Early Childhood

Matthew Lynch published in Early Childhood, Modern Parenting, Parental Involvement, Parenting May 23, 2021

Selecting the Perfect School for Your Child

Choosing the right school for your kid can feel like a job. Frankly, with all the slashes made in the U.S. on educational budgets, you must be concerned about the quality of learning your child is getting. You may probably be considering different options for high school, ranging from home schools and online schools to private schools and charter schools. Most times, parents need help making this decision as the available options can be staggering.

So, what methods can you use to detect whether or not the present school is attending to your child’s needs? If the school is failing to do so, how do you find the perfect high school substitute for your child? Below are some tips

Does the Current School Meet Your Child’s Needs?

When analyzing the current high school and looking at possible alternatives, ensure that your considerations go beyond the present year to the years ahead.

• If your child is currently battling with school work, can the school offer the needed support to improve the general classes?

• Does the school push your child enough? Do they offer any advanced classes?

• Do the school’s extracurricular programs match your child’s needs?

Significantly, you should be sure that your child’s school is the most appropriate for the long run. That is where your child will grow and develop, and you should know how the school is likely to change over time. Does it move from being a loving and cherishing lower school to a difficult and competitive middle and high school? Scrutinize every division before settling for the school.

Does Your Child Blend In At School?

Moving to a different school can be a tremendous decision, but your child would fail where he or she cannot blend in.

• Does your child love to go to school?

• Is your child socially active, involved and healthy?

• Does your child partake in various activities and sports?

You should raise these same questions when considering new schools that are likely alternatives. It can be tempting to choose the most competitive school available; however, ensure that your child is going to blend in well there and that it would neither be too challenging nor too easy over time. Ensure that you do not force your child into a name brand institution that does not stimulate his or her interest and talents. Also, ensure that the classes meet the individual needs of your child.

Can You Bear the Cost of Switching Schools?

If the need to move to a different school is getting more pronounced, you must consider the time and cost of doing so. Although homeschooling is not expensive, it requires a lot of time. Alternatively, private schools require less time and more money. So what can you do? Ponder on these questions following proper research before making a decision.

• As a parent, how much time do you have to invest in homeschooling your child?

• Can your home serve as a suitable learning space?

• What is the cost of your selected alternative?

• Does the likely alternative require a tuition fee?

• Are you required to purchase any vouchers?

• Does moving to a different school need extra commuting, or will provisions be made for childcare and transport?

• What impact will switching schools have on your family’s lifestyle?

• Will you have to apply for financial support in a private school?

These are vital questions you must ask when going over the available alternative schools.

Choose What Best Suits Your Entire Family

Although every pointer might seem to tilt towards a private or homeschool as the best choice for your child, you have to think about the implications it can have on you and everyone else in the family. Even when the private school is just the perfect choice for your child, you will be creating a problem for everyone, including the child, if you switch him or her to that school when the cost is not affordable for you. Similarly, you may want to give your child home or online school experience, but you only do your child a disservice when you don’t have sufficient time to put into making sure the child learns properly. Carefully consider your options and make the best choice for the good of all.

If you conclude that private school is the best option for the child and everyone else in the family, then you should consider this guide on how to find the best private school. With tons of private schools situated in the U.S., there has to be one that goes well with your needs. Getting started can certainly feel overwhelming, but with these tips, you can make the most of your search.

Consider Hiring an Educational Consultant

At the point where you’ve concluded that the best and prime option is to switch to a private school, you might consider hiring a consultant. It’s okay to do the research yourself, except that many parents feel lost and subdued by the entire process. They can get the help of a professional educational consultant. You will be grateful for all the expert advice and experience which this professional has to offer. Make sure the consultant has qualifications endorsed by IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association).

However, this is a paid service and middle-class families might not be able to afford the fee. But there is no cause to worry, you can handle this on your own.

Make a List of Schools

This is the exciting part of the process. A lot of private schools have websites that contain interesting photo albums and video tours, with enough information about the programs available. You can go through the internet with your child to find many schools you could add to your list. This is a great way to take the first step. We suggest that you add some schools to a list of favorites, so you can easily find them afterward. You can then have a serious discussion about each of the schools. On the Private School Finder website, you can find thousands of private schools.

About selecting a school, you and your child must be fully aware of each other’s needs. Try as much as you can to take charge of the process. However, don’t force your ideas on your child, else he or she will not see reasons to attend a private school and will be reluctant to be at the school of your choice. Make a list of about 3 to 5 schools. You have to make realistic choices, and although you want to go for the best, you have to include at least one school where you can be sure that your chance of getting admitted is high. Also, you should consider whether or not switching to a competitive school is good for your child as highly competitive schools are not recommendable for everybody.

Visit Schools

This is essential. You cannot just rely on other people’s judgments or information from a website to learn about the school. So appoint a time when your child can visit the school. It will let the child get the right sensation for his or her possibly new home outside home. It also helps parents feel confident about where their child is.

Ensure you make personal visits and evaluate every school on your list. The schools will want to interview your child and convene with you. Still, you must meet with the admission folks and ask questions as well. It is meant to be a two-way lane. Don’t feel frightened by the interview.

During your visit to the school, pay attention to the things you can directly notice and have a clue of what the school considers important. Make sure you visit the classes and speak to both the teachers and the students.

• Does the school appear to be the type of place your child can thrive in?

• Do the teachers look capable of highlighting your child’s talents?

• Do you think they are passionate about helping children learn?

Go for an admission event like an open house ceremony so that you get the chance to listen to top administrators like the headmaster or fellow parents. The headmaster can establish the setting for a private school. If possible, attend one of the headmaster’s speeches or read a publication made by him or her. By doing this research, you will get acquainted with the school’s missions and values. Don’t lay hopes on past theories about the school because schools change remarkably as the administration changes.

Some will let your child attend classes and in some boarding schools, they can even stay overnight. This priceless experience will give your child a clear understanding of what it feels like to be in that school, and try to imagine being there every day of the week.

Admissions Testing

An admission test has an incredible way of helping you determine which school is best for your child. By comparing your child’s test scores in the different prospective schools, you can decide which ones may be best to apply to, knowing that average test scores are being shared by these schools. If your child receives a relatively lower or higher score than the average score, you may have to speak to the school authorities to ensure that the academic workload doled out to him or her will be adequate.

Also, it is crucial to be ready for these tests. Although you have an exceptionally smart or gifted child, if he or she has never taken any practice tests, it will be difficult to perform well in the real one. Don’t ignore this preparation step. It will help your child gain the edge that he or she needs.

Be Realistic

As tempting as it might get to fill up your list of prospective private schools with the lead schools in the country, it is truly pointless to do so. You should go for the school that is best for your child. Those top schools may not provide the particular learning environment that suits your child the most, and the provincial private schools may not be challenging enough for him or her. Invest quality time to find out what each school has to offer and what is required for your child to grow. It is pertinent that you choose the best private school for your child.

Apply for Admission and Financial Aid

Remember that selecting the school that best suits your child’s needs is only the initial step. You still have to get admitted there. While keeping in mind the deadlines for applications, try to submit all the application materials early. As much as possible, strive to turn in all application materials on time. In some schools, there are online portals where applicants can conveniently track their application progress and be aware of the missing pieces in order to meet up with deadlines.

Remember to apply for financial assistance. Financial aid packages are offered in most private schools. Make sure you find out if you think you will need the assistance.

After submitting your application, you just have to wait. Normally, acceptance letters are released in March, and admissions take effect from January to February. However, you will be given a deadline in April to respond to the school.

You don’t need to panic if your child is put on the wait-list. It wouldn’t take too long before you hear from the school, and there are tips on what you should do if you are waitlisted.

What did we miss?

Matthew Lynch published in Early Childhood, Parental Involvement, Parenting May 21, 2021

A Guide to Giving Clear Instructions to Your Kids

Are you looking for a guide to giving clear instructions to your kids? If so, keep reading.

1. Do not talk to the learner from across the classroom. Go to the learner, get their full attention, and then speak to him or her.

2. Urge teachers, coaches, paraprofessionals, school officials, etc., to give the learner written instructions along with oral instructions.

3. To enable comprehension, urge the learner to ask for clarification of any directions, explanations, and instructions before starting a task.

4. Urge the learner to avoid ingesting any substance (e.g., drugs, alcohol, cold remedies, etc.) that might further alter their capacity and ability to direct or keep attention.

5. Give recorded information from lectures and seminars. Create questions from these recordings for the learner.

6. Urge the learner to create a 30-second definition of their goal to help them remain on-task and focused (e.g., “I will listen carefully.” “The better I listen, the better I will perform”).

7. Urge the learner to create an understanding of the consequences of their behavior by writing down or talking through problems that may happen due to their need to have oral instructions and questions regularly repeated (e.g., not focusing on instructions may cause misinterpretation of a task that could lead to a lower grade and losing their place on the soccer team).

8. Select a peer to model excellent communication skills for the learner.

9. Urge the learner to say a mantra to themselves when entering a situation where they will receive instructions/instructions (e.g., listen carefully, listen carefully, listen carefully).

10. Do not criticize when correcting the learner; be honest yet compassionate. Never cause the learner to feel negative about themselves.

11. Create classroom rules: • Remain on-task. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

12. Create rules for listening (e.g., listen to instructions, ask questions about instructions if they are not grasped, follow the instructions, etc.). These rules should be applied consistently and followed by everyone in the classroom. Talk about the rules often.

13. Assess the appropriateness of requiring the learner to respond to oral questions and instructions without needing repetition.

14. Assess the visual and auditory stimuli in the classroom. Ascertain the number of stimuli the learner can tolerate. Remove the unnecessary stimuli from their surroundings.

15. Provide a signal to gain attention prior to delivering instructions orally to the learner.

16. Provide instructions in a straightforward, specific manner.

17. Provide the learner instructions to follow with no more than two or three steps (e.g., “Please open your text and turn to page 28.”). Instructions that involve several steps can be confusing and cause the learner to have difficulty following them.

18. Provide the learner one task to perform at a time. Present the next task after the learner has followed instructions and successfully finished the prior task.

19. Get a peer to help the learner follow oral questions and instructions.

20. Train the learner to ask for clarification if he/ she does not understand oral or written instructions.

21. Consider using a classroom management app to help the student learn to respond appropriately to instructions. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

22. Consider using Alexa to help you with classroom management. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

23. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

Matthew Lynch published in Early Childhood, Memory, Parental Involvement May 19, 2021

17 Ways to Help Kids With Working Memory Issues

Are you looking for ways to help kids with working memory issues? If so, keep reading.

1. Find the learner’s most efficient learning mode. Utilize it continuously to enable the learner’s comprehension (e.g., if the learner fails to understand information orally, present it in written form; if the learner has difficulty comprehending written information, present it orally; etc.).

2. Explain objects, persons, places, etc., and have the learner name the things described.

3. Tag objects, persons, places, etc., in their surroundings to help the learner recall their names.

4. Utilize concrete examples and experiences in sharing information with the learner.

5. Make the curriculum important to the learner. Remembering is more likely to happen when the curriculum is important and can be related to real-life experiences.

6. Get the learner to prepare for tests using the “Who, What, Where, On occasions where, How, and Why” format.

7. Make sure the learner has a repetition of information through various experiences to enable their memory.

8. Get the learner to highlight or summarize the information they need to remember.

9. Make sure the learner is paying attention to the source of information (e.g., eye contact is being made, hands are free of learning materials, the learner is looking at the task, etc.).

10. Teach ideas through associative learning (i.e., build new ideas based on prior learning).

11. Assist the learner’s use of memory aids or mnemonic devices to recall words (e.g., a name might be linked to another word; for example, “Mr. Green is a very colorful person.”).

12. Get the learner to take notes from classes, presentations, lectures, etc., to help them enable recall.

13. Get the learner to make notes, lists, etc., of things they need to be able to recall. The learner should carry these reminders with him/her.

14. Present the learner an object or an image of an object for a few seconds and then remove it. Ask the learner to recall specific attributes (e.g., color, size, shape, etc.) of the object.

15. Following a field trip or special event, have the learner recall the learning activities that occurred.

16. Select a peer to take part in memory learning activities with the learner (e.g., memory games, flash cards, math facts, etc.).

17. Consider using an education app to help the student enhance their memory. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Early Childhood, Modern Parenting, Parental Involvement March 22, 2021

A Parent’s Guide to Developmental Milestones

A developmental milestone is a capacity that most kids achieve by a typical age. For instance, some kids may start walking as early as 9 or 10 months while others don’t start to walk until 14 to 15 months. By looking at the various developmental milestones, parents, doctors, and educators can understand how kids usually develop to monitor any potential developmental issues.

For example, between 9 to 12 months, kids begin to achieve physical milestones such as standing up or even walking. While the exact age at which a kid achieves a particular milestone can vary, you may become concerned if your kid hasn’t achieved a skill that most of their same-age peers can perform.

Developmental Milestones by Ages and Stages

Physical Milestones. These milestones include both large motor skills and fine motor skills.

Cognitive Milestones. Milestones are centered on a kid’s ability to think, learn, and solve problems.

Socio-emotional Milestones. Centered on kids gaining a better understanding of their emotions and others’ emotions, social and emotional milestones include learning how to get along with other people.

Communication Milestones. Milestones that involve both language and nonverbal communication. A one year-old learning how to say his first words and a 5 year-old learning some of the basic rules of grammar are examples of essential communication milestones.

Kids Develop at Their Own Rate

While most of these milestones usually occur during a certain window of time, there is one essential caveat.

Parents and caregivers must remember that each kid is unique. Not all kids are going to hit these milestones at the same time.

Some kids might reach certain milestones early, like learning how to walk or talk much earlier than their same-age peers. Other kids might reach the same milestones much later. This doesn’t necessarily mean that one kid is gifted or that another is delayed; it represents developmental differences.

These developmental capabilities also tend to build on one another. More advanced skills, like walking, usually happen after simpler capabilities such as crawling and sitting up to have already been achieved. Just because one kid began to walk by nine months of age does not mean that another kid is behind if they still aren’t walking at 12 months.

A few things you should know

Kids begin to walk between the ages of 9 and 15 months, so anytime between those ages is considered normal. If your kid hasn’t learned to walk by 18 months and you’re concerned, check with your kid’s doctor.

Personality influences your kid’s development as well, which can be especially obvious with twins. One kid may be physically active and work hard at learning to walk, going back and forth from object to object; another kid may be laid back, content for the time being to observe others from their seat on the floor.

Concluding thoughts

By understanding developmental milestones and what age range is common for kids to meet them, you and your pediatrician can keep a watchful eye on your kid’s growth and development.

If your kid does have developmental delays, getting early intervention can help lead to successful outcomes. There are several programs available to help kids with delays from birth through high school.

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Early Childhood, Modern Parenting, Parental Involvement March 21, 2021

The Edvocate’s Guide to Cooperative Play

Cooperative play is defined as being an organized form of activity that involves the equal distribution of efforts and responsibilities among the kids to reach a common objective. Understanding the cooperative play definition, many people see these activities as being essential in development through childhood.

It’s good for kids to spend time working with others, so they develop essential social skills as they matriculate through nursery and school.

An example of cooperative play games can involve building dens and putting on performances using a stage with props. Learning experiences like these encourage kids to share ideas, collaborate and come up with stories. They can integrate independent learning, which is another vital part of early childhood development.

Playing is a good tool for helping kids learn at such a young age. That’s because playing combines fun and education, which young kids need to pay attention and leave learning something new. Playing develops their physical, mental, social, and emotional skills which are vital at this point.

During this kind of play, roles like leader and follower are clearer to see among the class. Cooperative play enables those who suit a specific role to build upon it, while giving them a chance to experience the other role and comprehend what it involves. It is a vital part of kid development during nursery and school.

Games can involve as few as two kids up to bigger groups of five or more. Cooperative play is all about encouraging kids to have fun together and improve their cooperation skills.

Cooperative Play Examples

Below you will find a few cooperative play examples you can encourage kids to try at your school:

Treasure Hunt
Puzzles
Building Dens
Relay Races
Team Games
Creating a Dance
Board Games

The preceding activities encourage kids to play together and collaborate on a specific task. Kids should start to learn how to interact with others, follow instructions and prepare themselves for the next stages of schooling.

Pros of Cooperative Play

Cooperative play offers several benefits to those who engage with the activities that are presented to them. These benefits include:

Expansion of physical, social, mental, and emotional skills
Speaking and listening skills are built upon
Teambuilding
Leadership
Making use of various skills
Distribution of ideas and responsibilities
Critical thinking
Collaborating to reach a common objective
The idea of everyone being “winners”

The key thing to remember when it comes to these types of cooperative play is how everyone is a “winner.” Cooperative play doesn’t have a way for kids to “win” the challenge set for them. Kids should like the facet of competition and may try and turn it into one. During this, many kids who fail the task set for them may think of themselves as “losers.”

The task requires collaboration teamwork, and instead of trying to win something, kids are trying to solve a problem and must collaborate. The key difference being you can’t lose at the task, so try and dissuade the mentality that some of the kids may have while completing this activity. Kids learn that it’s not always about winning and losing but working as a team.

Playing Cooperatively in Early Years

Cooperative skills are essential in the later years, but I would argue that it’s equally essential during early childhood. Early childhood is a time the brain is developing at its most efficient rate, and so teaching kids the importance of collaboration through play is a good method to allow the learning to be absorbed into their minds.

Simple activities can be integrated into the mindset of the students with no problem. Cooperative play teaches essential ideas like sharing, abiding by rules, and patience. Teaching these concepts through a game at such a young age should also benefit the children in the future.

Communication Skills on the Playground

Cooperation requires a sense of communication for it to be effectively carried out. During early childhood, this can be hard for young kids as communication is a skill that is built upon via previous experiences. By performing cooperative tasks, communicating becomes easier.

Strong comprehension of how to talk to people in challenging situations or how to settle conflict can be taught through simple activities. Kids need to encounter these kinds of issues during play to develop. They help build knowledge of effective communication and improve their fundamental comprehension.

Other activities may offer the benefit of developing communication skills, but cooperative activities put the kids in situations that apply to everyday life.

How Do You Promote Cooperative Play?

Below we have listed several ideas you can use to promote cooperative play with your own kids or with school and nursery pupils.

Promote taking turns – Kids should learn to share toys and games with others, ensuring everyone gets a fair turn using a piece of equipment.
Complete chores and tasks at home – Get kids involved in easy jobs with parents or siblings like cleaning up or setting the table for dinner.
Model compassion – Kids learn from the behavior of adults. If you practice kindness and empathy in their presence, they are more likely to take on these characteristics.
Encourage free play – Having the freedom to engage in unstructured play is a good way for kids to interact with others.

Cooperative Play Learning Experiences

At first, constructing activities can be a bit of a challenge for someone who doesn’t know what to do. Here are a few cooperative play activities for toddlers and kids that we recommend you try and integrate into your teaching somehow.

A good place to start with cooperative games is building blocks. Ask groups of children to construct a building from blocks. Here is the catch. One-half of the group are the suppliers of the blocks, and the other half are the actual builders. You are encouraging kids to take turns and cooperate with each other to finish the job with no problems.

A good activity to get kids involved with is running a pretend shop. This is a role-play based activity, so kids can also work on their imaginative thinking, along with social and logical thinking. Provide each kid with a different role in the game and leave them working together to run the shop for a while. Each role in these collaborative games should connect with one another, causing social interactions to happen. Also, there are plenty of outdoor play activities for kids that you can integrate into P.E. time at your school.

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Early Childhood, Modern Parenting, Parental Involvement March 20, 2021

The Edvocate’s Guide to Associative Play

Associative play is the act of engaging in recreational activities in comparable ways to parallel play but with increased interaction between the participants, including taking turns, sharing and having a general interest in the activities of the others.

It is different from parallel play as while they are playing away from one another, they are also engaged with what the others are doing.

Kids in the associative stage play with other kids; however, while they participate in play with others, they are not yet at the stage to take part in groups. They should play together in the same game/activity but not necessarily collaborate.

Kids should start to interact through talking, borrowing, and taking turns with toys, but each kid acts alone.

While engaging in associate play, the more mature kid soon emerges as the leader or organizer.

Children engaged in the play are within a comparable activity. In this kind of play there is no division of labor, so there is no organization of the activity around contents, objective, or product.

Pros of associative play

Supports collaboration.
Enhances socialization skills through working/playing with others.
Promotes problem-solving. They should ask questions like the How, What, Why.
Enables the further development of language.

Kids are developing friendships and preferences for playing with some. It is at this stage that the kids start to make friendships and begin to work cooperatively together.

It is during this stage that pretend play is at its height.

Associative play is followed by Cooperative play – play in a group of one or more collaborating– at around 4+ years of age.

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Early Childhood, Modern Parenting, Parental Involvement March 19, 2021

The Edvocate’s Guide to Parallel Play

Parallel play is one of many essential stages of play that introduce kids to social interaction. With parallel play, kids aren’t really playing with each other but rather next to each other. Kids may play with comparable toys but work independently and are not communicating with one another. This form of play is common between 2-3 year olds, but it can happen at any age.

Why is parallel play essential?

Your kid is too young for deep friendships and is trying to figure out the world we live in. Parallel play is a good start! While they aren’t directly interacting, kids are still learning social and observational skills. Kids are taking mental notes of what their friends are doing and can mimic their behavior. Moreover, kids can learn social conventions like taking turns and sharing. The parallel play stage is like a bridge that helps them grow their awareness, which should lead to additional complex activities and social maturity.

How can you promote parallel play?

Making a parallel play date is easier than you believe! Here are some pointers to make sure you get the most out of every play session:

Don’t force it

When you start, it’s essential to let your kid embrace their independence. When kids aren’t interested in play or have something else in mind, don’t force it! With parallel play, you want your kid to step out of their comfort zone but feel comfortable coming back if they wish.

Bring out all the goods

Make sure you have lots of toys and materials on hand for a parallel play session. Toys that encourage creative thinking are perfect for parallel play. It’s essential that every kid has access to the toys so no one feels left out. I recommend placing the toys in the middle of the room and place each kid near the pile and let them pick which toy strikes their interest.

It’s okay if they don’t interact!

While you watch kids parallel play, it’s easy to wonder why they aren’t playing together or even acknowledging the other kids. This is completely normal. Interactions should come with time as their social skills develop gradually.

Less is more than enough

When you’re introducing your kid to parallel play for the first time, it may bring them light stress. Viewing a wide range of toys with other kids may be a new sight for them. If you want to get the most out of this play, keep the number of adults and distractions to a minimum. Keep the duration of this play so kids will feel encouraged to try again the next day. This is a skill-building stage, and you must allow your kid to move at their own pace.

Take it to the next level, at the right time

If your kid has been parallel playing for a while, it’s appropriate to start encouraging direct interaction. Ask your kid to exchange a toy with another friend. You can start to explore additional cooperative forms of play if all goes as planned. If it does not, keep the parallel play strong – they’ll get there in their own time!

Play outdoors

Play does not have to take place inside all the time. The spring and summer months are a great time to take parallel play outside.

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Early Childhood, Modern Parenting, Parental Involvement March 18, 2021

The Edvocate’s Guide to Solitary Play

Solitary play is one of the initial play stages. Playing independently is a natural step in the development of a kid’s play behavior for a 0-2 year old.

Kids learn through play, and in this stage they have not learned enough from relationships to being able to play with others.

Playing independently gives kids the time they need to believe, explore, and create. As a kid plays alone, they learn to concentrate, believe for themselves, come up with creative ideas, and regulate feelings. These things are essential for a kid to learn. Playing alone is essential and normal.

Babies and toddlers are in this stage. The age group is busy exploring their new world. Each new object or situation that is introduced is a new learning experience.

Positives of Solitary Play

Kids are given a chance and freedom to use their imagination.
Kids learn and practice physical and mental skills.
Kidscan explore, create, and learn how things work.
Solitary play allows kids to make their own rules for play.
Solitary play means a kid does not need to meet anyone else’s expectations.
It should not be used to identify unsociable kids.

Social play develops at around the age of 3 or 4, but it is essential to note that solitary play does not disappear.

Types of Solitary Play

Solitary active play: Involves playing make-believe while playing alone or with an imaginary friend. Solitary active play is a bridge between solitary play and true social play. Involves repeated activities with or without toys or objects, for instance, banging two blocks together.
Solitary imaginative play: Can strengthen healthy development. For example, a kid alone in their room using an action in an imaginary story exhibits abstract thinking, language, and creativity.

Solitary play is followed by onlooker play: watching and observing others play, at around two years of age.

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Critical Thinking and Creativity, Early Childhood, K-12, Parental Involvement, March 18, 2021

How to Teach Kids with Interpersonal Intelligence

When we talk about “intelligence” most of the time, we think about kids and adults who spend a lot of time in lecture halls and libraries quietly studying. Over the years, the concept of intelligence has evolved.

Developmental psychologist Howard Gardner came up with the concept of multiple intelligences, which challenges the traditional notion of intelligence (IQ) as a singular ability. One of the eight intelligences that Gardner presented is “interpersonal intelligence” – the ability to communicate and interact effectively with others. People who have high interpersonal intelligence are known to be excellent communicators. His theory was explained in his book “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.”

The Gift and Skill of Relating to Others

Having interpersonal intelligence is both a gift and a skill. Some have this natural talent for communicating, but those who do not have a natural talent can learn it. Those who have this gift can pick up on other people’s moods, temperaments, and motivations without the other person saying it.

Gardner presented Anne Sullivan as a good example of a person with high interpersonal intelligence. Anne Sullivan, who had little formal training in special education and was partially blind, taught a young Helen Keller. Helen Keller was a disabled child who lost her sense of sight and hearing at just nine months old. Anne Sullivan gave Helen Keller the tools she needed to overcome her disabilities so she could succeed later on in life. Helen Keller became a lecturer and disability rights activist as an adult.

In this example, you can see how Anne Sullivan was able to use her strengths to help Helen Keller. Despite her limitations, she was able to build a strong lifelong relationship with Helen Keller. In the end, they helped each other realize their full potential and overcome disability.

People with Interpersonal Intelligence

Other well-known people who have high interpersonal intelligence include Mother Teresa, Bill Gates, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Oprah Winfrey. They are known to have the ability to communicate and connect with people—one can say that they are quite influential.

Those who have high interpersonal intelligence might have potential in the field of teaching, counseling, sales, and public speaking. Their common characteristics include being adaptive and having the ability to think out of the box. They can come up with solutions that are creative and innovative.

It’s a common misconception that all interpersonally intelligent people are outgoing, gregarious social butterflies. However, shy, introverted people can have this ability; after all, it’s all about communicating effectively and forming connections with people.

Building on the Gift of Interpersonal Intelligence in the Classroom

Interpersonal skills can be taught in the classroom by giving peer-to-peer work, group tasks, and requiring students to deliver presentations. Tasks like these encourage students to work in teams—share ideas, delegate tasks, negotiate which parts of working on.

To help students develop interpersonal intelligence, they can be encouraged to head class meetings, organize small and big group activities, and even become student leaders. Pair a student with high interpersonal intelligence with shy and introverted classmates.

Those who are perceived to be high in interpersonal intelligence can benefit from being allowed to participate in as many activities as their current workload. They can model these skills to their classmates so that others will be encouraged to engage with others.

Summary It would be great if parents and teachers could identify the type of intelligence that their child possesses. Knowing that will help the adult identify the strengths and areas for improvement of each student. Interpersonal intelligence is a natural ability, but it can also be learned. Incorporate some of the strategies suggested in the previous section to strengthen this ability.

Matthew Lynch published in Child Development, Early Childhood, K-12, Policy & Reform September 26, 2019

Here’s How Much States Spend On Education And How Their Students Perform

The educational expenditures of each state vary significantly from one to the next, but if we were to rank the states on their spending, New York and Utah are on opposite ends of the spectrum. New York is reported to have spent the most money per student, while Utah is said to have spent the least. This report shows that eight states exceed the national average of per-student spending by at least 40 percent. What’s even more interesting is that of these eight states, six of them were top-rated for educational quality in Education Week’s 2017 Quality Counts state-by-state report cards. The ranked list of top spenders, all the way down to the states that spend the least, can be seen here.

Seven of the states that spend the least money on education are also being ranked on the lowest end of quality education, including Utah. Though it can’t be claimed that the higher the spending, the better quality education, the data is nonetheless interesting to take note of. The Daily Caller News Foundation says it well – “While increased spending on public education does not guarantee improved performance, research studies indicate that increases in spending positively correlate with increased college attendance.”

Recently, our current U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has made claims that spending more money on schools will not positively impact student learning outcomes. “The notion that spending more money is going to bring about different results is ill-placed and ill-advised,” she said, and if this claim is taken seriously by our leaders in education, this could negatively affect the educational allocations of each state. Plenty of research suggests otherwise – that more school spending can actually be linked to positive outcomes for the students such as social mobility and higher graduation rates, and even improved test scores.

Having more funding undoubtedly provides more resources to schools, such as improved technology, higher teacher salaries, enhanced student lessons/experiences, and more despite what others may say. These resources positively affect how students perform, helping them maximize their educational potential. Conversely, a lack of funding serves as barriers to both teachers and students in how far their educational needs can be met.

As mentioned, it’s interesting that six out of the eight states listed as the top spenders in education are also at the top of the ratings for educational quality. Allocating more towards our education system is something that should be a priority for our nation, primarily since this directly affects our future generations. Though there’s no guarantee for improved performance, there’s also no evidence that higher spending on education produces negative impacts on our students.