DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE ENOUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTLETS? 4-8


Your home is a place where you can lie back, relax and forget about what awaits you the next day at work. But don’t let this be the case for your child—learning shouldn’t stop once the final bell rings. As a parent, you play an important role in expanding your child’s education outside of the classroom.

1. Do you encourage reading at home?
An appreciation of reading is a benefit to your child in every school subject and in life. Here are several ways to keep reading alive in your home.
  • Biographies. Encourage your child to read about his favorite people, whether it’s an athlete, coach, movie star or historical figure. When the topic is interesting, he will be more motivated to read.
  • Movie-books. When your child brings home a new book, visit your local video store to find the movie. After your child has read the book, watch the movie together and compare and contrast. Or vice versa: After seeing a movie, encourage him to read the book. Here’s a list of several books with movie counterparts:
    • “Holes,” by Louis Sachar
    • “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling
    • “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy by J.R.R Tolkien
    • “Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton
    • “Matilda” by Roald Dahl
    • “Eloise” by Hilary Knight
    • “The Witches” by Roald Dahl
  • Magazine subscriptions. Magazines can keep children reading when they lose interest in the classics. Whether it’s YM, American Girl or Boys’ Life, magazines allow young children to explore their interests through “light reading.”
2. Do you play educational games?
Showing your child that learning is fun via educational games is the best way to bring learning to the forefront at home. Below are several board games you can play with your child.
  • Twenty Questions For Kids by University Games. This is a game of people, places and things, specially designed for children 7 to 12. Be the first to figure out the mystery person, place, thing or date and win. The game is the winner of the National Parenting Publications Honor Award.
  • Tribond, Mad Gab, Blurt, Malarky by Patch Products. From board games to card games to puzzles, Patch Products (www.patchproducts.com) has hundreds of family-friendly games for every occasion.
  • 30 Second Mysteries For Kids by University Games. Packed with riddles and brainteasers, players follow clues and can crack the case.
  • Game of the States by Winning Moves. Players drive their truck across the country buying and selling products along the way. The player with the most money at the end of the game wins.
  • Game of Knowledge by University Games. With more than 1,500 questions, and six categories (world, science, nature, sports, media and fame), it is a great game to add to family night. Game includes two sets of cards: one set is for players ages 10 to 15; the other is for ages 16 and older.
3. Do you take advantage of library and online resources?
The World Wide Web and the library have more than enough information to keep your child reading, writing and creating. Below are several ways to keep your child busy.
  • The library. Your local library is a great place to introduce your child to books. It most likely offers reading programs and activities that enhance reading skills and keep it fun. And it probably has a website where you can keep up-to-date on activities, hours, new books and services. Visit http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Libweb to see if your library has a site.
  • Book Adventure. Visit www.bookadventure.org, a free online Sylvan Learning Center-sponsored interactive reading motivation program where children choose their own books, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem their accumulated points for small prizes.
  • American Library Association (ALA). Visit www.ala.org/parents, the ALA’s Great Web sites For Kids site. The site includes links to hundreds of recommended sites for children of all ages.


By Lauren Strandquist