LifeLongmontLearning.com

As we enter into the New Year, make it a resolution for yourself to get more involved with your child and their learning. Now is the perfect time to recommit to fostering a love of lifelong learning in your child and spend more time with them in doing so.

If you have little ones, start thinking now about enrolling them in early childhood education programs. These programs are important in making sure your child is prepared for school when the time comes. According to the U.S. Department of Education, at least one in five students was inadequately prepared for kindergarten when they started school last year. Early education programs not only prepare children for school, but also help them develop basic skills in reading, problem solving and social interaction. Research shows children who have not developed basic literacy skills by the time they enter first grade are 3-4 times more likely to drop out in later years, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Parents in Longmont can help beat this statistic and create a love of lifelong learning at home by reading to their children and getting them involved in early education programs. Longmont has many early education programs to choose from – many with sliding scale tuition for low-income families. Early childhood education programs are a great way to enhance what you are already doing at home to help your child learn.

For those with older children and high-school aged students, the New Year can be an opportunity to resolve to spend more time with your children and engage in fun lifelong learning activities together. Children of involved parents are less likely to miss school, receive higher grades, in general perform better on tests and typically have a better attitude toward school. Studies also show that when parents participate more in their children’s education, they often undertake to advance their own education by enrolling in continuing education courses.

Why is it important?

So how does spending time with your kids help them learn? Here are a couple reasons from Team-up.com why quality time is great learning time:

• Spending time with your child gives you many opportunities to guide their behavior, helping them learn positive social interaction skills. 
• Parents are the ones to help their children manage their emotions. Spending time together allows parents to set a positive example. You can help them learn to cope with being frustrated, angry, upset, etc. They will learn how to persist with activities while learning more of the skills they need.
• Time spent with your child helps them learn how to be with other people.

How do I do it?

The Child Development Institute said there are strong indications that the most effective forms of parent involvement are those which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities in the home. Here are a few tips for engaging with your child in day-to-day learning activities:

• Cooking together – cooking with your child is a great way to practice fractions, measuring and reading. Invite your child to help you cook dinner – it will not only be a great learning exercise, but a fun way to spend time together in the kitchen.
• Make it count – make the most of the time you have with your children, such as dinnertime, car time and shopping together, to talk about school, friends and how they’re doing in general. By making anytime quality time, children will learn fundamental skills that will serve them well for a lifetime. 
• Hidden learning opportunities – turn errands into one-on-one time. Bring your child grocery shopping with you and allow him or her to have a "turn" picking out a special meal or snack for the family. This will help develop skills in planning, proportions, fractions and more. 
• Offer a helping hand – don't be afraid to sit down with your child and work through homework problems together. Even if you don't know the answer right away, many times you can solve the problem together. There are also many local and internet-based resources available, such as HomeworkHelp.com, that can help with homework questions and boost confidence in both you and your child.
• Family game night – pick one night a week to have a family game night and stick to it. You can have your child chose the game for that week. Games are a great way to practice math, logic, teamwork, patience and more. Boost your child's self-esteem by having them teach you how to play the game. 
• Make math part of everyday life – many students struggle with math, young and old. At home, the best way to help your child with math is to play with numbers and frequently point out ways math can make life easier. Try having your child set the table, start a running countdown to their birthday or have them help with the grocery budget. Almost anything you do that involved numbers and/or problem solving will build your child's math skills.
• Community involvement – encourage and help your child get involved in a local group or club in which they have an interest. Maybe it's volunteering at the Longmont Humane Society  or singing in the Longmont Children's Chorale. Often times these groups and/or clubs offer opportunities for children and parents. Either way it's a great avenue for your child to explore their interests and for parents to show their support. 

The U.S. Department of Education supports that the continuity of family involvement at home appears to have a protective effect on children as they progress through the complex education system. The more families support their children’s learning and educational progress, the more their children tend to do well in school and continue their education. It's common for busy parents to lose focus on their child's learning and spending time together throughout the year, especially when dealing with multiple demanding schedules. But time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your children to not only benefit your relationship, but their learning as well. Take time this New Year to re-focus on spending time with your child and encourage positive learning habits at home.

The tips and information provided were compiled using several sources including the U.S. Department of Education, Scholastic.com, Family.com and Team-up.com.

About LifeLongmontLearning

LifeLongmontLearning is a community-based, City sponsored movement to increase awareness among Longmont residents of the lifelong learning opportunities available in our area. An educated population is foundational to having a vibrant community, a healthy economy and a high quality of life for all residents. Therefore, the goal of the program is to increase awareness of learning opportunities and help transform Longmont into a “learning city,” where all children and adults can succeed in school and throughout their entire lives.