Glamumous: Education

We've long known the beneficial properties of music for babies. Lullabies or classical music have been used by parents the world over to soothe their babies and help them drift off to sleep, not to mention the benefits of bonding with your infant while singing your favourite songs!

Recent studies have also shown that music can be used as therapy for premature babies to help soothe them and increase the sucking reflex which helped them gain weight. Live music and the sound of a parent singing to the beat of a lullaby was proven to have the biggest impact.

But can music help babies become smarter?

A study by researchers at McMaster university has shown that musical training in infancy has beneficial effects, even before children can walk or talk! The findings show that one-year-old babies who participated in interactive music lessons with their parents showed improved skills in communication, smile more frequently and displayed more sophisticated brain responses to music.

Previous studies have proven the effect for older children (such as the link between learning to play an instrument and increased mathematical ability), but this was the first of its kind to research the benefits of musical training in infancy.

For six months, babies and their parents participated in one of two types of musical instruction. One class involved interactive music making with both parents and babies participating in the activities; learning nursery rhymes, lullabies and songs with actions. The other group was more passive, with infants playing at toy stations while Baby Einstein (classical music) CDs were played in the background.

Researchers learned that babies of the interactive music group displayed a greater appreciation of music than those in the passive group:

Babies who participated in the interactive music classes with their parents showed earlier sensitivity to the pitch structure in music. Specifically, they preferred to listen to a version of a piano piece that stayed in key, versus a version that included out-of-key notes. Infants who participated in the passive listening classes did not show the same preferences. Even their brains responded to music differently. Infants from the interactive music classes showed larger and/or earlier brain responses to musical tones.
- Laurel Trainor, director of the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind.

However, the most surprising results were visible in the non-musical differences between the two groups:

Babies from the interactive classes showed better early communication skills, like pointing at objects that are out of reach, or waving goodbye. Socially, these babies also smiled more, were easier to soothe, and showed less distress when things were unfamiliar or didn’t go their way.

The clear result of this research seems to be that bonding with parents through interactive musical games helps babies to develop their communication skills more easily.

If you would like to try enjoying such interactive music games with your baby at home, try using some of the techniques researchers employed in their weekly music groups. Invest in some simple percussion instruments, such as maracas or a tambourine and take turns with baby to play in beat to a familiar tune.

Sing a small number of songs regularly, including some which have actions your little one can recognise and mimic. Some of the nursery rhymes and lullabies in our previous post are ideal for this music play, and may become firm favourites your child sings along with you as she grows to toddlerhood.

To learn more about this study, take a look at the press release from McMaster University, and as always, please feel free to leave your own comments and suggestions below.

Photo credit: scribbletaylor, via Flickr

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The Children's University is a wonderful trust which aims to provide children with opportunities for low-cost, accessible extra-curricular activities across the UK. I'm an avid fan of this wonderful scheme which has enabled Princess to enjoy many free and low-cost activities which we may otherwise not have been able to afford.

Studies prove that children who participate regularly in activities after school foster a greater love of learning which boosts their potential for academic achievement. The Children's University recognises that socio-economic status means not all children are able to participate in such engaging activities and aims to alleviate this by providing grants and activities in areas of deprivation.

Now celebrating it's fifth year, the trust boasts millions of hours of free and low-cost out-of-school activities for children aged between 7 and 14. Over 80 local universities have been set up, with a further 25 in progress, enabling children from all walks of life the opportunity to participate in exciting and educational activities for which they can receive accreditation for their time in the form of certificates and award ceremonies.

Membership to The Children's University is usually managed at a school level and is operated as a partnership between several organisations in the locality. Children who are enrolled in the scheme are given a Learning Passport in which to record the hours spent on activities at approved Learning Destinations. In return they can receive certificates and be invited to award ceremonies to celebrate their participation.

If your child's school doesn't participate in The Children's University it should still be possible for them to enrol and accrue learning hours independently. Simply contact your local Children's University to find a Learning Destination where they can enrol and ensure you sign up to newsletters to learn about the activities and events happening in your area.

Join the conversation

Does your child participate in The Children's University? What are your thoughts on how the scheme operates in your area?

Please feel free to add your own experiences and comments using the form below.

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Sharing books with your baby is an ideal way to introduce literacy skills and provide a sound basis for learning to read as they grow older. Babies are soothed by familiar voices and are adept at learning new skills even though we may not realise it.

Much of a child's capacity to learn is developed in the first three years of life. Studies have shown that children who experience reading aloud from infancy are far more likely to be successful readers as they grow older. And of course, reading with baby allows for enjoyable cuddle time!

In this post I'll explain some tried and tested tips for reading with babies and toddlers which can help nurture their future enjoyment of the written and spoken word.

Develop a familiarity with books

Rather than "introduce" books as baby develops her sense of the world around her, ensure books are around and available from the get-go. While a young baby may not understand that Mummy is reading a book, she will become familiar with the concept if she sees you reading, or has a handful of age-appropriate books in her toy collection.

You are your child's greatest role model. By demonstrating that reading is a part of everyday life and an experience to be enjoyed, your baby will become curious and eventually begin to model your behaviour.

Select a range of age-appropriate books

Ideally try to have a couple of books appropriate to the age and development of your little one. Soft books are available for newborn babies, who are naturally attracted to contrasting colours and monochrome pictures of faces. You can find a great range of black and white books for newborns from Amazon or check out your local library to see if you can register your baby for their own library card.

At around three months, when baby can reach out, grasp and touch, you may find your little one enjoys tactile books, such as the Ladybird "Baby Touch" range which features a range of textures to stimulate the senses. Books with mirrors are also a good choice since babies enjoy looking at their faces while developing their sense of self.

Pop-up and lift-the-flap books are excellent choices for the six-month stage onwards, as are those with rhymes which can be read aloud over and over again. Make appropriate noises or gestures to accompany the pictures, such as animal sounds while enjoying the classic Dear Zoo and expressions to convey different emotions. Interaction is the key element here; the enjoyment of snuggling down with a story comes later on in baby's development.

As your child develops, try introducing books about numbers, letters, and other familiar things. Babies feel reassured when they recognise features of their daily life presented in the books they enjoy as "play".

Don't just read books - play with them!

In the early months of life, the senses are vital for learning about the world around us. Young babies aren't much interested in having words read aloud to them: they would prefer to know what their plaything feels like in their mouth; what the pages sound like when they're scrunched; how the image changes when rotated on it's side...

Demonstrate which way up we hold books, how to turn pages and point to pictures she will recognise while allowing her to grab and play with them; chew the corners or drop them on the floor for you to return to her. In time she'll develop a familiarity with how we use books and will be ready to sit on your lap while you read her favourite lines aloud.

You don't need a huge library!

While your child may develop a voracious appetite for reading material as she grows older, babies need only a handful of quality books at any stage of their development. Studies show that little ones who enjoy the same books over and over again become more familiar with their words and concepts than those who read many different ones.

By toddlerhood, your child may already have a favourite book or two which they want to enjoy with you over and over again. Repetition helps strengthen your little one's sense of recognition; she will be learning more than you can possibly realise as the repetition strengthens the neural pathways in her rapidly developing brain.

Establish reading as a part of your daily routine

Establishing a daily routine to include story-time paves the way for lifelong literacy skills. Many parents choose to read with their children at bedtime as part of their sleep routine, but there's no harm in enjoying books at any time of day and enjoy regular cuddle-time sessions.

Ideally try to work up to 30 minutes of reading/book play time every day: research suggests this is the optimum time for establishing important literacy skills in the early years of life. Siblings, grandparents and carers can all join in with this activity if you're unable to be present.

Make use of the resources available

In most areas you will find additional support for early literacy. At the most basic level, your local library will be able to offer advice and a library card for your little one, though chances are that literacy programs and other resources are available too.

Here in the UK, the Bookstart program provides free book packs and helpful advice for babies and young children through health professionals. You can also register online and take part in events at your local library.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a wonderful scheme which operates both in the US and UK. Those registered with The Imagination Library receive a free age-appropriate book every month until they are five years old - potentially a library of 60 books in total! Be sure to check the appropriate website for your country to see if the scheme operates in your locality.

Your paediatrician or health professional should be able to offer further advice regarding support for early literacy skills.

What are your suggestions for reading to babies?

We'd love to hear stories about what works for you and your little ones. Do you have any favourite books or wonderful experiences you'd like to share? Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below.

Photo credit: Slightly Everything, via Flickr

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To celebrate National Poetry Month, I've compiled an anthology of classic poetry for children which you can download absolutely free!

Rollicking Rhyme features classic verse by Lewis Carrol, Christina Rosetti, Abbie Farwell-Brown and many more authors, chosen specifically for their appeal to younger readers. From nursery rhymes to mischief-making, cautionary tales and flights of fancy, there are poems to suit everyone.

This eBook is available in PDF, ePub and .mobi formats so you can enjoy it on any device you like! What's more, it's available under the CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license, so feel free to download, share and distribute Rollicking Rhyme any way you like!

Download Rollicking Rhyme (.zip file, includes PDF, ePub and Mobi)

Read on to preview and learn more about this free anthology of poetry.

Introducing Rollicking Rhyme

rol·lick·ing/ˈrälikiNG/

Adjective
Exuberantly lively and amusing. “Good rollicking fun”

Children find poetry mesmerizing. Poems can make us laugh, make us wonder; it can tell imaginative stories or send powerful messages in a few words.

There are many hidden benefits of introducing children to poetry from an early age. Poetry's emphasis on the sound and rhythm of language helps build phonemic awareness (sensitivity to the smallest sounds of speech) which helps to develop the skills required for reading. Colourful use of language exposes children to a wider range of vocabulary and concepts which in turn helps children write more articulately.

Poetry celebrates the sound and rhythm of language and words in ways which narratives do not. Being shorter than most stories and books, poems provide morsels of literary goodness which to be enjoyed over and over, encouraging delight in the simple use of language in cases where dredging through pages of text are discouraging.

In Rollicking Rhyme, I've selected fifty of my favourite children's poems by many authors. These are verses I read alone and spoke aloud as a child; which I've shared with important people in my life and – most importantly – which I now share and enjoy with my own children.

Since children particularly enjoy poetry which they can relate to, I've chosen a variety of verse to suit many personalities and occasions. I hope you will enjoy sharing these classic poems with your own children to help inspire in them a love of the written word.

Preview Rollicking Rhyme

About this eBook

I compiled this eBook as a means for fellow parents and poetry enthusiasts to share with children.

All of the poems included are sourced from the Public Domain: classic poems from bygone days whose copyright has expired. This enabled me to produce an eBook which I could then offer for free download and distribution.

Rollicking Rhyme is published under the CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license. This means you are free to download, print, copy and share this document in any way you like.

Please feel free to pass it on to friends and family members, print it off to share with your class, or simply enjoy the timeless pleasure of the written word at absolutely no cost.

Get the eBook

Download Rollicking Rhyme (.zip)

The download folder contains Rollicking Rhyme in all three formats:

PDF (ideal for reading on large screens)
ePub (for iPad, Nook, Kobo, etc)
mobi (for mobile devices and Amazon Kindle)

Simply extract the contents of the folder and upload the correct format for your device.

Rollicking Rhyme is also available in Amazon's Kindle Shop for direct download to your device. Please note that I have not yet been able to list this title for free on Amazon, but I'm working on that!

If you would like Rollicking Rhyme delivered to our Kindle for free, download the eBook files and send the .mobi version to your kindle using your "Send to Kindle" email address.

Your thoughts..?

I hope you and your children enjoy sharing the poems presented in Rollicking Rhyme - I certainly enjoyed creating it!

Writing eBooks and informative posts for Glamumous readers is something I really enjoy (and hope to continue in the future) and I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions you have so I can improve my future works. Feel free to get in touch or leave your thoughts on this page by using the form below.

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Learning times tables at primary school age provides a sound foundation upon which more advanced maths skills can be built. Both teachers and parents agree that by the time a child is ready to start secondary school, it is useful to know multiplication facts to at least 10x10.

Many parents feel increasing pressure to teach their children times table facts at home to supplement their formal maths education and ensure they are well-prepared for SATs and other points of examination. Unfortunately the rote learning method by which most of us were taught lost credence during the nineties. These days chanting times tables out loud is increasingly frowned upon; we need to discover interesting - and ultimately, more successful - methods of helping out children learn.

All children learn differently, so in this post I've suggested lots of different ways you could help your child learn their times tables. Some techniques I've used with my own children, while others have been recommended by friends and family whose children respond better with alternative learning styles.

What order should times tables be learned in?

During my youth, we learned our times tables in ascending order: 2,3,4 right through to twelve; that was just the way it was taught in my school. In adulthood, I quickly realised this way was unlikely to be the best approach for my own children: some tables are easier to learn than others, and aside from bolstering confidence, learning multiplication facts in a different order helps children recognise the patterns which emerge.

It's generally agreed that the 10, 5 and 2 times tables are the easiest to master, followed by 4 and 8, then 3 and 6 and 9 (though the nine times table can be mastered easily with a few little tricks I'll explain later). The 7 times table is arguably the most difficult to learn since it's patterns are less recognisable and is probably best left until last.

Children learn more multiplication facts than they may think!

When looking at a 10x10 number square, children can be baffled by the hundred facts they need to learn. They may not realise that half of the numbers in the grid are repeated: 2x4 is the same as 4x2, and 7x6 is the same as 6x7. Essentially, children only need learn half of the times table facts they believe they should.

Once the 1, 2, 5 and 10 times tables have been mastered, only 21 more facts remain. If your child has also mastered their 3 and 4 times tables, and is able to use the "finger trick" (see below) for their 9x table, only a minuscule 6 facts are left!

Most children learn the "easy" 1, 2, 5 and 10 times tables without much prompting, so explaining that only a few facts remain to be learned eases their trepidation at the otherwise daunting task.

The nine times table finger trick

Discovering that the nine times table (up to 9x10) can be produced by manipulating fingers was a revelation to me, and a trick I've passed on to many others for whom it has proven useful.

Hold your hands out in front of you, and (counting from left to right) hold down the digit which corresponds to the number you wish to multiply by nine.

For example, if you want to know the sum of 4x9 (or 9x4 for that matter), hold down the index finger of your left hand. The number of fingers to the left of the held-down digit correspond to the "tens" while those to the right are the "units". In this case, there are 3 before and 6 after, so our answer is 36.

Holding down the index finger of the right hand corresponds to 7x9 with six to the left and three to the right, giving the sum of 63.

Counting in sixes using fingers

Here's another tip for quick "jump-counting", this time for sixes. Children will first need to know their five times table in order for this to work.

Using the same number of fingers as you wish to multiply by six, jump count in fives. Then go back to the first finger and add one each time.

For example, to work out 5x6, count all five fingers on the left hand in fives (5. 10, 15, 20, 25) then go back and count in ones on those five fingers (26, 27, 28, 29...) to get the answer 30.

Both this and the finger trick for the nine-times table are useful when learning times tables, but should not be substituted for memorisation.

Play games to make times table learning fun

All children love playing games, making this an excellent tactic for learning through play.

Try using a deck of playing cards (with the picture cards removed). Place the cards face-down on the table, then pick up two at random and ask your child to multiply the numbers. If they guess right, they get to keep the cards, and the game ends when all the cards have been used.

Dice are another useful device with which a similar game can be played. Roll two and ask your child to multiply the numbers.

If you're a parent of a video-game enthusiast, try downloading the following apps and games:

Squeebles

This interactive game is available for iPad, iPhone/iTouch, Android and the Kindle fire. Developed by media company KeyStageFun, the objective is to rescue the cute Squeebles from the nasty maths monster by answering multiplication sums correctly.

Squeebles costs just 69p ($0.99 in the US) and is well worth the small cost!

Percy Parker (Sing your times tables)

Available as an app for the iPad as well as a music CD, Percy Parker is highly recommended by parents and teachers alike. The character "Percy" is a singing retired teacher whose catchy songs get children singing along without realising they are learning.

Timez Attack

By far this is Princess' favourite times table game as it seems much more like a premium video game than a cheap thrown together app! What's more, it's available for free for home users (though you may feel inclined to pay for the premium version which comes highly recommended on the forums I frequent).

The publishers of Timez Attack claim that with 30 minutes of playing over an eight week period, children can master all of their times tables and that their unique approach helps children retain the facts they have learned. We're yet to discover this yet, but of the three video-games I've mentioned in this post, Timez Attack looks to be the most promising.

Take time to learn the trickier facts

While the 2, 5 and 10 times tables may be relatively easy to master, other tables may take considerably longer to learn.

If your child is a visual learner, try getting them to write down the facts or create flash cards (with the answer on the back) to make memorisation easier.

Over at Nodehill Maths, you can download and print a highly useful set of "table triangles" which feature the 21 facts children find the most problematic. Two of the corners feature the numbers to be multiplied, while the third includes the sum.

Mnemonics can be handy for learning trickier sums. "I ate and ate until I was sick on the floor" represents 8x8=64, for example. To help learn the answer to 7x8 (often considered the trickiest multiplication fact), remember "5678": 56=7x8.

Practise practise practise!

Without regular, consistent practise, children can quickly forget the times tables they have learned. To ensure these facts are retained in their long-term memory, we need to help our children practise as much as possible, in many different ways.

Practising in real-life situations is very effective. When baking a batch of cupcakes, for example, the tray will likely have four rows across and three down; ask your child to work out how many there are in total. Similarly, when cooking ask "we're going to need eight slices of cucumber per person for this salad and there are five of us. How many slices will we need in total?".

Continue to play games with cards or dice, ask random times table questions or practise chanting on the school run. Eventually your child will be able to recall any fact from their times tables without hesitation, though it will take time to commit every single one to memory.

What do you think?

Have you found a technique which was particularly helpful for your children learning their times tables? Do you have any more recommendations for us to try?

Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below.

Photo credit: Andrew from Sydney, via Flickr

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This Thursday (7th of March) marks the international celebration of World Book Day. Now in its 16th year, World Book Day aims to ensure as many children as possible explore the pleasures of books and reading!

With events happening all over the country, competitions to encourage literary participation, and of course a selection of books published specially for the event, there are many ways you and your children can celebrate the occasion.

Join in with World Book Day Events

Many schools, libraries and nurseries offer events on World Book Day, such as "Dress up as a Book Character", organised reading sessions and book fairs. Find out what's happening in your local area and pop along to enjoy the fun!

At home you can also join in with The Biggest Book Show on Earth: a free online festival which is streamed live from 11am on the 7th of March.

The event features an amazing line-up of NINE amazing authors and illustrators including Tony Robinson, Lauren Child, Shirley Hughes, Francesca Simon, Anthony Horowitz, Rachel Bright, Liz Pichon, Cathy Cassidy and Guy-Parker-Rees - and hosted by Tony Robinson himself!

Play games and enter competitions

Over on the World Book Day website, you can find some great competitions for children of all ages:

Design a bookmark to be distributed in bookshops across the world
Create a picture book to win books for your local library
Answer a question from Spinebreakers to win a year's supply of dark chocolate
...and many more

There are also games to help bring literature to life for younger children, including Winnie's Looney Laundry Game, How to Train your Dragon and The Flip Flop Club eCard Creator.

Bring stories to life with Storytime Online

Storytime Online is a unique resource of stories for children are read by a fantastic selection of authors and actors – a brilliant way to keep children entertained and a fun way to help develop their language skills.

A range of stories are available for all age groups, from under 5's right through to over 11's.

Dr Seuss on the Loose! from World Book Day on Vimeo.

Read as a family

The main focus of World Book Day is to encourage literacy, so why not take this as a prime opportunity to enjoy a book together as a family?

You can find a whole range of recommended reads suitable for all ages, or use your £1 Book Token to buy one of the books published for World Book Day this year - there are loads of great reads to choose from.

For even more literary inspiration, check out my post: 50 Children's Books which Stand The Test of Time.

How will your family celebrate World Book Day?

Are your children dressing up as their favourite characters for school on Thursday? Perhaps you've devised your own event and would like to share the details with Glamumous readers?

Please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below - I'd love to know how you're celebrating!

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For many parents, homework produces a battlefield of reluctance and discontent. Free from the constraints and rules of the classroom, children don't want to be pressured into completing yet more work, but deadlines have been set and teachers are expecting homework books to be handed in on time...

Of course we want our children to succeed at school - what rational parent wouldn't want their son or daughter to achieve the grades that will later land them their dream job? Yet when the task of ensuring homework is completed satisfactorily - and on time - becomes an unpleasant chore when compared with the lure of the latest videogame or playing out with friends, how can we convince our little loved ones to try their best and settle down to tackle the task?

Through Calmer, Easier, Happier Homework, Noel Janis-Norton sets out a programme for parents to help daily homework become a stress-free and enjoyable experience, one which can have lasting effects on our children's ability to learn and on our own skills as educators in the home.

As a keen supporter of my own children's education, I decided to review this book for Glamumous readers so you can get a better idea of how this programme operates, and why you may find it useful in developing your own homework tactics.

Our children's education is far too important to leave up to the schools

In the early chapters of Calmer, Easier, Happier Homework, Janis-Norton explains why working with our children at home is essential in helping them reach their academic potential. While current research enables us to ensure all children could reach their full potential, policies and teaching methods take time to catch up and in the meantime school pupils are missing out.

No teacher, no matter how gifted or dedicated, will care about a particular child's sucess as much as the parents of that child will.

She explains how parents need to "take charge" of their children's education by working with them at home. Training our children to adopt good habits and help them break down chunks of learning into "micro-skills" are essential tactics. We don't need to teach the subject matter learnt in school; instead we should help our children develop the skills required for them to learn more effectively through one-to-one supervision: a feat which cannot easily be achieved in the classroom where time and resources are often limited.

There are no shortcuts! But there are long-term benefits...

Those who skip directly to the chapters explaining the essential homework rules and routines will quickly surmise that there is no quick and fast way to tackling poor homework habits.

Janis-Norton explains that homework should not be rushed, and that parents should try to build in extra time instead to ensure homework is completed properly. Consistency is key - children should be expected to do some form of educational work for six out of the seven days in each week - even in the school holidays - to reduce resistance and ensure skills are properly overlearned.

Building up to one hour a day for primary school children and up to two hours for secondary school children is the ideal amount of time required. To many this may seem like a huge amount of time to set aside after school on a daily basis, though I recall my secondary school form tutor explaining that at age 14 we should be spending the equivalent of half our school day revising the day's learning to ensure it sank in. The previous homework guidelines suggested by the government support this, though as Janis-Norton states unequivocally, homework should take the amount of time suggested by your child's school. No more and certainly no less.

At least in the early days of establishing the new homework rules, parents are expected to supervise and be involved in their child's practise. "Think-throughs" and "reflective praise" are essential concepts to helping our children learn the vital skills required for successful completion of homework. In my opinion, the key concept of Calmer, Easier, Happier Homework is teaching parents the skills they need to teach their children how to learn more effectively, and in that this book is a perfect success!

Refined advice for specific improvements

The later chapters of the book offer practical advice for helping children improve particular skills required for effective learning.

Section Three explains key concepts to help us teach our children how to learn, from improving self-reliance, through to memorising and thinking more effectively. These skills form a sound basis for improved learning in all subjects, as well as making homework a more enjoyable and rewarding experience for our children.

Section Four targets Literacy which, as Janis-Norton explains,is the "foundation for school success". From improving listening skills (which helps children absorb more information from their formal teachings) through to developing important writing techniques and suggestions to improve handwriting, these chapters provide excellent advice in areas where our children may need it most and a sound reference for continued refinement throughout the education journey.

I particularly enjoyed reading Chapter 17 which focuses on developing writing skills. In recent weeks, Princess has expressed reluctance in writing any more than a couple of sentences which surprised me as in most areas of school she is not only competent but enthusiastic. After some reflective listening, I realised she was having trouble organising her ideas on paper, and we found the "mind-mapping" technique from this chapter to be an excellent suggestion which helped Princess feel almost instantly more confident about getting back to writing after the half-term holiday!

Another section of this chapter I was very grateful for is the list of writing types which children are expected to master. Since Princess doesn't seem to get much (if any!) formal homework, I found this to be an excellent reference for micro-skills we can work through together at home. I would have dearly loved to find a list of suggested micro-skills for mathematics, though suspect the age range for this guide is too great to clarify what would likely be a rather long list!

My overall opinion of Calmer, Easier, Happier Homework

This is by no means the only book I have read in regards to children's education, nor have we yet had sufficient time to prove these techniques work, but I do strongly believe the blurb on the front cover: that this a "revolutionary programme that transforms homework"!

It did take me rather longer to read (and absorb) this title than I'd anticipated (I'd hoped to post this review some days ago!) though I believe this is due to Janis-Norton's authoring technique which makes us stop to consider the ideas she presents rather than simply skip through them. This makes me feel that I have learned rather a lot about the rules and routines which can transform homework in our house from something which is dreaded and rushed into an ordered daily routine which we can possibly enjoy - and the children will certainly benefit from!

Many references to Janis-Norton's earlier title, Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting are made throughout this homework guide which at times is a little jarring (especially since I have not read the accompanying title, nor have it to hand). I would certainly like to read it though, since it seems this may be a useful companion guide.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book to review by the book publisher in exchange for the honest and impartial review expressed in this post.

Review Details

Reviewed by: Amanda Kennedy
Review date: 21st February 2013

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

What do you think?

Have you read Calmer, Easier, Happier Homework? If so, what are your opinions on the ideas presented in this book? Have Janis-Norton's parenting or homework techniques been of benefit to you and your family?

Please feel free to leave your thoughts, comments and suggestions - I would love to hear your thoughts about this book and the methods which may or may not have worked for you.

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Children whose parents are involved in their formal education achieve higher academic success. Various studies have proved this theory, and I'm sure everyone reading this feels it's important to know how well our children fare at school.

While most parents would like to be involved in their child's education, many of us wonder how we may find the time or in what ways we could participate. We may also wonder what real benefits stem from our increased involvement to see whether it seems worth the increased pressure on our time and resources.

In this article, I hope to explain the benefits of parent involvement in school education, and how even busy working parents can contribute so their children can reap the rewards.

How parental involvement produces better students

Studies have shown that the more parents participate in their children's education - at every level - the better for educational achievement. Particular benefits which have been identified include:

Higher grades and test scores
Better school attendance
Long term academic achievement
Positive attitudes towards education
Positive behaviour and increased social awareness
Increased self-esteem
Decreased use of drugs and alcohol

Family participation in education is twice as indicative of achievement than socio-economic status which instantly dispels the myth that children of wealthy families are more likely to be successful than those from less well-off backgrounds.

When considering all of these positive benefits, we have every reason to increase our involvement, but what are the best ways we can do this?

Foster an effective learning environment at home

Providing a supportive home environment for learning helps reinforce the formal teachings of the classroom and helps education become a more rewarding, enjoyable experience for our children.

A paper published by the Michigan Department of Education suggests six key ways in which parents can establish an effective home environment which supports children's education:

Establish family routines such as quiet place and daily time for homework, rules for bedtime and effective division of household chores.
Monitor out-of-school activities to ensure children don't indulge in too much screen time and are engaged in productive extra-curricular activities which support learning outside the classroom.
Model the value of learning, self-discipline and hard work. We are our children's primary role models, so in exhibiting these values in real-life situations by continuing our own learning experience we steer them towards nurturing these valuable qualities.
Express high but realistic levels of achievement appropriate to age and ability. Children develop a sense of pride in realising they can achieve goals previously thought unattainable, particularly when we praise and support them in such endeavours.
Encourage children's development/progress at school by demonstrating that you are actively interested in what they are learning and being prepared to support their learning at home. It's also beneficial to discuss potential career/further education opportunities and maintain contact with teachers/school staff.
Encourage reading, writing and discussion among family members - parents who read themselves and especially those who participate in reading activities with their family help children develop valuable literacy skills with lifelong positive consequences.

Studies show that parents' active participation in educational activities with their children has a great impact on achievement. Try discussing homework with children; make use of online educational resources together; make suggestions and ask reflective questions rather than simply checking that homework has been done or correcting mistakes. Enjoy educational activities as a family, such as trips to galleries and museums (which need not be expensive), and discover ways to make learning fun.

Such qualities not only contribute toward academic achievement but reinforce a sense of closeness with our children.

How to be more involved at your child's school

There are many ways in which even busy parents can be involved in the school environment, though many parents don't know how they may participate, or even if their children's school would welcome parental involvement.

Essential participation should of course include parents' evenings and any official meetings organised by school, such as those organised when children begin attending primary school or graduate to secondary education.

All schools are required to communicate regularly with parents, via letters sent home regarding important announcements or activities; regular newsletters, or even text messages to convey important information (such as school closures due to bad weather).

Similarly, parents are expected to convey important information about their child to school, such as absence due to illness or medical appointments they are required to attend.

Most schools welcome more active parental involvement in other ways, such as advocacy, decision making and oversight roles, volunteering, and as para-professionals who can add to the value of school life. Here are a few examples of how schools encourage parental participation:

Parent Governors

Almost all schools in the UK operate a board of governors to which parent governors may be elected. Becoming a parent governor is a hugely rewarding (though voluntary) position through which you can learn a great deal about how your child's school operates for the benefit of students. It does require a deal of commitment and some formal training, though if you have the time and inclination I highly recommend it!

Take a look at the National Governors Association website for further information or apply to be a school governor online via the Department for Education.

Parent Teacher Associations

Many schools have Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) which are groups made up of parents, teachers and often other members of the local community. PTAs provide a range of opportunities for parents to be actively involved in school life, many of which do not take up too much time.

PTAs may focus on different types of activity, which may include:

Fundraising opportunities for school activities or improvements
Social events to help parents (and teachers) get to know each other better
Meetings to inform parents about educational issues

If your child's school has a PTA, ask about participation or simply turn up to a meeting to get involved. Even if you're unable to spare the time to volunteer your services, it's helpful to learn more about how school operates and what events may be happening.

Volunteering to help at school

Some schools provide opportunities for parents to help in the classroom (such as helping primary-aged children with reading activities), on school trips, or with after-school clubs and activities.

The increased support provided by an extra adult can be greatly beneficial to pupils, while parents can use such opportunities to learn more about classroom learning.

Depending on the level of involvement with children, the school may ask for permission to conduct a police background check before allowing you to volunteer. Ask your child's teacher or the school office for information about potential opportunities or if you'd like more information.

If you really don't have much time to spare...

Schools recognise that parents may have many commitments to work and family; while participation is encouraged, it is by no means expected beyond attending progress meetings and important communications.

Even the busiest parents can still find ways to be involved in school, by:

Dropping children off a few minutes early so there's time to greet (or even have a quick conversation) with teachers
Attending class assemblies or open days
Try to learn the names of teachers (not just the ones who teach your children) and greeting them whenever you see them
Send short notes to your child's teacher if an opportunity arises, perhaps to explain how much your child enjoyed last term's class project or that you enjoyed being able to discuss progress after parent's evening

By being present at school regularly, if only for brief periods of time, you can help your child realise that home and school are connected and that education is an important part of family life. Getting to know your child's teachers helps establish methods of communication between home and school: this enables any potential issues to be dealt with promptly and provides opportunities for praise of progress and achievement.

What do you think?

As a busy work-at-home mum with a toddler in tow, I completely understand how difficult it can be to find the time to be more involved in my older children's education. However, I'm also fully aware of the difference this makes to my children's attitudes towards learning and feel strongly that I should at least try to.

Do you have any further suggestions for how parents can find ways to be involved in their children's education? Have you personally experienced the benefits of a more involved approach to your son or daughter's learning experience?

Please feel free to leave your own comments and suggestions below - I'd love to read any more ideas suggested by Glamumous readers!

Image credit: © cienpies.net

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20 free education resources for school children

Are you looking for ways to support your child's learning journey without having to break the bank?

With increased pressure on achievement and inclusion, most parents feel it nescessary to help their children learn and develop outside of school hours. Private tuition and subscription-based learning sites can offer excellent solutions, but unfortunately many of us don't have the funds available to pay for such services.

Luckily, supporting your child's education has never been easier! There are multitudes of free resources, apps for smartphones and printable worksheets to help our children build upon their school-based (or home!) education.

In this post, I'd like to introduce you to 20 of the best free resources we use to support learning at home, from discovering the fundamentals of the National Curriculum through to exciting science videos and educational games for smartphones.

1. The National Curriculum

A basic understanding of the National Curriculum is crucial for parents in supporting their child's education. Learning about the different key stages and subject-based expectations helps us to understand how and why school-based learning is presented.

This guide offers an easily digested overview of the National Curriculum. For more detailed articles about primary and secondary education, check out this page from the Department for Education and follow the links through to different key stages and subject material.

Tip: Not all subjects covered in the National Curriculum are compulsory. Try to find out which subjects are covered by your child's school to ensure you access the most important materials for your child.

2. BBC Schools for Parents

This is an excellent resource covering all aspects of our children's education, from early years learning right through school and even college!

Particularly helpful pages include How to help with Primary reading, maths and homework, and the sections covering the National Curriculum.

3. BBC Bitesize

Following on from the Parents pages, be sure to check out BBC Bitesize, which offers activities and resources for all school aged children, primary right through to GCSE students and beyond.

4. Mumsnet Learning

Despite being an avid member of Mumsnet, I didn't know about the Mumsnet Learning section until quite recently!

This is a particularly useful resource for parents of Primary school aged children, with pages of helpful information for parents in addition to activities and interactive resources for children.

We particularly enjoy the free home education resources and tips for learning outdoors.

5. Pearson Learn at Home

Pearson works in partnership with Mumsnet Learning, and offers even more free resources on the official website.

Most of the content here is aimed at young primary school children, including a couple of free apps to help with phonics and number recognition in addition to tips for parents.

6. Talking Point

If your child needs some support with their communication skills, or even if you would just like to check their progress, you'll find excellent resources on the Talking Point website.

All aspects of communication are explained in this useful website which offers explanations for key terms you may not be familiar with in addition to providing access to support when you need it.

7. Words for Life

Supported by the National Literacy Trust, Words for Life provides excellent advice and resources from birth through to the end of primary school.

The site is sectioned into age groups, providing activities for parents to enjoy with their children, advice from top authors and recommended reads for all abilities.

8. Free SATs Papers (900+)

Does your child need a little extra preparation for their SAT papers? This fantastic resource offers hundreds of SATs papers from (the previously used) KS1 tests through to KS3 and even optional tests.

All of these papers are 100% free to download and use, helping students prepare at home for their forthcoming papers and offering parents a useful insight into how and why their children sit these national tests.

9. Primary Resources

One of the oldest and most comprehensive online resources for primary education, this site offers activities and lesson plans covering virtually every subject.

While aimed at primary school teachers, the immense variety of resources here prove invaluable for helping with troublesome subjects and providing stimulation during school holidays.

10. Mrs Pancake

Mrs. Pancake'swebsite provides "brilliant educational dodads for teachers, parents and children". It is a beautifully designed resource with loads of free printable goodies for KS1 primary aged children.

We particularly like the make and do section which features a huge selection of printable craft materials for virtually every occasion.

11. TES Primary Teaching Resources

TES is the largest network of teachers in the world. This fantastic resource site provides free lesson plans, printable worksheets, interactive activities and lots lots more!

To access the valuable resources on TES you will need to become a member, though registration is fast and free.

By searching the vast database, you'll easily be able to find suitable material to support what yor child is learning at schol, or try browsing the many collections if you're stuck for ideas. We loved the Where the Wild Things Are themed resources (incidentally, Princess' favourite book) which should give you an idea of the quality and imagination of what TES has to offer.

12. Free Technology for Teachers

Richard Byrne maintains this invaluable blog for educators which details technology-based apps and resources to enhance learning.

While aimed at teachers, parents can benefit greatly from the site by discovering new and exciting avenues for supporting school-based learning.

If you're not sure where to start, check out the favourite resources page which lists the most popular posts and provides links to some excellent resource lists.

13. TED Ed

Subtitled "Lessons worth sharing", TED Ed provides subject-based videos which are as entertaining as they are educational.

Perhaps better suited to older children, you can find all matter of subjects covered from science to mathematics, literature and even learning skills.

14. Education 4 Free

This site offers free interactive educational maths software which is suitable from early-years learning right through to GCSE level.

Most software is designed to work in web browsers (be it a PC or laptop, online or off), though there are a couple of free apps available for Android and iPhone/iPad too which are ideal for engaging through more interesting technology!

15. Topmarks Parents Resources

Topmarks offers a series of articles aimed at parents who want to encourage their children to learn through engaging activities at home.

Much of the material here is aimed at parents of younger children, though there are pages to help with the transition to secondary school too. We found the article featuring recommended toys and games for children to be very useful (which also offers explanation for how these toys can be used for engaging educational activity).

16. How Stuff Works

This science based site offers some fascinating (and wholly engrossing) insights about how stuff works!

While the site is not based around school curricula, the presentation of articles is both exciting and educational. I imagine it's best suited to tweens and teenagers, though even as an adult I get lost cliking through all the interesting pages on this site.

Be sure to check out the Stuff Mom Never Told You podcasts and Stuff to Blow Your Mind!

17. Rudiments of Wisdom Encyclopedia

This "encyclopedia" by Tim Hunkin features cartoon covering virtually any subject imaginable!

Originally published in the Observer between 1973 and 1987, you might describe these as old-school infographics which are perfect for kid to learn fascinating facts about history, science, music, language and much more.

There's even a section on experiments (whose child wouldn't want to discover how to make things jump out of a cup of tea?).

18. Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop

This site is a wonderful treasure trove of "educational inventions" which provides all manner of free printable projects.

Maintained by illustrator and home-schooler, Ellen McHenry, the Workshop offers material for a wide range of subjects (even Latin!). You're sure to find interesting projects and games for rainy days and holidays - just be sure to have lots of ink in your printer!

19. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is one of my absolute favourite online learning resources. Ever.

The site is particularly useful for secondary-school age children to learn (and progress) with mathematics using the free exercise dashboard which delivers video-based lessons on everything from simple addition to Calculus, tests to ensure comprehension and even lets you track your progress!

A vast variety of video-lessons on other subjects and interactive learning aids are also available, though progress in subjects outside mathematics can't currently be monitored.

20. The Children's University

I've saved the best until last, since in my opinion The Children's University is a fantastic (mostly free) resource which will help your child develop their knowledge and experience outside the classroom and reward them with recognition, certificates and more.

For those who haven't heard of The Children's University, this is a nationwide scheme which is managed locally through a network of 80 "universities" for children aged 7-14 (and often slightly younger, with parental supervision).

Members are issued with a passport in which hours spent at approved "learning destinations" can be recorded. At various milestones, children are awarded with certificates to show how far they have progressed on their learning journey, ranging from a Bronze Award (for 30 hours of learning) through to Graduate, Doctorate and even Fellowship level (930-1000 hours).

Learning Destinations vary widely across areas, often including after school clubs, Scouts and Brownies, Museums and Libraries, sport venues and other centres for our-of-school learning activities. Many schools participate in the scheme (which I believe would be the ideal form of membership).

If your child's school is not currently adopting the Children's University scheme, be sure to check for your local Children's University - you may be able to get membership from your local council or library (as we did for Princess).

Strictly speaking, membership to the Children's University may not be 100% free - in some areas there is an initial £2 charge for the Passport, plus not all activities and centres provided locally are free (though a great many are). But while I hesitated to include this in my list of free ways to support you child's education, I am so thrilled by the scheme and the benefits it offers for children that I felt it simply had to be included!

Inspiration for this post

I was inspired to write this list after reading Being a Mummy's article about an education strategy for her kids in which she makes some excellent suggestions for resources which have helped her children become more confident learners. It reminded me of the many bookmarked sites we use regularly for homework help and to inspire Princess outside school, so I decided to share the best resources for Glamumous readers to enjoy too.

Can you add any more great resources to this list?

I'm always on the lookout for educational resources and would be thrilled if Glamumous readers could recommend any more sites in the comments below. If we collect enough I'd love to write a follow-up post to share the excellent websites, apps and free schemes available in the UK so that other parents can enjoy them with their children too.

Image credit: Pink Sherbert Photography, via Flickr

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How parental involvement produces better students

Foster an effective learning environment at home

How to be more involved at your child's school

Parent Governors

Parent Teacher Associations

Volunteering to help at school

If you really don't have much time to spare...

Further reading

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1. The National Curriculum

Inspiration for this post

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