by awatkins | Oct 28, 2016 | STEM
3 simple building projects to build your preschooler's STEM skills Does your pre-schooler have a good foundation for engineering? Yes, we understand your child is only 4 and hasn’t set foot in a kindergarten classroom yet. But bear with us — the idea isn’t quite as...
by awatkins | Oct 26, 2016 | Uncategorized
The quibble about quitting: Pros and cons of letting your child throw in the towel To quit, or not to quit. That is the question. Your 7-year-old daughter begs to join a Brownie troop, then hides and refuses to go on the second day. Your 10-year-old son makes the...
by awatkins | Oct 20, 2016 | LEGO Technology
4 Fun Halloween Projects that use LEGO Bricks As a building tool, LEGO Bricks offer infinite possibilities to launch kids (and grown-ups) into the Halloween spirit. Which means there is no shortage of ideas available on the internet. Here, we’ve rounded up a few good...
by awatkins | Oct 17, 2016 | STEM
Tips for supporting your high school student's study sessions For the average teen in high school, the evening study session is longer and includes more complex information to learn and master. And unlike when your children were younger, you just might not be up to...
by awatkins | Oct 14, 2016 | STEM
This classic TED Talk looks at another kind of mind This TED Talk is ancient, in internet years, but if you have children in school, it’s essential viewing. Temple Grandin’s “The World Needs All Kinds of Minds,” offers a look at the geeky kid, the kid who isn’t...
by awatkins | Oct 14, 2016 | After School Programs
After-school learning doesn't have to take place at a desk with lessons and a tutor When we enroll our kids in an after-school program, sometimes our motivation is to simply keep them busy. Other times we want them in a fun, safe, engaging environment until we come...
by awatkins | Oct 11, 2016 | STEM
What is STEM and why is it important? STEM. You see this acronym tossed around a lot these days. What’s the hubbub? Why are educators and other parents so preoccupied with it? As you may know already, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and...
by awatkins | Sep 30, 2016 | STEM
During middle school, parents still matter when it comes to homework Middle school is one of those magical, maddening times for parents. Students in this age group have developed something of a bad rep, likely due to the big emotions and clumsy attempts at staking out...
by awatkins | Sep 29, 2016 | STEM
Tips for supporting your child with their homework during elementary school As kids gets older, they gain more responsibility at school and at home. You’ve probably already begun this process by assigning them simple tasks around the house, such as picking up...
by awatkins | Sep 26, 2016 | After School Programs
Can we do a better job teaching science? Could you understand what ice cream is without ever having a taste? How about a ride on a roller coaster? A crackle of static electricity? What if you simply read about these things in a text book? You memorized some facts,...