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Building skills beyond academics
Supporting A Child's Learning Journey
Learning in school is an important milestone in any child's life. Whether you have a young child just about to begin his/her journey or an older child who's already in school, here's a quick view of necessary skills they will need to learn and develop alongside academic knowledge:
1. Social skills. This refers to the ability to connect--make friends, converse and play together, understand cues and follow social norms. Strengthen social skills by exposing and encouraging your child in informal settings with other children through structured and unstructured play and activities, and being clear and consistent in teaching what to say and the expected behaviors. 2. Language, literacy, and communication skills. Allow ample opportunities to have your child express himself verbally. Have lots of conversations. Consistently model the words, phrases and tone of voice you would want him to use. Remember, a child follows what he sees and experiences around him. Equip young children with early literacy skills--show how fascinating the written text and books are. (If you want your child to be a reader, are other people at home reading as well?) 3. Emotional development and regulation. Teach kids the different emotions--how do these emotions feel in the body, in which situations could such emotions be felt, how do you express such emotions appropriately. Concretize so young children understand them better. What does it mean to be happy? To be excited? To be sad, annoyed, mad? Help them to understand and process their emotions and to observe and perceive other people's emotions. Remember, it is perfectly normal to have feelings (even of boys feeling sad!) and that it is healthy to express emotions appropriately. Teach how to react when these emotions arise.
4. Physical skills - sensorimotor skills and physical coordination. Encourage activities and tasks that strengthen gross motor and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination--
ex. handling a ball and small objects, rhythmic activities, listening to different sounds/songs, copying, drawing, writing, running, climbing, jumping, dancing and other movement activities, etc.
5. Cognitive skills. These are foundational skills used in basic thinking such as when your child needs to pay attention, process visual and auditory inputs and remember these, and also in complex thinking such as when he problem-solves and reasons. Strengthening these skills are essential! Encourage observation, comparing and contrasting, listening tasks, memory activities (remember those card games?). Explore discovery activities that spark thinking (what-if experiments, problem-solving toys and games). Encourage kids to ask questions and of possible answers and get them to discuss how they derived these then help them in the process.
Fast Forward... to a Super Learner!
Looking to speed up your child's learning ability? In addition to our core program BrainRx, we have ReadRx (a unique reading and spelling intervention plus a cognitive training in one) and our newly launched AccelerateRx--a comprehensive, personalized brain training program for kids ages 4.5 years old and up and students with high needs. Contact us to inquire.
When given the right tools to succeed: C.'s #MyBrainRx Story
Don't know where to start? Reach out to us. Find out how a Cognitive Skills Assessment helps.
Sources:
[1] https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/happy-children-waiting-school-bus-isolated-flat-vector-illustration-cartoon-girl-boy-standing-road-near-school-building_10172800.htm [2] https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/happy-kid-running-with-slingshot-cute-child-having-fun-smiling-park-entertainment-amusement-leisure-holidays-playful-times-outdoor_27668787.htm [3] https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/tip-pages/all/school-readiness [4] https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/school-readiness/