HOW TO: apps that introduce kids to coding

The need for children to be “tech-savvy” is becoming more apparent as technology continues progressing at such a rapid pace. Beyond inspiring future career paths, introducing children to coding opens the window to a new way of thinking in regards to solving problems, nurturing creativity, and completing projects.

Engaging in age-appropriate computer programming also enables children to gain confidence in embracing new technology by helping them understand how technology works and the processes involved in developing it.

The following apps offer children simple and kid-friendly opportunities to become familiar with coding.

Scratch
Designed specifically for children, Scratch was created by MIT students and staff.

ScratchJr
 (iPad)
Introduces coding to children as young as five-years-old.

Tynker
(Web)
An effective tool for teaching programming.

Hopscotch
(iPad)
This is a great tool to help students without coding experience gain confidence in the basics of programming, logical thinking, and problem-solving.

Daisy the Dinosaur
(iPad)
This provides an easy introduction to programming for younger students. 

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by ibtimes

FRIDAY FOLDER: july 31

Highlights of the Week:

 

Historic Anaheim campers dress up like nerds, show off their talents, and stay cool with water balloon games!

 

 

 Anaheim Hills campers enjoy snacks and dress up like nerds!

North Tustin campers love Swim Day!

With only one week of summer camp left, Fairmont Summer Programs is still going strong! Week eight was filled with excitement as campers enjoyed Swim Day, ate Wipe-Out Nachos, performed in the talent shows, and dressed up for Nerd Day! Campers also went on the last field trip of the summer to Knott's Berry Farm! 

Week nine will conclude summer camp with a bowling excursion, Under-the-Sea Cakes, Superhero dress up day, and an on-campus party!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

HOW TO: prepare for back-to-school

With family vacations and lazy days by the pool coming to an end, the new school year is just around the corner. Here are some great tips to prepare you family for the back-to-school routine:

1. Sleeping Schedule - Children love summer because of the relaxed bedtime schedule. To encourage a school year bedtime, try getting children to bed early and setting their alarms for a school morning two weeks before the start of school. This will help children acclimate to the new sleeping routine that’s sure to start with the new school year.
2. Family Calendar - Before school starts, gather as much information about sports schedules, class times, special events, etc. and outline everyone’s schedule on a calendar posted in a highly trafficked area of the house. Develop a color-coding system using highlighters or colored pens to help make dates and times clear for each family member. Tech-centered families can use calendar apps, such as iCloud Calendar, Google Calendars, or Sunrise Calendar, to seamlessly coordinate and synchronize schedules.
3. Streamline Cooking - Gear up for back-to-school season by making freezer meals one-to-two weeks before the start of the school year. Prepare as many healthy meals as possible before the new schedule sets in. Don’t forget that freezer meals are not just for dinner, but breakfast, too! Check out Fairmont’s Snacktime Pinterest board for great freezer meal ideas!
4. Fall Cleaning - Start the school year off with a clean house! After the upheaval of family vacations and summer activities, take time to put away all items and clothes that won’t be necessary during the fall and winter months. Clean up areas of the house that become easily cluttered, and try out a new organizing system with color-coded paper files, whiteboards, storage bins, etc. Don’t forget to clean out the family car before carting kids to and from school and events.

Taking the time to prepare your family and home before the back-to-school rush will help make a smooth transition into the school year!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by HAAN

FAIRMONT FIVE: boldly go! … fostering girls’ interest in STEM

There are many fun ways to inspire a girl’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Educational experts have identified the need for more girls to be engaged in STEM related studies especially in the junior high and high school years. Besides developing a stronger sense of scientific inquiry, STEM provides a solid foundation for problem-solving and ingenuity that can apply to all walks of life.

A study of 4th graders showed that 66 percent of girls and 68 percent of boys take an interest in science. However, these numbers change significantly in the teenage years. According to author Susan Gibbs Goetz, an achievement gap between girls and boys appears during these years in science related areas. By the age of seventeen, girls achieve at a notably lower level than boys.

Here are a few creative and fun ideas that will help foster your daughter’s interest in STEM related subjects:

1. Find ways to encourage curiosity—Raise questions about how plants grow, why stars sparkle in the evening sky, how a computer uses data, and what makes an engine work. You do not need to know these answers right off the bat. Seek out the answers together. These and many other questions will go a long way to inspire life-long learning.

2. Activities involving STEM abound around the home from gardening and construction to cooking and plumbing. With parental supervision, the kitchen and the backyard offer perfect settings for exercising the basics of scientific research: predicting, measuring, observing, and analyzing. Offer telescopes, computers, robotic kits, microscopes, and other tools to inspire adventurous exploration filled with fun and excitement! Visit Fairmont’s Pinterest pages for ideas on conducting safe science experiments in the home.

3. Enroll in a hands-on afterschool STEM program—Fairmont offers a variety of robotics, science, and other related programs on all three campuses. Visit the MY FAIRMONT pages for Anaheim Hills, North Tustin, and Historic Anaheim Campuses to learn more about our afterschool programs.

4. Seek out local STEM professionals who would be interested in becoming mentors for girls—Meeting engineers, doctors, computer scientists, professors, pharmacists, and others will inspire dreams and learning paths leading to exciting career opportunities.

5. Encourage your daughter to consider STEM related topics as "interesting" rather than “too hard or complicated”—Take fun, small steps to become more familiar and confident with STEM subjects. Some of history’s greatest discoveries were the result of a big mess or mistake. STEM offers important lessons on persistence by teaching that mistakes are expected along the journey of scientific inquiry.

Visit SciGirls for more ideas for encouraging girls in STEM.

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools

Image by Yorkregion

FRIDAY FOLDER: july 24

Highlights of the Week:

 North Tustin campers have a great week with dancing, bingo, and bottled tornadoes!

Anaheim Hills campers show off their crazy hair and silly sunglasses!

Historic Anaheim campers play a live board game created by Counselors-In-Training!

What an exciting week of summer camp! During week seven, campers made Rice Krispy sculptures, enjoyed Swim Day, created sand art pictures, and traveled to Raging Waters theme park in San Dimas!

Next week will bring a whole host of new activities, including Turtle Roll Techies, Wipe Out Nachos, Nerd Day, an offshore talent show, and a field trip to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park!

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools 

FAIRMONT FIVE: teaching good manners

All parents want their children to be well-behaved in social settings. The best way to help your child succeed in this area is to teach him or her proper etiquette and manners. Encouraging courteous behavior will help ensure your child respects peers and authority figures such as teachers and coaches.

Understandably so, “kids will be kids.” However, teaching them that there is an appropriate time and place for proper manners is important. Below is a list of five essential manners and ideas for encouraging each:

1. “Please” and “Thank you” - Teaching children to say “Please” and “Thank you” before and after receiving something is no easy feat. However, by incorporating these words when talking to your child, he or she will being to see the pattern and corresponding reaction. When your child asks for something and does not use the “magic words,” remind them of “Please” and “Thank you.” Wait until they have asked correctly to give the reward. Also, do not forget “Excuse me” and “Sorry.”
2. Proper Table Manners - When you child forgets to say “Excuse me” after a burp, or begins to chew with his or her mouth open, gently remind the child of the proper behavior. Being a model of good table manners is one of the best ways for children to learn how to behave while eating.
3. Turn Off Electronics - Today’s children are tied to technology. There is a time and place for technology, but Christmas dinner at a relative’s house is not it. Let your child know that there are times to play on the iPhone, and that there are times to engage in conversation with others.
4. Telephone Etiquette - Children listen to adults take calls all the time and will be a quick study when learning how to answer the telephone. When your child becomes old enough to take phone calls, provide opportunities to practice a friendly phone demure.
5. Spreading Kindness - Letting your child know that it’s important to demonstrate kindness to everyone is an important step. Opening doors for others, saying “Please” and “Thank you,” and using polite words are all simple ways that children - and adults - can show kindness to others.

Being conscientious of others lies at the root of all societal manners and etiquette. When we are conscious of the feelings and preferences of others, we demonstrate respect for those around us. The most effective approach to instill good manners in your child is by being an example of proper etiquette yourself. Cultivating good manners takes time, but the rewards of a respectful, well-behaved child are endless.

For more tips and ideas about teaching manners, check out these great articles:

6 Tips on Raising a Well Mannered Child

Manners Matter: 10 Manners Every Child Should Know

It Still Matters: How to Teach Good Manners

Contributed by Rebecca Stokes, Fairmont Private Schools 

Image by RoomToGrow.co.uk

CHALK TALK: introducing preschoolers to technology

These days, it’s easy to think of children as natural digital citizens. Take a look around and you will likely see kids of all ages masterfully using a smartphone or tablet on their own. However, children, especially those enrolled in preschool through early elementary school, need parental guidance to make sure they are using technology safely and that is not keeping them away from other beneficial activities.

Parents can help their little ones embrace digital technology as an effective learning tool without getting too caught up in non-educational gaming and passive viewing. Here, Dr. Rebecca Osborne, Technology-Enhanced Curriculum Specialist for Fairmont Private Schools, explains how to properly introduce tablets, smartphones, and other devices to young children.

What can parents do to foster technology skills in their preschooler, particularly in the areas of smartphones, tablets, and laptops?

It is important for students to be multi-literate.  Introduce your young children not only to tablets and smartphones, but also to laptops.  Teach them keyboard skills, not just “texting” or typing on the tablet using the small touchscreen.  Learninggamesforkids.com offers tools for developing typing skills.  Parents should also foster an understanding of when technology is useful, and when it is a distraction.  Writing with pen and pencil should not be replaced by technology.  There should be a balance between digital and “analog” activities.  There are also many toys that mimic the effects of touchscreen devices without being connected to the internet. 

How can parents ensure their young children use technology appropriately?

Preschoolers should always be given a minimal amount of screen time – no more than two hours per day.  Monitoring the child’s screen time activities, as well as using parental controls and restrictions help ensure proper use of technology.  I recommend the following educational apps – “AlphaTots,” “Doodle Critter,” “Elmo Loves ABCs,” “Elmo Loves 124s,” and “Peg + Cat,” which are interactive, educational, and fun. Passive screen time, like watching videos, should be kept to a minimum, but PBS Kids is a good place to start for educational videos.

What can parents do to foster an early respect for good digital citizenship?

Set an example of good digital citizenship for your children by joining them in using technology at home in both educational and recreational settings.  Parents should discuss the content that their child is accessing and talk about safe and unsafe usage of electronic devices.  Again, parents should closely monitor their child’s technology-related activities.

Make sure your preschooler balances screen time with toys, unstructured play, books, and friends. Don’t forget the wonders of Play-Doh, coloring, puzzles, and other toys, which still play an important role in a child’s well-rounded development. Outdoor physical activities are equally important for a child.

Playing outside is vital for growing in confidence, fostering social skills, gaining appreciation for nature, understanding rules and authority, and mastering physical and fine motor skills. A healthy blend of technology with play and traditional learning goes a long way in building a strong foundation for achieving academic and personal success in elementary school and later grades.

See HOW TO: managing a child’s screen time, A to Z: teaching children to be good digital citizens, and NEW AND NOTEWORTHY P-8 educational apps recommendations for more ideas and suggestions to help ensure safe and rewarding screen time engagement for your child.

Contributed by Doug Fleischli, Fairmont Private Schools 

Image by Examiner.com