Family Education

There can be few things more important to most parents than the ongoing and lifelong education of their family. Education begins from the moment a child is brought into this world, and hopefully ends only with their passage from this world as very VERY old adults!

Each stage of a child’s like brings different educational obstacles. What most parents do not realize when thinking about their family’s education overall is that there are many factors that influenced education, including diet, playtime, surroundings, health and levels and types of interaction received.

In early childhood, from infancy though toddler-hood, one fantastic resource I have found is called the “Ounce Scale”. The Ounce Scale was developed by Family Education Specialists Samuel J. Meisels, Dorothea B. Marsden, Amy Laura Dombro, Donna R. Weston and Abigail M. Jewkes. The scale is organized around six major developmental areas - Personal Connections (how children show trust), Feelings about Self (how children express who they are), Relationships with Other Children (how children act around other children), Understanding and Communicating (how children understand and communicate), Exploration and Problem Solving, (how children explore and figure things out) and Movement and Coordination (how children move their bodies and use their hands).

From ages 7 to 11 is when most parents view the educational process in the truest sense to begin. The best thing that any parent can do throughout this stage is to be vigilant. Help your child, foster your entire family’s education by doing your own homework and knowing what your child is learning at school. Participate in their education by volunteering at school, sitting with them when they do homework and reading to them. Show your children that you value your family’s education by exemplifying the advantages your own education has given you. Check this page out for more tips.

From ages 12 through 18 is where the education of your children gets a lot more complex. In fact, if you are in the habit of helping your child with their homework (if you have not felt this before!) you may start feeling like YOU need a tutor to get them through it. There is some good news though - there are resources you can use in order to give your kid that extra boost in education at this point (after all - college is next!). Check out this site and get printable homework help (Math, History, Social Studies, English and more) plus get tips and guides for studying for those all important ACTs and SATs. Remember - be vigilant about your family education - you will reap the rewards in the future!