Raising Smarter Children

Did you know that doing brain fitness exercises can not only help you raise smarter children, but save billions of dollars in long term health care expenses?

Just 10 hours of brain fitness training showed significant improvement, even after 5 years. Read the rest of this entry »

Finally – the real world enters the classroom in the form of golf. Sand traps, putting, drives and all!

Algebra, a subject where so many shutter at even the name, has gone high tech and more students are truly learning because, with this new high tech equipment, their learning relates to the real world.

This morning I read an article about students who can use this hi tech graphing calculator from Texas Instruments to analyze the path of a soaring golf ball, see whether their answer makes sense, and analyze why answers are right or wrong.

You can read more here… http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_algebra_1229dec29,0,2699570.story

Remember, every child is smart,

Pat Wyman and Erin Mavredakis, M.D.

See our other site for more learning tips and tools at http://www.howtolearn.com

If you would like to comment or help spread the word on raising smarter children, use the submit or share this button below.  Thank you.

Who knew that playing video games could be a good thing for your child and even more astounding, for laparoscopic surgeons?

According to The American Psychological Foundation, certain video games improved dexterity and problem solving ability.

A while back, I wrote an article on how some types of video games gave kids skills they need in life – motivation, ability to keep going when things get rough, and forethought.  A study at Fordham University in New York, showed that playing video games improved cognitive and perceptual skills in 5th, 6th, and 7th graders.

At several other universities, continuing studies show that video games improve the scientific thought process. However, violent video games fostered violence among students, while social video games made the students more helpful to others. 

Ongoing research definitely shows that playing video games all the time makes kids obese and reduces their school performance. 

One of the most surprising results of the research is that laparoscopic surgeons improved dexterity by playing video games.  According to psychologist Douglas Gentile, Ph.D., of Iowa State, doctors who played video games were able to “perform surgery 27 percent faster and made 37 percent fewer errors.  He also said video games were good predictors of suturing capabilities.

The bottom line is what most parents already know.  Video games are like anything else.  Good value games, played in balance with other life activities can enhance education and important life skills. 

Gentile says, “This means that games are not good or bad, but are powerful educational tools and have many effects we might not have expected they could.”

The tip for today is attention – look closely at the type of video games your child plays, limit the time, and know that there may be some inherent value for your child who wants to play a video game.  You never know, s/he may turn out to be that laparoscopic surgeon.

As it’s gettng close to back to school, here’s another “tech smart” tip your child can use on the computer. 

There’s a free, one hour online CD, for you and your child, if you’re serious about making this the best school year ever.  It’s the first of 8 CD’s in the How To Win The School Game System, showing your child how to get A’s and B’s with “how to learn” strategies.

Visit our website at http://www.howtolearn.com/coachingstudents2.html for more on how to get higher grades in 14 days.

Remember, every child is smart,

Pat Wyman and Erin Mavredaks, M.D.

If you like this post, please send a comment or click on the “share this” button below the post.  Join the social media networks and help spread the word about raising a smarter child in every way.  Thank you.