As per the American medical journal (2017), smartphones contain a host of bacteria & viruses. However, the report was not taken too seriously when released, however now that the the world is under the coronavirus pandemic, it’s time to keep your gadgets sanitized & clean. Here are 10 things to do & not to do in order to keep your phone clean:
1. Use disposable gloves whilst cleaning your smartphone(s) & tablet(s)
2. Apple says that spray cleaners shouldn’t be directly used to clean iPhones/iPads
3. Do not use ‘straight’ alcohol to clean your smartphone
4. Use only disinfectant wipes that have 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean your smartphone
5. Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth, like a lens cleaning cloth
6. American telecom service provider AT&T says that paper towels can be used after spraying disinfectants on them
7. Do not dip your smartphone in any sort of liquid in order to do a ‘deep’ clean
8. Do not use any vinegar to clean your smartphone
9. Do not use any sort of bleach to clean your smartphone
10. Ensure that you wash your hands with soap & water once you’ve cleaned your phone
Smartphones, & tablets are all excellent ways for your children to play, learn, & stay occupied so you can have a few quiet moments to yourself or with a loved one throughout the day. By taking the time to put a few safeguards in place, you can ensure that your kids are safe from bacteria & viruses.
Hygiene is King these days. Help your kids stay clean and clear!
Every day during the Corona Virus, we will be sharing an email to all parents on our lists and also on our blogs and social media to give parents some fun things they can do during the outbreak. We will be sharing some movie suggestions, some activities to do and some general news about what is going on. Should you have any questions about the outbreak in your home country, please reach out to the health authorities or check local news regularly. If we can help, please don’t hesitate in reaching out via our Facebook page.
Movie Suggestions
All Ages
5+ Age group
Another Day, Another Update. We hope that yesterday gave you a little bit of inspiration and some insight in to things you can do with your kids. We are being as creative as we can be and relying on our network of teachers, pedagogues and parents, so if you have any great ideas or suggestions, please do share on our Facebook page or contact us via our website and send in suggestions!
Fun Activity – Make Your Own Postcards & Send Them
A Local Update from the USA (NYC)
In New York City things are changing daily, but isn’t that every day anyway in the Big Apple? The last few days have been strange, but we keep on trying to be creative and have fun with the kids. Parks and playgrounds remain open, so we are taking it a bit easier than I think our colleagues and friends in Europe. I read recently that fresh air and sunlight helps, so we will take that approach and enjoy some of the sun whilst we can!
We recommend avoiding handshakes or hugs with friends/strangers, why not go for a “Namaste” instead or a bow?
Some inspirational cards, you can make in your own at home! All you need is glue, paper and a bit of imagination – This is an amazon link to show some finished products
We hope you are all staying safe, healthy and in doors as advised!
We will give you an update with more insight on another country tomorrow. If you have any questions or feedback, please share on https://www.facebook.com/skidosgames/
Keep safe, clean & if at all concerned, contact your local health services via the phone to limit the spread of bacteria. We will share more news tomorrow! Yours Truly, The SKIDOS Team
The topic of fractions often proves
to be tricky for young children. Even some who love mathematics, find it
difficult to grasp the concept of fractions. If you are a parent of a young
child, you must be witnessing the hard time your kid is having with the
overwhelming idea of fractions.
Fractions, as an abstract idea, may
be a difficult one for your child to understand, but we witness fractions
nearly every day. The one-fourth of a pizza you gave to your child and the
chocolate bar you divided into two parts for siblings were your child’s
encounters with fractions. It’s just that the young one didn’t need to pay keen
attention to the concept of fractions until now and since most educational
modules are created for mass broadcast, your child may find it boring and
thereby unable to kindle any interest in them.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to
make your child have fun with fractions. Since we have to deal with fractions
nearly every day, it becomes easy to have them enjoyably explore the concept.
Fractions with Food
One of the easiest ways of
introducing your child to fractions is letting them think of it while they are
enjoying their favorite food. The next time your child is feasting on a pizza,
pie or a cake, spend some time with them dividing it into slices, and
acknowledging the slices as fractions. For example, you can divide a pizza into
four slices and tell them that a slice is 1/4th of a pizza. If you cut a yummy
cake into six pieces and your child eats two of them, they have eaten 2 sixths
of a cake. You can explain and show them how the 2 sixths your child ate can be
expressed as 2/6. There are numerous such examples you can find in your daily
life while having food. Let your child toy with these ideas and remove the
fears revolving around fractions.
2.
Fractions with Family
As a parent, you must know how
important it is for your child to have quality family time. To add a pinch of
fun and learning at that time, here’s a game that your child can play. They
have to prepare a questionnaire which has to be answered by the family members
around them. The questions could be observational and based on their
appearance, e.g., the colour of the hair or the eyes, or the handedness (tendency
to be left-handed or right-handed). It can also be purely based on preferences,
e.g., how many people prefer tea over coffee, and ice cream over milkshakes
etc. Once they are done with the questionnaire, you can sit down with them to
help them create fractions out of it. The number of family members who answered
becomes the denominator. For example, if 3 members out of your family of 4 are
right-handed, then ¾ people in your family are right-handed. Similarly, if two
of them like tea, which means half the family likes tea, 2/4 members like tea.
You can further explain how 2/4 is the same as 1/2. This fun game will allow
them to not only see fractions, but also to create and engage with the concept.
3. Fractions with visuals and games
Every child loves playing fun games
and what could be better than instilling some learning while your child is
playing. To help you with that, SKIDOS has a plethora of math games which will
help your child grasp mathematical concepts easily and simplify learning for
them. Don’t worry, the games are short and engaging so that the screen time is
optimally utilized. You can find SKIDOS games at https://skidos.com/subscription/. If you’re stringent about a
no-screen policy, there are various activity books you can gift to your child.
Apply the ideas you found here and
find your child having no difficulty in learning about fractions. Remember,
there are three Ps you need to keep in mind when teaching anything to your
child, patience, positive outlook, and positive reinforcement. Applying these
Ps can help your child learn anything. For fractions, you just learned about a
bunch of games. Have fun with fractions!
Have you ever wondered how education was imparted during the colonial period before the first public school was founded? Well, the first public school and oldest existing school, Boston Latin School, was opened in the 1600s in the USA, so it is safe to assume that most kids were taught at home. They definitely didn’t have a set of books they would go through the way we do now at school. And since studying at home was the norm, they probably never called it home-schooling.
Over the years, the trends have changed, with parents opting for public school or private school for their kids. Some parents elect home-schooling, so here are a few home-schooling tips for them.
1. Academic structure tailor-made for children
Unlike in a school where the curriculum is compartmentalised, with each subject being limited to the material provided. By assessing their kid’s strengths and weaknesses, parents can customize the curriculum and tailor their teaching style to maximise learning and make it more engaging. With the demand for quality education rising, a modern and interactive approach has resulted in an increase in the adoption of game-based learning. Parents can even make use of fun learning games to build their children’s Math and English skills. For those children who have an interest in sports, SKIDOS Bike Racing and Street Soccer are great for learning and playing. These games feature a number of cool math and coding puzzles that help improve math skills like counting and other math operations. Don’t worry, for children who love cakes, SKIDOS Bakery is a learning game where children can enjoy baking with cool characters as well as improve math and coding skills.
2. Better student to teacher ratio
Since home-schooling allows for a one-to-one interaction between the teacher and the student, chances are that learning process is more effective. Also, the amount of dedication by the teacher is higher so they can ensure that the children can grasp one concept before moving on to the other. Parents are intimately involved and can understand their children’s experiences and background, so they can use this to structure the curriculum and gather teaching material. SKIDOS games ensure a balance between engaging game play and measurable learning outcomes. They have been creating educational games for kids that replace advertisements in between games with customised learning content.
3. More emotional and mental freedom
Home-schooling lifts a lot of stress from the children’s shoulder since there is no need to try to fit in and give into social or peer pressure. Even the parents can focus on what needs to be taught and how they can help them learn in an engaging way. There are loads of opportunities for unexpected field trips, museum visits, and gathering in the parks. Children, on the other hand, are involved in the learning process and instead of focusing on getting better grades, they study because they want to gain knowledge.
We can agree that learning takes place even outside the four walls of a school, which is why home-schooling is one great method to impart education. Over the past few years, home-schooling has proven to work wonders for parents and children, provided they spend considerable time and effort into it. What’s more, to switch it up at times, subscribe to the online educational games at https://subscribe.skidos.com/Account/ChooseSubscription
Mindfulness is the natural capacity that aims to take this mental stress of multi-tasking by allowing you to be aware of living in the moment. But with kids running around, your routine is pretty much the same – get ready for work, drop your kids off at school, head to the office, get back home, make dinner, sit with your kids and make sure they have completed all their homework before they sleep, and then finally doze off yourself.
With the fast pace at which our lives are moving, there is so much that is constantly on our minds – balancing home and work, and everything else in between. Add parenting to the mix and sometimes situations get out of hand. And since we’re humans, we end to stress about everything and anything, no matter how big or small. If only parenting came with a set of instructions that all of us could follow, then we would have one less thing to stress about.
Mindful parenting has been around since the late 90s, and the goal behind this is to take a moment before reacting to your children’s behaviour or actions. Here are a few tips and benefits that will help you get a better insight into mindful parenting.
1. Introducing mindfulness
The first step is to discover how to be mindful ourselves as parents, because believe it or not, kids learn from observing others. And when you get angry or are stressed, your children will notice and more often than not, they will pick up on those things. Example, if you’re in a store and your kid starts throwing a tantrum, things can go either ways – you can scold them or give in to their demands. The thing you need to keep in mind is that children can get out of control and that it is completely okay. You just need to take a deep breath and talk to them about their behaviour.
2. Meditate with your kids
We know how important meditation is for us, but have we thought about how it may be beneficial for kids. Right from an early age, yoga and meditation can benefit children by improving their concentration and giving them a sense of calm. You can invite your kids to practice yoga, giving you plenty of time to catch up with them as well as connect with them. As they get older, it will lay the foundation for a lifelong practice which will benefit them greatly.
3. Unplug from technology
Technology has proven to be a very powerful tool, leading to an increase the amount of time that adults and children spend attached to their smartphone or tablet. And when it’s not that, they are glued to the TV, playing video games. This is why it is crucial for parents to put down their foot with clear rules about how much time they can spend on electronic devices. Parent should try to set out a schedule that allows for a balance between homework, meals, outdoor play, and quality screen time. Instead of letting their children mindlessly stare at the screen of their devices, parents can instill basic English, Math and Coding skills in them through SKIDOS educational games by subscribing to https://subscribe.skidos.com/ SKIDOS online learning cool math games encourage thinking, solving, and above all playing which is why they make learning fun and engaging.
Benefits of mindful parenting
Mastering mindfulness has many benefits, including better sleep patterns, encourages good behaviour, and allows for better communication between family members. Now that you are aware about the benefits of mindful parenting, you may be wondering whether it should be practised all the time. The answer is that no matter how much you try; it isn’t feasible to be mindful at all times but when we do react in ways that we might regret. However, you can always apologise to them and explain to them, after all we are humans and we are allowed to make mistakes.
Back-to-school season has arrived, and with that, it’s time for your children to start fresh. But it doesn’t mean they should start with their minds blank, having forgotten all they had learnt before summer vacation. This transition from vacation mode to school mode becomes quite a challenge for both parents as well as children. If you want your toddler to get going this school year academically, then it’s time to break out of the summertime schedule and retrain their brain.
To make it easy for children (and easier for parents), here are a few tips that will ensure everyone can get right back into their regular schedule, just the way it was during school mornings.
Reset sleep schedule
Parents should understand that their children’s sleep patterns are essential, so they can reach their peak performance during the entire time they are in school. We know how summer vacations can wreak havoc to children’s sleeping pattern, which is why it can get a little tricky getting them to return to their usual school sleep routine. Begin at least seven to ten days before the first day of school so they can get used to the changes in their sleeping habits.
Be homework-ready
The other important thing for parents is to make sure that their children have completed all their schoolwork and assignments. Take out 2 to 3 hours in the day during which you sit with your children and work on their homework. This will not only help them retain what they have learnt in class but also ensure that they don’t have to rush to complete it at the last moment.
Turn on the “scholar” mode
As parents, you can make sure that your children don’t end up drained of everything their teachers had taught in school. Every child needs to begin to hone their Math, Coding, and English skills, even before school resumes for the rest of the year. Since math learning skills can easily erode over the summer, you can revise the basics with them while you’re busy doing chores. Have them count the number of plates when they set the table or calculate the total bill when you are out grocery shopping with them.
A balance between playtime and study time
When children are in pre-school, teachers ensure that they follow a schedule that balances study time and playtime, from a range of free play and structured play. Whether it is playing football or practicing dance routines, extracurricular activities are just as important as academics. Instead of teaching children to focus on only their studies, encourage them to be a part of activities like dancing, singing, painting, amongst others. Learn how create a balance between study time and playtime.
Study with online learning games
Make learning fun and engaging by going beyond the school curriculum. Since kids nowadays are tech-savvy and spend most of their time on their smartphones and tablets, parents can download math and coding learning games. With SKIDOS online games, children will be able to pick up on math and coding skills as well as build a solid foundation in Maths and English. Make learning fun and engaging with SKIDOS games by subscribing to and downloading them at https://subscribe.skidos.com/
If you want to prepare your children for their first day back in school after summer vacation, follow these tips. Although we are sure that there are plenty of others, we were able to cover up the most important ones.
Most parents would agree that they hated Math when they were in school, and it’s the same for their children. But should we really let something as simple as 1+1=2 scare them off? Not really, especially since toddlers develop an understanding of basic math skills through everyday interactions. And that’s not all; there are plenty of cool math games for kids that are available online so you can download them from the app store.
Whether you are out grocery shopping or teaching them how to tell time, you’re using math. This means that children don’t hate math as long as it’s just addition and subtraction, but once you add in the trigonometry and geometry, it all gets chaotic.
By making math fun to learn during their toddler years, kids will be able to build an early math “foundation” which will develop advanced mathematical skills. Here are a few strategies that parents can implement in their daily routine to help kick-start their children’s first math lesson.
Numbers
The first step towards learning math skills is the ability to count, which can be taught easily. When you’re in the kitchen, have them count the number of spoons in the dish rack or have them set the table and count the number of plates while they are doing so. Repeat the numbers from one to ten; by doing so, kids will be able to memorize numbers and pick up on counting. You can even download fun math games like SKIDOS Fishing, which has five game modes: Classic, Letter Hunt, Number Hunt, Color Splash, and Jumbo Game. In Number Hunt mode, your children will be able to grasp skills like counting (from one to ten and then fifteen, and so on). Also,Bakery is a kindergarten game that will help your children learn addition and subtraction.
Measurement
When you teach your children how to calculate the time it takes them to walk from their house to their friend’s house, you’re teaching them how to measure time and distance. Even when you’re taking your kid’s height and weight measurement at home, have them give you the answer. This way, they can remember the concept of measurement and how they can use measuring units like feet, inches, and pounds with a fun element attached to it. Let them play online math games like SKIDOS Pirates, where your children will learn skills related to number sense and measurement.
Shape and Space
When you’re at home or outdoors, play a game of finding squares, triangles in your surroundings. With this, you will be introducing the idea of shapes, position, direction, and movement. Ask them where they have kept their toys and to bring them to you by telling you where they found them so that they can understand the concept of far and near or over and under. With online games like Runners andBike Racing, children will learn coding skills and how to distinguish between different shapes.
Now that you’ve made learning math so much fun and engaging go ahead and have them explore numbers. What’s more, encourage your toddlers to build a solid foundation in math by downloading educational games at https://subscribe.skidos.com/
At a time when technology and social media are slowly replacing human interactions, it is crucial to limit media consumption for children. For kids, tablets and phones are a part of their life, even more so than their friends. This is why parents need to keep tabs on how often their kids are glued to them. Especially since summer vacations have arrived, the daily school routine goes haywire, and there’s more and more of playing games on their tablets or watching TV.
Image source: pexels.com
Since the lack of routine makes it hard to keep track of screen time, parents worry about how much is too much and how they can manage it. The key here is balance, so we’ve compiled a few creative ways to limit screen time for your kids.
1. Encourage playing outdoors
Even though there is plenty of educational games online that kids love and adore, parents need to ensure that they have just as much fun playing any other sport outdoors. And don’t worry, sports are a great way to keep your children engaged in the learning process, so they don’t lose any skills they picked up in school. Turn outdoor and indoor sports into fun math games by having your children keep track of the score out loud and add or subtract the digits.
2. Art and craft
If you want your children to get in touch with their creative side, handing them colouring sheets and crayons is the first step. Ask them to make greeting cards, crafts, and DIY projects for their friends and family members for birthdays and holidays. Teach them about different shapes and objects around them by drawing them out. Parents can also make up ABC games to familiarise them with the alphabet and after their kids have named each letter, they must draw something that begins with it.
3. Indulge in co-curricular activities
It is important to teach children that learning doesn’t always have to take place within the four walls of a classroom. Parents should enroll their children in dance, music or self-defense classes so they can spend their spare time developing new skills. It will also build their self-esteem and foster a sense of responsibility and accountability in them. Children can join a book club to improve their reading skills as well as stimulate their imagination, and who knows, they might be an author in the making. When they come across a word they don’t understand, have them spell it out and encourage them to check the meaning in the dictionary. By turning these activities into fun spelling games for kids, you will make it easier for them to retain the spelling and meaning of the words.
4. Weekend outings
The more time you spend with your children, the more they’ll appreciate relationships and connections. Family time can involve activities like organising a picnic in the park or coaching the junior league games, which will help build a bond with your children. Teach your kids valuable life lessons out in the woods by taking them for a camping trip. What’s more, this will not only allow children to unplug from technology but also grow independent.
Well, with these fun activities to involve in, there is so much you can do to make sure your children don’t stay hooked to their tablets. And when they do, let them indulge in some fun and engaging learning games at https://subscribe.skidos.com/
Your child’s first day of school is a day that you will never forget. Once school begins; waking your little one up, bathing, breakfast, dressing up and rushing for school become daily chores. Pep talks, gifts, motherly advice and scolding is what you need to push your little one to go to school every single day. But it doesn’t end there. The most intimidating part of your child’s school life is ‘homework.’ Yes, your child’s homework soon becomes a part and parcel of your parental responsibilities. Coping with your child’s mood swings, tantrums and unwillingness to study is to be faced every single day. So the question that’s probably hovering in your mind is ‘How to get the homework done?’
But before we share some tips, it’s important for you to understand the benefits of homework.
Homework:
Serves as a quick revision of what’s been taught
Helps to sharpen the memory
Prepares your child for the upcoming tests and exams
Inculcates discipline and habit of being able to concentrate on daily basis
Makes kids aware of personal responsibility and accountability
It not only helps your kids but it also benefits the parents. It gives you a chance to know what is being taught in school, allows you to share your views and values and also lets you spend some quality time with your child.
Tips to get the homework done:
Be a mentor, not a helper: It’s important for kids to accept homework as their personal responsibility. Just be approachable and accessible whenever they ask for advice. Remember constant spoon feeding is like calling for trouble so be a mentor and help your kid help himself.
Probe: Asking questions like; which part have you understood? What according to you is the solution? Give me an example, etc. will develop a habit of thinking and problem solving.
Finding the right time: It’s always advisable to fix a time slot for homework. It eliminates your child’s habit of procrastination. After school time and before play time is a perfect slot for homework.
Inspire: Positive motivation works better than scolding and threatening your child. Motivate your kid by using genuine praise, appreciation or with a pat on the back. Sometimes appreciation can be teamed with a candy, a favourite toy or by allowing some extra play time.
Create a study zone: Make space for your little one to sit peacefully for his/her homework. Avoid placing study table next to the window or in living room, as it will distract your child. Ensure that TV and music system is turned off and toys and eatables are kept away from the study zone.
Making Time: Teach your child to make time for completing homework. Prioritizing tasks, subjects and other important activities is what your child must learn. Making a time table for homework, new learning and revision will help kids learn time management and organising skills at an early age.
Encourage your child to help develop habit of completing the homework on time. After all a disciplined life is what will lead him/her towards success.
As parents, we are often confused about whether we should allow our children to experiment and learn to use technology at such an early age. After all, we didn’t need or use it growing up, and we turned out great, right? However, times are changing, and children are learning to use technology faster than we ever have.
Young children love drawing pictures using simple drawing programs on computers and iPads. Since your preschooler is learning numbers and letters, using a word processing game or software can be fun. In fact, there are tons of interesting games and lots of educational content that you can download for every age group.
Since this is the age when he/she is developing cognitive skills rapidly, your child will quickly get addicted to games that have a right and wrong answer, matching colours/shapes, animal related and basic strategy games that take him a level higher. The cause and effect relationship slowly becomes obvious and hooks your little one in.
Yes, computer games and programs can be fun and educational for children. Studies show that for children between 5-7 years old, screen time (including TV, DVDs, ipad and Computers) should not exceed two hours a day. This is because:
·Young children learn best on interaction with others. It helps develop language and social skills.
·Lifetime habits are often developed during these formative years. It isn’t in your child’s best interest to rely on a computer for something to do or to kill boredom.
·Although using computers may stimulate imagination and creativity, they do need to explore the real world and pretend play.
You can help your child on journey in digital literacy, and here’s where you can start:
·Whenever your little one is spending time on a computer/device, sit with him/her and show interest. Explain what is happening on screen, and suggest what to do next.
·Rather than just passively talking, ask questions. “How do you play this?” “What happens if you move this item here?”
·Download software that fosters creativity, such as making up stories or rhymes. It will allow your children to express things that they don’t have the words for. Help your child to choose a background, character, etc.
·Encourage your kids to play with siblings and friends, for example a dual player game.
·Lay down the rules in terms of how much time is allowed. Too much computer time causes eye strain, back/waist problems, headaches and hand injuries to your young one.
