Summer Camp At Home:Educational ,Creative ,Fun Things To Teach Your Children

Its summer time again , giving children a long vacations to sit at home. I can see numerous advertisement of summer camps offering in different parts of city , so instead of spending thousands of money , make your home a summer camp and have fun , educational and creative activities for your children.

First things first,results grades and positions do not judge your child's understanding and potential , so if he/she has achieved low grades or the teacher recommends some extra practice please forget hiring a tutor for holidays ... Believe in your child and let them have some fun learning.

Okay now your children already have a routine , because of school days , continue with that begin your day early and just like school make a time table and decide with them what they want to do each day and for how long  , add play time  for every day and trips for each week

Here is the link to get free time table , you can print it our and hang in children's bedroom so that they know.

http://www.printablee.com/category-schedule/2/

Religious Education.

You may start your day with religious education or any other time , any surah , verse , any topic like justice , truthfulness , cleanliness , stories from Quran , stories of prophet , importance of namaz and others.If your children raise any question tell them with proper rational why something is farz  on us.. quote Quran and Ahadis , this will increase your knowledge too,but do not discriminate about sects and race  , Allah has made us all equal , refrain from criticizing  other people practices , teach them respect.

Here are some stories of prophets for kids

http://one4kids.net/project/stories-of-the-prophets/

Educational Games

These are best types of games that we all love , its really sad that we cant see much of them , like we used to in our childhood but its okay you play can number of educational games with your children.Yes I am aware that smart phones have these games  , games are much more interesting if played physically, you can have boards games, puzzles , card games , number games and many other.

Links for some more ideas

http://www.education.com/activity/games/

https://www.pinterest.com/stevespangler/hands-on-learning-activities/

Cooking

Introduce your child to cooking , its fun and interesting , definitely healthy family activity where everybody helps mummy in the kitchen, you may start with asking children to peel vegetables  , to decorate a cupcake or making a sandwich , depending on the age of the child , do not let your child go near fire when you are not around and explain them why are not letting them. The idea of cooking is make children independent , to respect people who cook them , to get acquainted with different flavors and yes gives you so much to teach them , examples acids in lemon or how are potatoes grown, also that Pakistan has best mangoes. Its like a science and geography class together.

These are just suggestions of easy recipes , you can create and make your own .

Arts and Crafts

There is an artist in each or us , so let it out use paints , colors and glitter to get artsy and crafty , before buying any extra material , use whatever is in the house which is useless , and reuse it. You will find a lot cartons of different sizes , extra paper , bottles container , old color pencils , pieces of crayons , shells , pebbles , baskets , pieces of wood , styro foam , rope , broken pots , tin cans , plastic wrapper and loads other , you can use these things to make new things and decorate the house. Encorage children to be creative and listen to their ideas even they may not make sense but let them try out if they wrong they will learn (apart from some harming them selves and others) its okay to have something different.

  

Moral Education

Morality is Character. Teach children manners and act them out for them , tell why good manner and moral are important to have , you can start with basic manner like how to greet people , how to eat food  , how talk to someone older than them , how to sit , stand , walk , talk  or use cutlery. You can discuss with also what to say when you feel bad about thing in an appropriate way and importantly what NOT say infront of people for example any personal issues about your family , for this you have to maintain a trust with your child so that he trusts you and tells you whatever he or she feels and respects you."Children with trust issues easily befriend strangers online "

Personal Care 

The most important thing for a person is that he takes care and loves him/her self.Teach your child how to take care of himself and his things , how to comb their hair , fold clothes , set up cupboard , make their bed , how to wash their clothes, take shower , how to polish shoes , hang clothes , clean room. This way children become responsible for their own things , it makes them independent and feel accomplished which helps their self esteem (You can also talk to your children about their privacy and bullying) . Another things is telling about germs and how they can get sick by eating dirty food and or by eating with dirty hands , you can talk about junk and healthy food with them.

Here is the link of more details  http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/hygiene_-_cyh.html

Gardening

Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education. 
-David Polis

Nature is the best teacher , children need mud , sunshine , plants,flowers , water to grow . To get your children closer to nature teach them gardening , explain them how a plant grows and for them have set of gardening tools and sow seeds , ask them to water it and observe it grow , you can always have indoors plants. Flower arrangement can also be taught to them by using artificial , dry or even fresh flowers. This teaches them care for nature and also it helps learn science of plants and flowers.

Here is the link of more details http://www.pleasantestthing.com/gardening-with-kids

There are loads of things you can do with your children, its a great time to bond with them , plan out trips with them , teach them to fish , discuss interesting news with them , talk about their future with them ,buy them atlas and show them other countries highlight their people , religion . language , culture. This help you much more as a parent and as a person. Happy Holidays.

What does Education means to me ?

Education plays a very important most imperative part in our lives. Its should be compulsory on everyone at every age and its an on going life long process .Education is not taken from the books and teachers, you pick up learning and experience by associating your self  within and others in your life.

 I consider experiences to be the preparation of learning and abilities needed to get by in life.

It is assumed the schools play a pivotal role in educating people. School gives the most key information and aptitudes components. School not just shows you fundamental things, for example, Science, arithmetic, history and different subjects, however it additionally sets you up to enter the more complex life. In school you become acquainted with more individuals like students teachers workers and anybody in that time of your life,also learning whatever is going around.

As we know that the first to experience in learning before the actual schooling is pre school , a place to children young as 1.6 years and then for another 12 years the same child continues with the same routine , then college and then university and then job where he is actually putting in his knowledge in use.

But lets see around numerous youngsters are struggling  through school,either they lack moral values or they are unable to face their issues,I am horrified to see students of elite school involved in drugs and illicit affairs.it gives me no surprise when I see them, going ashtray or making poor life decisions , which raises a question that who is responsible for it ? parents , teachers , schools or may be our whole education system.

Its observed that our success parameter is only grades or distinctions, ending to good paying jobs in MNCs . Our education system merely equips student content knowledge roots them competition that there is no chance of collaboration or learning and respecting each other, the focus on  life skills or even basic manners  is very less which is utmost vital for a child to adapt survive and succeed in this society , at least to be a better human being who is good to himself and others 

Education must train the child to live well and be the light in others life, so we have positive and healthy communal practices.

By teaching a person we try to give him some information, understanding, abilities, intrigues, state of mind and discriminating 'considering. 

In life a person learns more profound things in life, the mind boggling human relations, and the circumstances and aptitudes in composing, talking, figuring, drawing, working some gear and so forth. As a person envisions different issues in life and take choices about them being free from inclination and biases, challenges and opportunities In this way, he needs to every one of these features of head, hand and heart through the procedure of education.

“Education is not preparation for life

 education is life itself.” 

The Classroom

Going through all my classroom experiences which I had from kindergarten to MBA , I have had alot of lessons and also a story for each day , there were some best times and some were just worst.

A classroom is a place where a student comes and spends time , learn new things , make friends , cries , laughs ,enjoys and has fun. If we look really in the matter by seeing our selves in the different classrooms which we have been through we see its the teacher who dominates , a teacher plays role of leader in the classroom but since a teacher is a learner too in the class she should be the one helping others learn from her , not by controlling the class  by deciding when children will talk and when they will play , maintaining rules and setting up a timetable of a place which a home to children may be a little brutal and it does questions the efficiency of whatever is been taught ,who wants to learn accounting 3 hours urgh .. and is it fair to give only 30 mins to play period ?

A classroom in Ethiopia

Do we really need fancy decoration and colorful soft boards  and up-to date resources to have learning easy for students or somewhere in the field under an old tree an honest headmaster does his job well ?

Classroom in a bus in Chile

Final Year Students in Ukraine

Girl school in Bangladesh

My Philosophy of Education

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats

I believe all students are equipped for learning. They all don't learn at the same rate, however with diverse practices and methods it is possible. Students must not be considered as thoughtless individuals simply holding up to be overloaded with learning by their teachers.

Students ought to be seen as people who can complement to the classroom, sharing and picking up learning from one another. Students need path and not simply a speech. 

Children have different learning styles, children can visual learners, linguistics learners, kinesthetic learners and few others. Pedagogy designed according to the need to students will make an exciting and fun environment and will help all students to learn, succeed and achieve personal goals

For teachers, teaching is a way of life, not a simple  7 to 3 job , she has to commit fully to her profession as she is the one who shapes future of the generation, a teacher must encourage learning and development of the students scholastically, morally and religiously . By giving a quality instruction to every person in her classroom.Teachers equips youngsters, with the maneuvers ,vital for accomplishment in life also brings out best in them and help them to use their potential and be independent.

Learning is dynamic, an educator has to show excitement and express trust in the student’s abilities to learn and try to make it effective. Showing warmth and empathy towards students and cherishing them, when they get achieve small goals. They must be willing to give coaching counselling on the side to reach out to their individual needs.

Schools and teachers must improve themselves for the betterment of the students, they must adopt constructive ways and enroll into professional development courses to encourage and engage students so that they grow up into fruitful and valuable citizens also to be life long learner.

A proper education system, is required  which ensures quality education to all, there must a shared vision among educational leaders, who must dedicate themselves to give children a better future.

To parents the is request that learn to trust your child and believe in your child’s potential , your child when born , is pre programmed and equipped with intelligence. Your child needs you , to grow to nourish. Parents only worry about grades and discipline, well grades NEVER can judge learning as children have different learning styles and more over our education system has biased and rusted assessment system. Learning is as natural to a child as breathing, with proper environment and attention any child can prove the genius they are made to be. As for the discipline part , discipline is very closely related to freedom , it’s wise to watch over your children but do NOT take away their choice , do NOT impose things over them , try them to figure out themselves , discipline comes from within , it represents order in thought rather than things ,it’s important for the parents to model the desired behavior , or else its use less to put rules ,which you don’t follow , don’t think your child may not know , they are clever ,they may listen to you when you are around , which leads to deviated behavior and a habit of lying, yes believe it or not if your autocratic ways of the discipline is leading problems which may occur years later .

Lastly education should make person of wisdom who plays an moral role in the society , the question lies we need degrees for that , if not then what they giving apart from money and status ??  

“I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so that they will be positioned to make it a better place” 
― Howard Gardner