Our Children, the Seeds of Knowledge

Children in today’s world face many challenges that will govern their future, as well as our future.  From drugs to electronic looting, they will be inundated with decisions that will effect their lives, and our lives.  As we grow older and fade, these seeds of knowledge will become our decision-makers.

At first glance, a small child summons up thoughts of fragility, innocence and naivety.  However, a child has a stupendous capability of absorbing and executing knowledge.  As parents and teachers there are so many things we can do to inspire and motivate our children.  

In today’s world, we must think outside of the box to propel our children beyond the learning boundaries.  It’s a different world, a different time, filled with different challenges and concerns.  Some examples that could enhance and motivate the productivity, as well as fuel the learning capacity of your child are provided and categorized below.  Keep in mind that although knowledge is vital, it must be balanced with ‘free time’ to allow for individualized character development.

Communications

- Enroll your child in a foreign language class.  The knowledge of a second language opens up an entirely new set of doors in your child’s future.  Very young children tend to excel in this learning field.

- Introduce your child or student to the pulse of the world, the Intranet.  This electronic tool has replaced the extinct evil proclamations once associated with television (formerly tagged by many as the Eye of Satan).  Some of the central directives to focus on are researching information, recognizing scams, news, and job bases.  For the young child or student, it’s important to begin on ‘their’ level.  Start with fascinating topics that are of interest to a young mind, such as animals, games and stories.  Look for sites that promote interaction and creativity.

- Teach your child or student about different cultures and ethnicity in the world.  Familiarize them with holidays, ethnic cooking and basic foundations of governments and beliefs.

Mathematical Applications

- Take your child to the market or local retailer when you shop to familiarize them with cost of food and merchandise.  Compare name brand to generic item costs.  Point out both quality and quantitative value of merchandise.

- From time-to-time, review the simple basics of math.  Amuse them with math trivia, such as:  The answers to the basic multiplication of nine, adds up to the number nine.  Example:  9 X 9 = 81 and 8 + 1 = 9.

- The next time you buy a tank of gasoline, show your child how to calculate mileage.

Budgeting

- Educate your child or student on the importance of saving.  Show the child how interest can effect savings’ growth.

- Demonstrate saving methods such as couponing, discount and comparison-shopping.

- Open your child a savings account, if you haven’t already.  When your child reaches teen years, help them open a checking account.  So many young people have no idea how to write a check!

Creativity

- Purchase your child a ‘music player’ and allow them to pick a few selections for purchase.  Encourage singing along with the music, or playing an instrument to the beat.

- Visit the library with your child on a regular basis.  Your local library is free and packed with knowledge – from books to entertaining and educational videos.

- Be sensitive to your child’s reaction to various sectors of the arts.  Is your child attracted to music?  Perhaps your child will become a great musician.  Is your child creative when working with crafts?  Perhaps your child will become a great artist or decorator.  Is your child prone to make things from scratch?  You may have a great future scientist, architect, designer or chef on your hands!

Survival Skills That Could Save Your Child’s Life

- Self-defense classes promote awareness, security and enhance your child’s motor skills.  The defense techniques your child learns could one day save a life; perhaps their own.

- Take your child camping and introduce them to nature.  Buy a book detailing editable plants, nuts and berries found outdoors.

- Begin teaching your child first aid techniques – as early as possible.  Teach your child or student the effects and power of nature, the positive and negative elements surrounding the sun, the wind and storms.

Set An Example

A child can excel in brilliance, yet degenerate all that knowledge via emotional instability.  As adults, we set the pattern, both physically and emotionally, for our future decision-makers, these tiny seeds of knowledge.