain place. You should also take the time to answer the children’s questions as they go. Don’t be afraid to explore either, particularly if you get the best survival watch. The children will love this new adventure, and you can get plenty of learning opportunities.

Play “what if” games

Allow your children to make up stories about the things they see. That enhances their imagination, helping them make better correlations between the things they see outside. Storytelling helps connects different plants, animals, and landforms, and the kids are doing all the guesswork.

For example, you can hike on a mountain with abrupt, calcareous cliffs, little vegetation, and scarce water sources. So ask the children how they think evergreen trees or mountain goats can withstand in this type of terrain. Ask them how they think these mountains got to have these steep cliffs in the first place and if they can find a link to the weather.

You can actually start by personifying a certain animal you see on your way, like Roger the Badger or Annie the Deer. What are their stories? Where do they live? What do they eat? What skills do they have? All these games will help kids remember more about the things they see.

Help them collect things

Collecting some of the most important things on a hike is like having a memento of all the great stuff they saw. Of course, you can always take lots of photos as well, so you can connect the dots and have the story of your hike.

You can gather leafs from the trees you saw on your way, and attach printed photos of those trees with a few background information for each. You can do the same with pebbles, snail shells or feathers.

After each trip in the wilderness, you’ll get an album that your kids can revisit anytime they want to. They can also add new information to this album, new photos as they visit the same reservation again, or start a new album from scratch.

You can also build toys from the things you collect. If you collect enough chestnuts, for instance, you can paint their white parts in different colors then use the chestnuts for various games that require teams or keeping a score.

Sleep under the open sky

If you want to combine the children’s sense of adventure with stories, awe, and mystery, then spending a few nights outside is the thing to do. You can teach kids how to set up their shelters for the night, how to build a campfire and how to make sure this doesn’t spread out into a wildfire.

You get an invaluable chance of looking at the night’s sky, to admire the stars and moon, but also to teach children a bit about galaxies, constellations named after the Ancient Gods or more advanced things like black matter, black holes and the origins of the Universe.

Teach them survival skills

This is another great way to teach them how they can interact with nature. It’s good that kids learn all sorts of information and trivia about animals, plants, and landscape, but it’s even better if they learn how to use all these facts.

The first thing children should know is how they can take care of their equipment. And since it’s not always wise for them or for you to pack a ginormous backpack, it’s great to find out how to choose and use versatile items.

For instance, you can teach them how to waterproof boots, so they can wear them in different weather. You can also teach them how to make knots that hold, how to set up a tent or improvise a shelter when they have no tent. Learning how to use a map and compass to find their location is another very useful skill to have outdoors.

Get them a pet

It’s great if you can take kids outdoors in Natural Reservations or in safaris so they can see the wildlife around them. But it’s also a good idea for the kids to have a pet, whether at home or a class pet.

That will teach them how to take care of another living being, what that pet eats, when it sleeps, and how it interacts with the world around it. If you decide to get an ant farm, this teaches children certain information about working together. Or you can help them make such a cool dwelling place for ants on their own, it’s likely they’ll feel more invested in the ants’ lives this way.

What will you do?

With so many wonderful activities you can do with your children, the ones we’ve discussed are just the tip of the iceberg. But at least you have an idea of how you can combine stores and games to raise the kids’ curiosity so they’ll want to find out more about Nature and what it can offer us.

Author Bio

Rebecca lives in USA, but loves hiking all over the world. Her favorite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. Another of her passion is the ocean, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for HikingMastery.com.

Keys To Teaching Your Children Responsibility

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Responsibility is one of those words that every parent knows all too well. As a mother or father, you have a lot of obligations and tasks to attend to each day. You realize that your children are growing up and also need to learn more about taking charge.

While you want to help them succeed, you know it’s not healthy to do it all for them. There comes a time when they must learn for themselves how to survive in a chaotic world. There’s no magic formula, so it’s up to you to educate yourself on best practices. See keys to teaching your children responsibility.

Start Young

Don’t be afraid to start teaching your children responsibility at a young age. Ask them to make their bed, pick up their toys and soon they’ll be making lunch for themselves. Begin helping them to stand on their own two feet from a very young age. They’ll thank you for it later in life when they can function on their own and know what to do to take care of themselves. Springing this idea on your child when they’re in high school will be difficult, and you’ll regret not guiding them earlier on.

Delegate Tasks

Have your children help you with certain duties, but then start delegating tasks as they age. Assign them chores and have them help out with the dog. For example, have your children help you apply Pet Lock best flea control for dogs and explain why it’s so important for their health. Show them where the food is and how much to feed the pet each day. Let them own specific chores around the house that make them feel good about themselves and happy to have helped you out.

Praise them

Remember to continue to praise your children and tell them what a great job they’re doing. They won’t know it unless you verbally express it to them. Pat them on the back when you see your kids following through on a task and completing chores you didn’t even ask them to do. Reward them by letting them help you with bigger and more adult responsibilities that they’ll feel special collaborating with you on. Pay attention to what they’re doing around the house and have a conversation with them about how proud you are, instead of assigning your children tasks and brushing them off.

Practice Patience

Teaching your kids responsibility is a process. It’s not going to happen overnight and won’t necessarily catch on right away. Be patient with your children and let them make mistakes. Be there to model good behavior and invite them to try again without judgment. Teach and guide them to success by keeping calm and showing them what they’ve done wrong. You want your kids to come to you with questions, instead of hiding mishaps from you.

Conclusion

Teaching your children responsibility isn’t an easy task. Do your best and give you and your kids a break when it doesn’t go as planned. These are keys to teaching your children responsibility.

Access To Online Learning Courses

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For those who do not know or have not heard of Online Learning Apps, you can now search and download these online learning apps through Google Play services. These subscription based online learning apps provide unlimited access to many video tutorials by great instructors or well recognized professors. There are video tutorials on all kinds of topics and skills e.g. photograph and all kinds of designs, etc. These online learning apps and video learning apps can be downloaded to your desktop or mobile phone. Before you download, do check to confirm if it is compatible with your device.

When you sign up with the Online Learning Apps, some are conducted more or less like a class study. A syllabus and an overview of the topics covered will be provided. The projects will be given with their completion dates stated. You can either order and purchase the textbooks online or have them downloaded in the e-book format. As the course progresses, the student is assigned to read certain chapters, and questions to be answered and submitted after certain chapters. Some professors may require the student concerned to virtually attend a class at a certain time. There will also be assignments to finish and submitted by a certain date. The student is also required to take exams and these are also conducted online, depending on the instructors of the particular online learning app. Responsibility and self-discipline is needed for the student concerned to complete all assignments and to submit them on time.

Through Google Play you can access to some of the best video learning apps. Once you have downloaded into your device, you will be able to have access to many of the videos and lectures taught by experts in whatever subjects or topics you have signed up for. You can stream videos to your device, or download and watch them offline as and when you are free to do so! Through these video learning apps, subscribers from anywhere get to learn almost everything about anything from great professors as their instructors.

You can download the free trial to have a go first and before long, you will want to subscribe to the app. You can either sign up for the monthly or the annual subscription. But If you want to cancel the free trial when it is only half way through, you will still have access until the end of the trial period.

James P DeVellis – How to Avoid Having Orthopedic Problems

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When someone tells you they need to see an orthopedist, it means they are having problems with their muscle or joint. These body parts can have many types of problems that lead to limited function and mobility and severe chronic pain. Combined they produce inhibited function and a reduced quality of life. In extreme case they can also be life threatening. Many orthopedic issue can be treated with outpatient therapies. The most serious orthopedic problems however will require an orthopedic surgeon like James P DeVellis  to get involved.

Although some orthopedic issues happen due to accidents that are unavoidable, many others occur because of habits we have or issues that can be avoided. Here is a short list of things you can do to minimize your chances of having orthopedic issues:

Have a Balanced Diet

Eating right is a great way to ensure that your body has the nutrients it needs to build and maintain strong bones, muscles and tendons. If you have vitamin or mineral deficiency from a poor diet, your chances of having orthopedic problems increases dramatically. So you should follow a diet rich in proteins, carbohydrates and good fats, to ensure you have all of the nutrients you need.

Get Regular Check-ups

Unfortunately most of us do not get regular check-ups and only visit the doctor after we think too much time has passed since our last visit or we have a pain or congestion or some other ailment that won’t go away. As a result we do not catch the earlier stages of a problem. Part of the reason this is so common is the overly expensive costs of healthcare and the fear of finding out you have a condition that will bankrupt you. But the flip side is that when you the doctor’s office like an emergency room, you only end up paying high prices for your medical care.

Everyone should have an annual check-up and receive the tests that are commensurate with your age. At that check-up you should tell your doctor of any pains you have big or small and if they have lasted and unusually long period of time. Remember, chronic conditions usually start out as intermediate conditions that get worse over time. Catching something early can correct it and save you pain and money.

Low Impact Exercise

Regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do to maintain good health and we all need regular exercise as part of our regular good health routine. But not all exercise is equal when it comes to orthopedic health.

Exercises that place less strain on our muscles, tendons and bones is a much better choice for out keeping them healthy. This means that exercises like bike riding, walking water aerobics, treadmill, swimming and other exercises that do not place much strain on the muscles and tendons and constant impact on the bones are the ones you should do consistently.  To be clear, the exercise should be strenuous enough to get your muscles working and your heart rate up, but it should not have all of the pounding that you get from some exercises like tennis or basketball. These exercises over time will cause problems for your joints and may lead you to need to see an orthopedist.

Combat Joint Pain with Effective Medication

Arthritis is one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in the United States. While surgery is often a last resort, the pains are often remedied with the recommendations on this page as well as medication. More recently, medical marijuana has been approved by many states as a drug for arthritis and other pain-related qualifying medical conditions where inflammation is involved. This is providing for an effective anti-inflammatory medication without the side effects or addictive qualities of other common arthritis drugs such as opioids.

The Benefits of a Global Montessori Education Program

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Maria Montessori is known for her theory of philosophy and education which is widely being used by various schools today. Here system, aptly called the Montessori Method, focuses on developing a child’s own propensity to take initiative and improve their natural abilities. This is done especially through applying the theories and concepts that they have learnt in class. The Montessori Method also encourages children to learn at their own pace, which allows educators to consider and understand the individual needs of the children.

To accomplish the environment the Montessori Method envisions, schools will need to set-up a learning environment specifically for three significant age groups:

  • 2–2.5 years
  • 5–6 years
  • 6–12 years

Then various activities are created that will involve repetition, abstraction, communication, and exploration. The idea is to teach children in the 2-2.5 year-old age group will be taught to be inquisitive and explore their environment, the children in the 2.5-6 year-old age group will be taught to understand and repeat definitions of concepts, and the last group of children are taught to discuss abstract concepts through reasoning and creativity.

International schools adapt the Montessori Method because of its holistic approach. Particularly in a school called the Global Indian International School (GIIS), they use a Global Montessori Program (GMP) that works hand-in-hand with their award winning ‘Nine Gems’ educational framework to make sure that they are able to produce students who are socially responsible leaders who value empathy, critical thinking, and community. So there are obvious advantages to adapting the Montessori Method and combining it with an educational system that can support the method’s goals.

Creating a stimulating learning environment through the Montessori Method

As was mentioned earlier, the Montessori Method focuses on three developmental stages, each of which has learning goals that needs to be achieved. This means that schools and its educators should be able to provide an environment that encourages intellectual, emotional, and physical development throughout their whole stay in school.

International schools like the GIIS accomplishes this by adapting an ‘understanding by design’ educational format, which they famously call the ‘Nine Gems’. But without needing to enumerate all nine, the best way to comprehend ‘understanding by design’ is remembering that this kind of learning is divided into this basic taxonomy:

  • Repetition of knowledge – when students can define textbook definitions after acquiring knowledge
  • Application – when students can apply the knowledge through collaborative projects, reports, and so on
  • Creative thinking – when students can articulate their own thoughts that may or may not agree with the knowledge

Once a student is able to go through this taxonomy, it is the only time when we can truly say that they are able to arrive at their conclusions logically and soundly. The Montessori Method and the GIIS Nine Gems does this for various aspects of school life — meaning, it is not just for the academic, but also for performance and visual art, sports, and community care.

If we wish for our kids to get the best that education has to offer, look no further than an international school, with its diverse educational landscape, that adapts the Montessori Method of holistic development.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!